After the United States, the second-biggest market for Coca-Cola, one of the most recognized brand names in the world, is Mexico. Millions of bottles
of Coca-Cola pass through a Tijuana assembly line every year. Most of the bottles end up in Mexican homes, restaurants and vending machines, but some
end up alongside American Coke.
El Tigre market in South San Diego, for instance, sells Coca-Cola from Mexico, and sales are brisk. In fact, Mexican-made Coke is finding its way to
markets and specialty stores across the country, from Chicago to North Carolina.
Why?
Consumer Martha Soria said she prefers it because "it's different."
"The taste has more flavor -- and the sweetness," Soria said.
Evelyn Soria agrees: "The taste is sweeter, and to me, it's like drinking a Pepsi because Pepsi's way sweeter than Coke."
But inside a Tijuana warehouse, Coca-Cola officials said the taste of Mexican Coke is no different from the American version.
"You have all kinds of legends and myths out there, and this just happens to be one of them," according to Jorge Casimiro, a company spokesman.
Nevertheless, many Latinos in the U.S., in particular, will spend more money to buy "Made in Mexico" bottles because they believe they taste better.
"We hear this many times over, and we don't have an answer for that," said Humberto Baquiero Torres, a Coca-Cola bottling plant manager in Tijuana.
Despite the denial, maybe there is a difference. Although soft drink officials say the Coca-Cola formula is the same around the world, the sweetener
is different.
"The sugar used in Mexico is cane sugar or sucrose," Casimiro said. "In the U.S., they use high-fructose corn syrup."
Cane sugar is used in Mexico instead of the corn syrup that is used in the United States, possibly because it's cheaper. All the sugar used in Mexican
Coca-Cola comes from Mexican-grown sugar cane.
Does the difference in sugar mean a difference in taste?
"I don't think a difference in sweetener makes a difference in the taste of Coca-Cola, no," Casimiro said.
Regardless, border agents say it's not uncommon to see people bringing cases of Mexican Coca-Cola across the border. Whether it's the feel of a glass
bottle or a sweeter taste, for some, "Made in Mexico" is the real thing.bajalou - 8-20-2005 at 08:29 AM
While not a big Coca Cola fan, I much perfer the tast of the Mexican product.
Dave - 8-20-2005 at 09:05 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Anonymous
Cane sugar is used in Mexico instead of the corn syrup that is used in the United States, possibly because it's cheaper. All the sugar used
in Mexican Coca-Cola comes from Mexican-grown sugar cane.
If so, it certainly is not reflected in the price. Now, 92 pesos for a case (cans). That's 2/3 again higher than in the States.
Cane sugar is used because unionized growers force Coke to buy it.Mike Humfreville - 8-20-2005 at 09:55 AM
My wife and kids have always said they prefer Mexican Coke because it's sweeter. They've stuck to this claim since the early '70's. Seems like the
mechanisms we've built to sense taste are less sensitive than the palate.JESSE - 8-20-2005 at 01:04 PM
