Small, medium and large. Short and stout. Medium and hefty. Long and slim. Who would have thought that Diet Coke, or Coke Light in some markets, could come in so many sizes??? It’s ultimately not shape or size that counts, but total volume, right? Heeheehee. Okay, okay, I am being silly. Do not unleash the prude police on me, please. Anyone who has read this blog diligently for months and months would probably know that I am a huge Diet Coke fan. And I drink several cans a day, though I still consume more water than soft drinks. You could say I am addicted. Several well-meaning readers have sent me emails on all the reasons I should give up this bad habit and I have done some basic research (and even gave it up almost completely for a while), but from a risk perspective I suspect it isn’t any more risky to drink Diet Coke than it is to live and drive a car in Manila, or Johannesburg or Timbuktu, for that matter. For most of my life, I was a regular Coke fan, but for the past ten years or so, I switched to avoid added calories. So while I don’t have many vices, Diet Coke would have to be one of them, if it indeed qualifies as a vice. Several readers who ARE Diet Coke fans have also sent me all kinds of emails to try Coke Zero, compare Diet Cokes across continents, etc. etc. In the end, Diet Coke/Coke Light just happens to be my current soft drink of choice, after water. I like it ice cold, and I have it several times a day. I can pick it out of a line up in a blind taste test. If it turns out 20 years from now that it was the definitive cause of my cancer at the time, well, so be it. At the rate the warnings are going out these days, I could get cancer worrying about getting cancer…
So, where are these specimens from? The long and narrow one is South Korean, the short and stout one is British and/or French, and the medium and hefty one is from Hong Kong Chinese (same size as the Pinoy ones). The South Korean one packs 250ml, The British or French dude has just 150ml or TWO GULPS for me, and the Chinese/Pinoy one has 333ml. I suspect the different sizes are meant to serve different purposes like unusual vending machines, restaurants wanting to charge an arm and a leg, etc… but I was just intrigued to see so many different options. And I am curious why Asian markets have the renamed version Coke Light rather than the original Diet Coke… The two foreign specimens are still on my desk at home at the moment, looking seriously homesick. Or maybe they are just intimidated by their large Pinoy cousins… :) Hahaha!!! I jest. I jest. Rude comments will be deleted. :)
39 Responses
i got an email saying that the sickness caused by Diet Coke is the MS (multiple screlosis) (im not sure of the spelling!) because of the aspertame being put as sweetener.
Me and my Coke Light are best buds! Trying to lessen my gulps though when I started going back to the gym and now have it as my special treats on Sundays. I have to admit that I do reach out for it during stressful hours during the week (yes, i’d cheat with a can of coke light every so often)
Hail to the mighty drink! Bottoms up, MM!!!
Hi MM. I know how you feel. I was a Diet Coke fanatic too but I quit last August 1. Now’s the longest time I’ve been Coke free. I still consider it the best substitute to water as it is zero calorie. I loved putting all of it in a glass full of ice to the brim so that when I drink I could feel the fizz and the coldness of the beverage. Ang sarap. A patient has been challenging me to quit so I did.
I read an article several months ago when Coke Zero was still new here in the US. It explained to me why I never liked Diet Coke but was able to appreciate Coke Zero…
Remember the “New Coke” fiasco of the 1980s? Well, apparently, Diet Coke is “New Coke” with artificial sweeteners. Coke Zero, on the other hand, is “Classic Coke” with artificial sweeteners. That was a Eureka moment for me. Because I hated “New Coke” with a passion, it stands to reason that I would hate Diet Coke as well. Because I love “Classic Coke”, I like Coke Zero.
Incidentally… the Coke Zero sold in the United States is sold in a lot of other countries as Coke Light. I’m not sure if the Philippines is one of them.
ha ha ha it’s not the size that counts but the quality of the beholder.
I’m in love with Coke Light!ü Same with you MM, I could also pick it out in a blind taste test.ü
I heard about the aspartame scare (which did not stop me from drinking); I received an email about it being cleared out though, that it was ok to drink Coke Light (can’t say I can generalize all products containing aspartame).
Either way, hooray for Coca Cola Light/Diet Coke!ü
Yes, how can we give up our Coke fix. I actually like the British cousins of the 333ml Pinoy Coke. It puts a tolerable limit to what one can consume. I guess we finish the whole 333ml coz its just to be consumed. As we Pinoys would say…sayang naman. But what I’m looking forward to is trying the new Coke light version with added vitamins and minerals. Its name passes me now but I saw it in a Yoga magazine. Coke… a healthy drink?…I’m not complaining.
