I’m often asked what, if anything, I’ll pay full price for. Each time this year, I do a huge stock-up on one thing that’s totally worth it to me… Kosher Coca-Cola!
Yes, this is a lot of Coke. But hey, we all have our vices! :)
A few years ago we decided to eliminate as much high-fructose corn syrup from our diet as possible, but those that know me well also know of my love for classic Coke. So what’s a girl to do? Coke connoisseurs know that the original formula of Coca-Cola was made with cane sugar, and the flavor is unmatched with the HFCS-laden Coke of today.
Now, most of the year, the only ways to get original-formula Coke is either to buy Mexican bottled Cokes at a grocer that carries them, or buy Canadian-bottled Coca-Cola when you’re traveling north of the border… where it’s all made without HFCS. (Yes, I’m probably the only person who has brought cases of Coke back from Canada..!)
But this time of the year, each year, is anxiously awaited by myself and Coke-iphiles all over the country, because once a year, Coca-Cola bottles Kosher Coke for Passover season… and it’s made with natural sugar, not HFCS, as corn products are not kosher.
So, if you love Coke the way I do, and you want the original, delicious, BETTER Coke, look for the yellow-capped bottles designating them as Kosher that are in stores now. The labels also state “Original Formula” On them. Or, do what I did, and ask your favorite Jewel to special-order you enough to last you until NEXT Kosher Coke season. :)
(And no, I didn’t even pay full price for this. I used one of those nice $5 off $50 Jewel coupons, as well as my remaining stash of Catalinas to help offset the cost of my Coke problem! Hee :)
prea says
Now if they only had it in glass bottles too – like the “olden” days!
winehappy says
We were in Mexico over spring break and had pop stocked in our rooms. The kids immediately commented on how good it tasted and sure enough, it was real sugar as opposed to corn syrup. They love Jones Soda for that same reason. We don’t drink a ton of pop, but I’d much rather have sugar than cs.
marylou says
I’m so surprised. I’m no expert but never thought about Kosher CC. I’m going to see if there is any left at my store. I’d love to have less HFCS in our house. I’m just wondering how many of the items you tell us about (thank you) are HFCS free. Do you buy up most of the same things you tell us about? Can you put a HFCS free stamp on the things that you/we should prefer for a healthier us? I guess that is asking a lot, but you’ve got my interest.
Thanks again for all your great info.
Mary Lou
regis says
I’m not much of a non diet soda drinker, but the REAL coke is much better than the swill they sell now……if you are ever overseas anywhere…..Mexico, Canada, all of Europe, Coke is made with sugar.
But anyway, although I no longer live near the Evanston Jewel on Howard Street, that area near West Rogers Park in Chicago has a very large Jewish population and they usually stock a lot of Kosher products, on a regular basis…..I remember a few years back when they did the store over and put in a Kosher Deli and I think 3-4 (maybe more) aisles of Kosher products. So this may be one of the area Jewels that have a large amount of Kosher for Passover Coke.
Just FYI in case anyone was interested.
Lisa K says
I thought my wife, Lisa spent too much time on this web site until I realized that you, Jill, were a big Kiss fan. After finding that out, I loved you just as much as she does! But now, to find out that you are an “original” Coke lover, that is just icing on the cake! I have spent so much money on the 355ml glass bottles from Mexican restaurants or grocery stores because I, too prefer the original flavor. When people ask me why I buy Coke in the glass bottles, they don’t understand why. Even when I explain the difference between the taste of sugar vs. HFCS, they look at my like I have two heads! I had no idea that Coke made a kosher version of this. Thank you, again Jill for always being able to share great info! I hope my Jewel can special order it for me. Just a tip for any “southwest” side people, Tony’s Market at 87th and Harlem in Bridgeview was selling the 355ml bottles of Mexican Coke for $1.00 a bottle the last time I was there (about a month or so ago). They had a huge rack of them in the back of the store.
brian10 says
Do they sell the Kosher coke in cans as well? Or is the 2-liter bottle our only option?
J.R. says
If you’re looking for this, you have to visit the right Jewel. Our here in the Fox River Valley, I haven’t seen it. At the Jewel in Buffalo Grove that we hit for all the Passover stuff, they had stacks of it.
