Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Happy Coke Day

Coke debuted today back in 1886. It's inventor brought a jug of the syrup into a pharmacy on this day in and into history.
It was meant as a medicine and I can assure you from personal experience, it does the trick.
I drink Coke (R, TM, whatever) whenever I travel. I don't get sick.
The exception was in Cuba in 2010 when I drank the local knockoff "Tukola."
It tastes the way Coke did back in the heady days when cane syrup instead of the miserable high fructose corn syrup was the sweetener. (In Canada look for glucose-fructose on labels. It's Canadaspeak for HFCS.) I will not make that mistake again.

My husband used to get sick when we traveled. Our guide in Egypt last year advised the consumption of Coke or Ouzo to ward off travel illness. He tried it. It worked. He is a convert.

Thank you, Dr. John Pemberton, for mixing caffeine and coca leaves with other ingredients and giving the world Coca-Cola (R, TM, whatever). 

Coke as served in Guatemala. 

9 comments:

the Bag Lady said...

I have to confess, I love Coke. I try not to drink too much of it, but there are just some things you cannot consume without it... like pizza!
Happy Birthday, Coca-Cola.

Leah J. Utas said...

So true, Bag Lady. I tend not to drink it at home although if my tummy's upset I will. That's where it shines.

messymimi said...

It's one of the few things you can count on, around most of the world, isn't it. Wonder what Dr. Pemberton would think of that?

Reb said...

I actually managed to give up drinking coke, but I still love it. I keep ginger ale on hand for upset tummy, but I have always done that.

Leah J. Utas said...

Yes, Messmimi, but only in that it is there. Coke tastes different wherever you go. In Australia it is so sweet I could feel my teeth rotting. The best version I had was in Italy 30 years ago. Wine of the Incas indeed.

Good for you, Reb. I know how difficult it can be.

Barbara Martin said...

Leah, I recall Coke from the mid-60s when it went well with a bag of Cheezies. But since the taste has changed, and of course, my preference more for organic foods and drinks like distilled water, I'm sorry to say I no longer drink the stuff.

Leah J. Utas said...

Potato chips for me, Barbara. Good for you for breaking the habit.

Hilary said...

I stopped drinking (diet) Coke when I realized that aspartame was causing me a lot of soft tissue pain. I'll still grab a sip (gulp) or two (several) from Frank's drink though.

Ouzo to prevent sickness, eh? Hmmm... :)

Leah J. Utas said...

Aspartame is evil, Hilary. I'm glad you stopped.