Conservative position on Aspartame and cancer link:
https://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_1_3X_Aspartame.asp?sitearea=PED
Slightly alarming recent European study:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/34040.php
https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/28/health/webmd/main712605.shtml
Alternative zero-calorie, all-natural sweeteners:
https://www.stevia.com/SteviaArticle.asp?ID=2269
At the Salcedo Market, Gil Carandang sometimes has fresh stevia. Across him is a stall that sells homemade bottled ice tea sweetened with stevia. I forget the brand, but I vouch that it’s great-tasting iced tea, sweet but not cloying the way some iced teas are. I believe he also sells at the Legaspi Market on Sundays. You should try it.
I’m not anti-Coke, I love it too. In fact, I’ll even bring you home a can of the 8oz. mini Coke to add to your collection https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2006-04-12-portion-controlled-snacks_x.htm.
Growing up, we rarely had soda at home because my mom didn’t care for it. But whenever she cooked pancit, she always made sure we had coke because she claims pancit tastes better with it. Funny memory this post brought to mind. :)
I cant help but google… :)
Diet Coke – sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium (ace-k)
Coke Zero – has about half the aspartame but has more ace-k than Diet Coke
“As for Coke Light, in certain countries, the term “diet” is not used to describe low-calorie foods and beverages. In these countries, Coke light is offered, wherein the sweetener blend used is formulated for each country based on consumer preference.”
I never really liked anything with artificial sweeteners, so i hated anything with the “Diet” word. I would choose water over any diet softdrinks period. But times a changing, i just got introduced by wifey to this new artificial sweetener “Splenda”, and kinda liked it with my coffee, but upon googling it, i still have some aprehensions, so im sticking with my regular “cane” sweetener for now.
I love love LOOOOOVE Diet Coke!!!! 12 cans a day is nothing surprising (Yes, I know, its baaaad). Its just thats I’ve noticed it tends to stain my teeth so my OC-ness leads me to ALWAYS drinking it with a straw! HAHAHAHA
i love diet cherry coke….i heard the MS thing with aspartame too, but I got an e-mail that the diabetes Assoc. is trying to play it down bec. Sweet & Low sponsors them?!?!?!?!?! This could be a hoax too you never know — that’s why don’t believe 90% of the things e-mailed to ya!!!!
p.s.
this is the first time i came across mm.com and i love it this site! i will regularly check this now!! hehehe more power and merry Christmas!!!
I’m gonna to dissent here: I prefer the taste of Pepsi Max to Coke Light. It’s sweeter without the weird aftertaste associated with diet sodas.
That being said, since Coke Light is more readily available, I’ll take it over regular sodas anytime :P
I’ve never quite appreciated the taste of ‘lite’, ‘diet’ sodas. I guess the taste of aspertame in sodas doesn’t quite sit well with my tastebuds. My late dad was a huge ‘diet’, ‘lite’ Coke drinker…and left quite a few cans( he didn’t get cancer from it..it’s just his soda of choice bec he was diabetic)..But I do looove classic Coke and all sorts of flavored Coke…it’s my brand of choice.
Here in Australia Coke, Diet Coke and Coke Zero (Zero is the Coke eqivelant of Pepsi Max) comes in 375ml cans.
I remember reading that some Cokes made in Europe or S. America still use cane sugar and not corn syrup for regular Coke. They say it tastes better, but I’ll leave that up to the Coke-heads to sum up. Coke, the regular kind, is still my softdrink of choice.
I have recently been to Japan and although found it quite difficult to find diet coke in restaurants over there, the many vendo machines all over the place had them, I found the most intresting shapes and sizes for Coke cans over there. too bad i didn’t take pictures.
When i was pregnant, one of the things i craved for was Coke light with a slice of lemon… of course i was scared to indulge bec of all the stuff they say about aspartame… but one study i came across (after a google search) said that a pregnant woman has to consume about 8000 cans of coke light/diet for the baby to be affected by the supposed effects of aspartame… I still didn’t give-in to the craving though, was too brainwashed against aspartame…
Mila,
Yes, Coke made with cane sugar does taste slightly different and slightly better than Coke made with corn syrup. Here in the US, if you want Coke made with cane sugar you can look for Coke that’s made in Mexico, which a few shops and restaurants do carry.
