So seriously - why are there NO major brands of soda with cane sugar?

[episodic]

I'd gladly pay a buck or two extra for a 12 pack. Yea, I know about imported coke from Mexico - but around here it is more than a dollar a bottle. Too expensive. They had pepsi throwback ONE time I got 3 cases. I told my son, I bet we never see it again - and I still have not found it again. Why on earth does not one of the major soda manufacturers make this a niche product? I'm sure they'd get tons of customers.

 

[episodic]

BTW, I know you can find obscure stuff in big cities - which I don't live anywhere near. I'm talking a 'coke' or 'pepsi' product in stock everywhere all the time.

 

[dpearson]

If I'm not mistaken, Jones Soda Company uses cane sugar in their drinks. I can buy it at a Walmart in a city of 23,000 people.

Hope that helps.

 

[xanis]

Jones? I don't know if you can get it everywhere, but it seems like it can be found in a lot of places.

 

[GasX]

I am a big fan of Boylan's when I can find it...

 

[darkswordsman17]

If I'm not mistaken, Jones Soda Company uses cane sugar in their drinks. I can buy it at a Walmart in a city of 23,000 people.

Hope that helps.

Yeah there's Jones Soda, although personally I haven't liked any of the flavors. The regular cola was ok, but I prefer Coke and Dr. Pepper.

I believe Pepsi has said Throwback is a seasonal beverage.

 

[xanis]

I am a big fan of Boylan's when I can find it...

http://www.knowledgeforthirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/DSCN6942.jpg/[img][/QUOTE]

Bad linking skills, but yeah, Boylan's is pretty awesome. :P

 

[episodic]

Had jones here for a while - then it totally disappeared. Use to buy it. Never heard of the rest.

Again - why can't the major manufacturers make a sugar based product. Just one. . .

 

[herm0016]

we can always find throw back Mt. dew and pepsi here.

 

[Fox5]

What's special about cane sugar?

 

[episodic]

Only seen them once. . . the throwbacks that is. . .

 

[xanis]

What's special about cane sugar?

Different taste than HFCS.

 

[Bignate603]

What's special about cane sugar?

My wife and I did a back to back blind comparison between American Coke (corn syrup) and Mexican Coke (cane sugar). You can definietely taste the difference compared to the Mexican stuff the American Coke burns your mouth. The Mexican Coke is much smoother.

 

[sdifox]

move out of sugar protectionist country?

 

[MotF Bane]

Had jones here for a while - then it totally disappeared. Use to buy it. Never heard of the rest.

Again - why can't the major manufacturers make a sugar based product. Just one. . .

I would guess cost.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Had jones here for a while - then it totally disappeared. Use to buy it. Never heard of the rest.

Again - why can't the major manufacturers make a sugar based product. Just one. . .

First, you need to understand how the soft drink business model works (they rely on licensing out to bottlers, they can't just force the bottlers to produce it). It is very much a money issue, and HFCS was generally cheaper than cane sugar in the US (a bit more complex than that, but that's why it went to HFCS for the 70s/80s/90s). That's not quite the case so much any more, but it would require changing their production (so it would cost them money), and the market for it has not been big enough to warrant it. Most people don't care, and there's been plenty that say they can't taste a difference. The supposed health benefits are moot considering how unhealthy these are for you regardless of which sweetener you use. So they can't really market it beyond the taste/quality, which I don't think most people are willing to pay the extra for.

 

[sandorski]

Because you live in the US. It's like the only place on the Planet(probably not true, but close)where "Cane" sugar is a Luxury rather than Common item.

 

[Legendary]

boylan's ftw

 

[xanis]

I would guess cost.

Interestingly enough, according to the USDA the average price per pound for HFCS (dry) in 2009 was about 8c MORE than refined sugar (also 2009). One would think, then, that using sugar would be more cost effective...

EDIT: Links for the interested:

HFCS price table
refined sugar price table
all price tables

 

[episodic]

I guess you guys missed the part where I'd gladly pay up to 2$ extra for a 12 pack. And I know tons of people that love it - I know that they'd sale. Heck all of the pepsi throwbacks sold out in a day around here.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Interestingly enough, according to the USDA the average price per pound for HFCS (dry) in 2009 was about 8c MORE than refined sugar (also 2009). One would think, then, that using sugar would be more cost effective...

EDIT: Links for the interested:

HFCS price table
refined sugar price table
all price tables

But they have to add in a lot less HFCS because it is a lot sweeter than normal sugar

 

[FeuerFrei]

My wife and I did a back to back blind comparison between American Coke (corn syrup) and Mexican Coke (cane sugar). You can definietely taste the difference compared to the Mexican stuff the American Coke burns your mouth. The Mexican Coke is much smoother.

Yeah Coke with real sugar tastes like a totally different product than regular HFCS Coke. I'm like "Is this Coke?".

 

[xanis]

But they have to add in a lot less HFCS because it is a lot sweeter than normal sugar

Didn't know that. I guess it makes sense then... it's more expensive, but the small amount that they put in it has to make it more cost-effective.

 

[killster1]

I guess you guys missed the part where I'd gladly pay up to 2$ extra for a 12 pack. And I know tons of people that love it - I know that they'd sale. Heck all of the pepsi throwbacks sold out in a day around here.

i dont even drink soda unless its a drink of my kids orange or strawberry soda. They are not old enough to buy anything and i wouldnt pay a extra 2$ a 12 pack i buy 80 cent 2 liters personally. They do sell throwback here in the country where are you that they dont? ever think of going to a big store once and a while to stock up?

 

[mmntech]

My wife and I did a back to back blind comparison between American Coke (corn syrup) and Mexican Coke (cane sugar). You can definietely taste the difference compared to the Mexican stuff the American Coke burns your mouth. The Mexican Coke is much smoother.

This. I've often wondered if Latino grocery stores sell it.

Interestingly enough, according to the USDA the average price per pound for HFCS (dry) in 2009 was about 8c MORE than refined sugar (also 2009). One would think, then, that using sugar would be more cost effective...

For some bizarre reason I don't understand, corn farmers seem to hold a lot of political clout in the US. Apparently the reason why HFCS is so wide spread is because of politics more than anything else. Corn growers receive massive subsidies from the federal government.

Unfortunately it trickles up here because most of the beverages sold in Canada are produced in the US, or use American recipes. Throwbacks aren't available in Canada.

Because you live in the US. It's like the only place on the Planet(probably not true, but close)where "Cane" sugar is a Luxury rather than Common item.

I know for a fact that treacle and "golden syrup" are are staples in the United Kingdom instead of corn syrup.