When I talked to the Jewel Kosher product manager, he mentioned stores in Highland Park and Evanston as being major Kosher locations. Buffalo Grove was the closest store with a significant K4P section to me.
As others have said, when we need a real sugar sweetened fix, Woodmans has the Mexican stuff in bottles. I know I’ve seen bottles of Mexican Pepsi too, just can’t recall if it was at Woodmans or elsewhere.
And for those that really want K4P, the Mexican stuff is NOT. I was wondering why diet Coke also had to be K4P since it obviously doesn’t have HFCS in it. What I found is that the carbonation that makes it fizz is also derived from corn.
And I suppose that if you save some 2L Coke coupons, you can use them on the K4P stuff and save some money.
meandthepea says
Jill, I had to laugh when I read about your “addiction” to Kosher Coke. I have one major vice/addiction as well. It’s a soda called Sun-Drop and it hails from WI, my home state. I’ve tried many, many times to have my local stores stock it (from IL to MA to CA) but the main company always says, “no”. It’s the only pop I drink and I have one a day (like a cup of coffee). I live here in Hampshire, IL now, so it’s only a 90 trip to my home town in WI to visit family and fill up my trunk every few months. However, I’ve spent a decade on the East coast, having it shipped either by family or by the distributer, and another 3 years in CA, again having it shipped to me. Big bucks. NEVER A COUPON FOR IT in all these years, but like you….it’s the ONE thing that’s worth it. You’re not alone! Enjoy…… Lynette (meandthepea)
shoptiludrop says
I had no idea HCFS free coke still existed!!!! I always tell my kids how much better coke was when I was a kid…they think I’m crazy, now the hunt is on!
newbie2couponing says
Funny, hubby & I just had a conversation a few weeks ago about this–I said that I wondered how Coke/pop of any kind tasted in Europe because they don’t have products with HFCS over there. He said “what do you mean?”–he didn’t know it was banned over there. Then when I read Jill’s article, I showed him the picture & read him the important parts of it & said I’d have to see if I can find some-I’d be really curious as to how it tasted. Found some today & even halfway warm, I completely understand this addiction!! I drink regular Coke on occasion so I noticed the difference IMMEDIATELY & had to make hubby & MIL try it–MIL even noticed & she rarely drinks pop of any kind! It is so much better tasting than the HCFS stuff! I wish it was more readily available! (And a BIG thanks to the original poster who said they found it at the Milwaukee/Paulina Jewel!! So excited that they still had some when I got there! Thanks a bunch!)
debmart says
I wish I could’ve gotten my hands on some of this. I would love for my sons to have tried the “old” coke. I could not find it anywhere. Do you know of anywhere that might still have it?
Savings R Us says
Any rum deals out there to go with all this coke? :~)
SuperSavingMommyof2 says
I don’t know if this has ever been posted on Jill’s site, but if you register the Coke Rewards Points at Coke you can get $1.00 off coupons on 1-12 pack for every 35 points you bank. I save them all up then just buy and print the coupons when there is a really great deal. Coke coupons are hard to come buy and I am a Coke addict.
Savings R Us says
Just an FYI for Pepsi drinkers. I was looking for the kosher Coke yesterday at Dominicks and both the Coke & Pepsi drivers were in the aisle. The Pepsi driver overheard me asking the Coke driver for the kosher Coke and he said Pepsi also makes a kosher version. It has a white cap. Has anyone seen it?
larryboy says
I found Pepsi “throwback” at Wal-mart the other day and tried it. It was much better than the HFCS version. I have also seen Throwback printed on ads so I’m guessing Pepsi is going to be putting this out everywhere. It makes you wonder if Coke will do the same thing.
suecoupons says
Hi – I was in the Lake Zurich Costco and they had a case of Coke from Mexico in the small glass bottles like we use to have in years past. It was $18.49 for the case. I don’t know if that is really a good deal but for those addicted it works.
jenschopp says
Jill, Just thought I would let you know… Jones Cola also is HFCS free. They have cola, root beer, cream soda, green apple and some fruit one. a 4-pack of glass bottles at Jewel runs a bit over $4 BUT until May 31 they are on sale for $2.99. I have big time stocked up for my husband.
saving for vaca says
I’m Canadian and I never understood why it tasted different over here. When I go home I drink it all the time! LOL
Now I know. Thank you.