Thread: Soda - pop - coke

This morning I bumped into a tiny article dealing with differences in regional vocabulary in the US.

So you’re sitting around the table at a holiday party, and you want your Uncle Joe to pass you a can of sweetened, carbonated beverage. Do you ask him for a…

A. soda?
B. pop?
C. coke?

If you are American, the answer you gave is a fairly good indicator of what region you live in within the United States. “Soda” is common in California and most of the northeastern part of the U.S., while “pop” is widely used in the northern states, ranging from Washington state to the Midwest. “Coke” is popular choice in the south, referring to not only the brand name Coca-Cola, but any kind of soft drink from root beer to orange soda. See the survey results map here:

http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.c...pvssodamap.gif

I wonder in this regard if soda is the same as soda water? As far as I know soda water is often added to alcoholic drinks. Does it really make sense if it’s sweetened?

soda, pop or coke refer to any carbonated soft drink: Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, 7up, Dr. Pepper, Mtn. Dew etc.
"Soda water" used in alcoholic drinks usually refers to a drink called Club Soda. Classic example would be Mojito
Other examples of carbonated alcoholic drinks (besides sparkling wines and beer)
Cuba Libre made with rum and Cola
Vodka tonic - explains itself

I see, soda water is just carbonated water. No sugar. Thank you.

Originally Posted by Doomer

Vodka tonic - explains itself

Tonic water is my favorite because the quinine fluoresces under UV light! (Well, it was cool when I was 25 years old and still went to dance clubs.)

Originally Posted by Doomer

soda, pop or coke refer to any carbonated soft drink: Pepsi, Coca-Cola,

In most parts of the US, "coke" refers to "brown cola-flavored" soft drinks, like Pepsi and Coca-Cola. Using "coke" for 7-Up or fruit-flavored drinks is very Southern.

I always knew that Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Fanta are American drinks. But I have been certain for about twenty years that Sprite and 7up are purely Ukrainian inventions, lol.

"Tonic" is also a very Olde New England term for Soda-Pop. Old people that call a refrigerator an "ice-box" say it.

"Pop-Pop" is a drink made in the rural South. Mountain Dew with Moonshine.
I would like to forget that night forever.

A "capecoddah" is cranberry juice with vodka. Very much like myself.

Originally Posted by capecoddah

A "capecoddah" is cranberry juice with vodka. Very much like myself.

Short version of cosmopolitan ?

I live in the south, myself. For the most part people use the word "soda" more often. "Pop" is kind of old fashioned, and as some people have already commented, "coke" refers primarily to those dark sodas similar to Coca-Cola. At least down here, someone would be more apt to say, "Pass me the soda, please." If there are several drinks available, then they would ask for the particular name There may well be regional differences though, as you commented, Lena.

From the Supper & Dinner Thread...

Originally Posted by rockzmom

The Great Pop vs. Soda Controversy

Using the World Wide Web to gather and process data from across English-speaking North America, I intend to plot the regional variations in the use of the terms "Pop" and "Soda" to describe carbonated soft drinks

The Pop vs. Soda Page

Pop vs. Soda Stats

In our household... it's is soda (yet only Hubby drinks the stuff)

Originally Posted by Lena

I always knew that Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Fanta are American drinks. But I have been certain for about twenty years that Sprite and 7up are purely Ukrainian inventions, lol.

Your Sprite and 7up (and soda in general) tastes better (as it does throughout most of Europe). Sodas distributed in America are made with high fructose corn syrup rather than cane sugar, and the taste is dramatically different (and too sweet, if you ask me).

Originally Posted by zxc

Your Sprite and 7up (and soda in general) tastes better (as it does throughout most of Europe). Sodas distributed in America are made with high fructose corn syrup rather than cane sugar, and the taste is dramatically different (and too sweet, if you ask me).

It would be interesting to taste the difference in the ingredients and how they change the product...

Originally Posted by zxc

Your Sprite and 7up (and soda in general) tastes better (as it does throughout most of Europe). Sodas distributed in America are made with high fructose corn syrup rather than cane sugar, and the taste is dramatically different (and too sweet, if you ask me).

Originally Posted by kgcole

It would be interesting to taste the difference in the ingredients and how they change the product...

Depending upon where you buy the soda, Coke products are made and distributed in the U.S. using cane sugar and not high fructose corn syrup. You can find them with the "Yellow Cap" in the Kosher section and...

Another way to find Cola-Cola with cane sugar is to seek out the Mexican formula, which is said to taste better than its American counterpart. It’s often difficult to find, but most Hispanic groceries and many restaurants are now selling it, along with some Costco and Kroger chain stores in areas with large Hispanic populations. Originally it was bootlegged in from across the border to keep local US bottlers from losing sales, but Coca-Cola now imports it into the US in small quantities.

Last year, Pepsi had both Pepsi and Mountain-Dew "Throwback" which was made with cane sugar as well. I'm not certain if that is still available.

"Kosher Cola". Local Coke plant doesn't bottle it. I asked 2 days ago (I was waiting for my mother at a doctor's office 2 doors away).

"Jolt Cola" "All the sugar and twice the caffeine". Mix with 100 proof bourbon or 151 proof rum.

"Soda" and "Pop" are interchangeable terms for "Soft Drink" (carbonated drink not containing alcohol). The western part of the united states normally refers to it as "Pop" while the eastern refers to it as "Soda" "Coke" is short for "Coco-Cola" which is a brand name for a "Cola" drink, although some people use "Coke" as a generic term for "Cola".