We've all seen those yellow caps that seem to crop up on Coca-Cola bottles every Spring or so. But, why does it happen? Is it something to be worried about?
Definitely not. It's a long-standing tradition that helps Jewish people to know they can drink their favorite fizzy beverage over Passover season. As reported by the New York Post, Passover has special dietary restrictions for people who observe the tradition.
They aren't allowed to eat barley, rye, wheats, oats, or spelt. As well as this, Ashkenazi Jews also don't eat legumes or corn during this time, either. And whilst that isn't a problem for Jewish people normally, as Coca-Cola is a Kosher drink, it becomes a problem once Passover rolls around.
The issue stems from the standard ingredient that makes the drink taste so sweet. High-fructose corn syrup, which is used in most sodas, wouldn't be allowed on Passover for Ashkenazis.
So, to make life easier for those people, Coca-Cola replaces the usual corn syrup with cane sugar instead.
The change originated in 1935, when a rabbi in Atlanta asked Coca-Cola to release a Passover-friendly version because he loved the drink just that much. How sweet is that!
Videos by Wide Open Country
Other Countries Use Cane Sugar for Their Coca-Cola
This isn't just a thing they do for Passover. Other countries, like Mexico, have continually used cane sugar for their Coca-Cola for years now. Their usage of the stuff comes from cane sugar just being easier to grow in Mexico.
And lots of people prefer it - so lots of people tend to buy this Passover-friendly drink, even if they're not Jewish.
"Mexican Coke" was even a trend on TikTok for a while. According to Mashed, people say that not only the difference in sugar but also the type of packaging might affect things.
People say that the glass bottles that Mexican Coca-Cola is typically packaged in makes it retain its flavor more. Others say that the bubbliness is just more powerful when it's in a glass bottle.
Have you ever tried either the Passover or Mexican versions? What do you think?
