Why does Coca-Cola in Florida taste horrible?

[GL]

When I was 12 or 13 I went to Florida on vacation and the Coke just tasted horrible to me. It had this bitter aftertaste and if Coke could have a best before date, I'd have guessed this stuff was expired. Well, my friend just came back from Florida and he said the same thing - the Coke tastes disgusting! I've been to Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Buffalo and Orlando as far as the U.S. is concerned. I've been to various places in Europe, Japan, and the Phillipines. Of all these places, the only place the Coke tasted so different (and not in a good way either), was Orlando. What's up with that? I know that Coke uses the public water supply...could the filtration process in Orlando be different than other places around the world?

 

[Citadel535]

Maybe it wasn't coke............


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I really have nothing better to say.

 

[snakesnfrogs]

I can guarantee it didn't taste as bad as the Coke you get around Sulphur Springs, TX. Nasty sh!t.

 

[Windogg]

My family is in the beverage business and I can tell you that bottled soda can vary from region to region. Most of time the bottlers (particualarly Pepsi) are independant enties seperate from the parent company. Each one is responsible for daily operations. Variations can occur as the syrup is mixed and can be affected by time of year and a properly maintained distribution chain.

A simpler example. Goto McDonald's and order a Coke with no ice. Sample the flavor, then goto Burker King and do the same. Finally, goto a 7-11 or gas station and do it again. Notice how each one has subtle diffences? it's all due to how systems are setup, variable between different equipment, how long the syrup has been sitting around, etc.. Just like the bottlers on a smaller scale.

Windogg

 

[brxndxn]

I've noticed things like that too.. The Nestea in Florida tastes normal to me (I'm in FL) then it tastes crazy whacko in Spain.

Pepsi seems to be more consistent.. It ALWAYS tastes the same - except when those dumbasses at fast food restaurants don't get the ratio right on fountain drinks..

 

[themightyplatypus]

Coke is nasty no matter where you are. Just my .02 Cents.

 

[AMDJunkie]

There are two bottling stations in FL I think, one in Orlando and one in Hollywood. I like coke in FL, but I wonder what other coke tastes like in other states.

 

[GL]

Thanks for the info Windogg. My dad worked at a Coca Cola bottling plant a while back here in Toronto. But as far as I know, didn't they have to be within a certain accuracy of the original flavour? Coke does vary from place to place but never have I drank such foul tasting liquid as I did in Florida. I kept asking for "Coca Cola Classic" afterwards, thinking they might have given me some American version of Coke (Coke II or something!). Unfortunately, it just tasted horrible. The differences among all the places I've been to are comparable to the difference in the taste of fresh Coke and Coke where ice has melted in it. But this Orlando Coke was just way off the scale in terms of difference. It just had this bitter grossness to it:disgust:

 

[Alienwho]

Any native Orlandians which to clarify this matter?

 

[Jarwa]

Georgia has some great tasting Coke. Their Dr. Pepper tastes much better, too. Better than the stuff that's bottled by Buffalo Rock in Alabama.

 

[tgee666]

Coke in Mexico tastes like diet Coke. It had that bad after taste. Their Coke still came in bottles.