Wednesday, August 6, 2008

OK Kola Champagne is not OK.

I don't really drink soda, but my adopted Puerto Rican mom, Lourdes, insisted that I try OK Kola Champagne, which she buys by the case. This is how the conversation went:

Me: *scrunched nose*

Lourdes: Good, right?

Me: This tastes like super-sugary bubble gum dipped in Splenda.

Lourdes: I know. I took that diabetes test at the doctor's and when I drank that orange $h!t, I was like, DAMN! This is good! It tastes like Kola Champagne!
(Lourdes is originally from the South Bronx, and uses colorful language)

Me: You liked the taste of the Glucose Tolerance Test?

Lourdes: Hell yeah! Because I love Kola Champagne. It's hard to find that $h!t in New York!

So there you have it. Kola Champagne: for a sugar-weary white girl from CT, it's like an orange-y, bubble-gummy Glucose Tolerance Test. But to many Puerto Ricans, it evokes memories of balmy summer days on the island and childhood trips to the local bodega. Or maybe of their last trip to the doctor.

Love it or hate it, Kola Champagne, invented in Puerto Rico, is wildly popular here on the island. And for a truly Puerto Rican experience, it's certainly worth a try. Especially if you really, really love sweet stuff.

14 comments:

Speaking Boricua said...

I have never seen that before but it doesn't surprise me. I have a ridiculous sweet tooth but even I can't handle a lot of the drinks and desserts there. The first time I tried coquito (without rum, granted) I couldn't even believe how sweet it was.

Petchie75 said...

Yuck, it sounds awful! I haven't seen the drink either but with your description of a Splenda-like flavour I will definitely avoid it! (I made the mistake to buy "sugarefree jam" here, I can't eat it - it just tastes of Splenda!! In Sweden sugar-free means sugar- AND sweetener-free!!)

Unknown said...

Kola Champagne is so awesome...It brings tears to me eyes.

Unknown said...

Don't think it was invented in Puerto Rico, it comes from Trinidad and Tobago.

Tried it for the first time in Puerto rico though, and yeah it tastes like super sweet liquid bubble-gum.

Unknown said...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81ngel_Rivero_M%C3%A9ndez

Yes, this type of drink was invented in Puerto Rico, also, DELICIOUS.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

It's great and your mom sounds crazy

Yvette said...

I love kola champagne!

H. Monclova said...

For the people who doesn't have any reference, Kola Champagne has a flavor which reminds of rootbeer, but a little mixed with cola syroup...

anonymous minority said...

I'm a white girl from Brooklyn, and I loooove Kola Champagne!

Unknown said...

Maybe taste sweet, but that doesn't mean s sweet if you read the nutrition fact of the kola champagne version of Coca Cola company in Puerto Rico, you will notice that the quantity of sugar per portion is 24gms vs Coke that have 54gms with a result of 80 kcal per service vs 160 kcal of the Coke. So the OK Cola is a better option than the Coke.

Unknown said...

Maybe taste sweet, but that doesn't mean s sweet if you read the nutrition fact of the kola champagne version of Coca Cola company in Puerto Rico, you will notice that the quantity of sugar per portion is 24gms vs Coke that have 54gms with a result of 80 kcal per service vs 160 kcal of the Coke. So the OK Cola is a better option than the Coke.

Unknown said...

Yes it was invented in Puerto Rico 1890.

hackerman4291 said...

Wow! I lived in Puerto Rico for 13 years and was lucky enough to NEVER drink this! This sounds awful, I hope your taste buds recover! (although, I don't really like sweet stuff in general, haha)