different countries, different tastes

[Morrisonker]

Why do some brand name drinks change taste when you go abroad?  Coca-cola seems to taste the same in the US as in Britain and the rest of the world, but in Spain Irn Bru tastes like eldaflower (sp?).  I was surprised to see it while on holiday, but the taste was just bizarre.

 

I presume it's something about the testing it on local people and finding which tastes they like the best, but surely something like Irn Bru, which is well known for the taste, would keep the same flavour? 

[Dark Angel]

Don't know why, but what you say is true. For instance the Cream Soda is England is fantastic, but in Sri Lanka it tastes quite different- not appalling, but lacks the zest.

[Bangkok]

A lot of 'global' brands differ country to country, to take account of local taste and culture.  Soft drinks (particularly diet versions), cigarettes and fast food all differ, sometimes significantly.  Some products (eg whisky) differ in strength and bottle size, but the base product is the same.

The same product may also be branded under different marques.  General Motors make the Zafira, whcih is marketed as Vauxhall in the UK, Opel in Europe and Chevrolet in Asia, but it is the same vehicle.

[woofgang]

American Dubonnet is disgusting, we have also had this discussion about the cadbury's chocolate that is made in canada

[ursula62]

Apparently there is a Coca Cola museum in the States, with drink fountains offering samples of the different flavours of Coca cola available round the world. 

[IndieSinger]

I've heard of that, ursula62, and also that a similar one exists in Disney World, Florida, where you can sample other Coca-Cola-manufactured drinks from around the world. Apparently, the sample for the UK is Lilt, because not many other countries offer it.

 

The other reason Coca-Cola, for example, tastes so different in different countries is that many of the ingredients are sourced locally. In the US, for example, that would not import all their ingredients from one place and distribute the product back all over the world - there are many Coca-Cola plants in every continent, all getting the raw materials from closer places.

[Peter Pedant]

me! me!! me!!!

My turn!

And yet McD spends a lot of money making sure that the carp they sell as "food" tastes bleeeeuch exactly the same no matter where the poor punter purchases it.

The punters have a choice, I agree, they dont sorta stand outside with guns driving the populace in......