When I was in grade school, recess was always a sandwich with coke of sprite. It was all they served. Twice a day recess x how many years of school? Think of the truckloads of coke I must have drunk!
I have (supposedly) given up drinking sodas already, but my preferred choice would have to be Coke Cherry, or Cherry Coke, whatever it is called.. ;P
xmas in greece or uk the cans are decorated with festive theme… anyway am not an addict but this is my choice of fizzy drink (soda na pala nasa states ako.. hahaha am driving my crew nuts with my brit english)
Coke Light forever, aspatame scare be d***ed!!!!
Was lucky enough to get a free trip to S.Korea and they have the mini version of Coke there too. Sayang, I wasn’t able to take a pic but it looks like a “Mini Me” of the regular sized Coke can. Cute!
coke light is love. :)
coke zero tastes a lot like coke light here in manila. i remember being told that there is no taste difference between coke zero and diet coke. as a confessed addict, i can attest that there is a difference. plus, i love the bad-ass black can/packaging of coke zero. gulp! gulp! :)
Vanilla Coke is LOVE!
Tall diet coke for me too please with plenty of ice! I must admit though, I have been a traitor lately and have been enjoying Pepsi MAX. Does anyone remember Tab? I lived on bottles of of TAB in college.. I remember it tasted really bad but zero calories!
Cecile J,
The mini soda versions are common on almost all domestic airlines here in the U.S., i think the soda manufacturers just do this for the airlines.
The tall can has some practical sense in it. The slimmer the can is, the quicker it is to cool (or as you and me like it, get ice-cold). Less wait. Good for picnics.
Forgive me but since I came here in Qatar, I’ve switched my loyalty to Diet Pepsi although I was a coke fan before. Pepsi (regular and diet) just seem to taste better here and I love them in 355mL bottle with plastic resealable cup.
We have those 150mL coke size here in Qatar and I see them a lot on-board some airlines.
Somehow Pepsi never comes at par with Coke. Coke Light is simply light years ahead of Pepsi Max and Diet Pepsi (though the “33% more” bottles is a great shopping bargain….)
I am also hooked on Diet Coke my last round is at 4:00 p.m. If I have one after 4:00 p.m. it will keep me up until midnight. Diet coke and rum is a good drink especially in blazing hot summer months with barbecue or grilled hamburger- it is like traveling to Puerto Rico!
Yeah! And jack daniels-coke.. really good.. makes me wild.. hahaha
i like the calorie-ful kind. hahaha. i can’t take the aftertaste of the diet sodas. though that’s what others(like you) look for.
how do you like your soda? from glass bottle, pet bottle, can or soda fountain machine?
i just came across your blog and i must say that i’m really enjoying my stay and will keep coming back :)
and yes, like you, i looooooooove my coke light! :) it’s a must at home. a meal doesn’t feel complete without it (yes, even breakfast sometimes! addict! hahahahaha!) although i will really try my best to lessen my intake in 2008. nyahahahahaha! wish me luck! :P
I drink regular coke, I find that diet/light coke is far too sweet for my taste! I’m no regular drinker (of coke that is), although it is readily available in our house as my husband is biG coKE dRinkeR, be it in can or in the bottle (whenever and where ever you’ll get one on sale, hehe) My mother who is diabetic prefers diet coke, but I heard that they’re not good for you because of “aspertame”. And I’m ashamed to admit that my daughter is slowly following her dad’s addiction, and that’s my concern because I know that when she’s home with her daddy she’ll be having coke and water in her meal. Oh I just thought I’d share this to you guys, when my daughter was about a year or so, she was learning her words, i remember it very well, we were eating, and as usualy my husband was drinking coke, my daugther blurted out “pop, pop” or “pap, pap”, my husband was to happy as he thought that she was saying “papa”, but then she raised her hand and pointed out to a big bottle of coke sitting in fron of her! All I can do was shake my head and laugh…Well it could’ve been “papa” too, you know, oh well, that I will never forget! :)
hi guys! googled cherry coke and this page came up. I do hope anyone of you can help me here. Where can I possibly buy cherry coke? It’s still around right? This is my girlfriend’s (well ex) ultimate favorite softdrink and she’s been looking for these but we just couldn’t find them! It’s part of my Christmas present for her. I live in qc area by the way. Any chance one of you saw cherry coke in the grocery shelves?
dude, I saw some cherry cokes at S&R a few weeks ago. I am not sure if they still have it in stock.
Hi Marketman! Cool! I’ll check that out (and find someone who’s a member haha.) Thanks super!