#sodapopsipper

[wrestle-with-jimmy]

SODA POP SIPPER #2: Triple Cola

Do you like Coke Cola? Well they say good things always come in three’s, and thus Triple Cola was born! Triple Cola alleges to have been first made in 1921, but now seems to be made by Orca in the US.

It was actually great! I really enjoyed Triple Cola and would highly recommend it. Cola is a pretty interesting flavour, one that’s actually pretty obtuse. Everyone has had Coke Cola before but can you nail down the flavour? Could you explain it without describing it as Pepsi? Coke doesn’t want you to know the recipe, but people have worked out the flavour from old recipes. From what I’ve read, Coke Cola flavour is a mixture of citrus oils (orange and lemon), cinnamon, and cola nut. Depending on the bottler, sometimes it will taste more orange, sometimes more cinnamon. But there’s always the mysterious cola flavour.

Cola comes from the nuts of the Kola tree, and African species that produces naturally caffeinated fruit. I may be wrong, but I believe that Triple Cola has a very strong kola nut flavour. I might be wrong, but it is a lovely falvour and a really nice alternative to Coke or Pepsi.

I give Triple Cola a 7/10, definitely try it!!!

[wrestle-with-jimmy]

Soda Pop Sipper #1: Moxie

My inaugural Soda Pop Sipper review! Why not start with one of the oldest pops still in production! Apparently Moxie was sold as a medicine called “Moxie Nerve Food” as early as 1876 - not a very palatable name. By the turn of the century, Moxie had become wildly popular, and in many ways was the original Coke Cola. Moxie’s success if often attributed to an aggressive advertising, most of which featured this pointing guy. Not unlike J.M Flagg’s 1917 “I Want You” poster featuring Uncle Sam. It’s possible that the pointing Moxie logo predated the Uncle Sam poster (which was a rip off of the British Lord Kitchener Poster of 1914).  I need to do more research!

I’ve never tried Moxie before, but it’s quite nice!! It’s relatively mild in flavour, sort of like a mild cola, or a very mild chinotto. There’s a mild bitterness, mostly on the finish, which I think is from gentian root. The flavour is predominantly caramel, with a little citrus. The bottle just says sugar, but I don’t think it’s cane sugar. Probably corn syrup. I gather Moxie fell out of favour largely to Coke and other sweeter pops taking over the market. Moxie seems to be more of a relic confined mostly to New England.

I would heartily recommend trying out a Moxie if you get the chance! The bitterness is refreshing, it’s not overly sweet, and overall is a pleasant change to more common soft drinks.

Rating = 6/10