McCol
I sipped this before smelling it. Bad idea.
Based on the harmless-looking sprig of wheat or barley on the can, I figured it would be something like Nikola Kvas, especially since Korea is so close to Russia. Boy, was I wrong.
That first sip of McCol was terrible and overwhelming. It's really fizzy and sour, and tastes like lemon juice mixed with beer that's gone bad. It's worth saying again, it's really fizzy, so fizzy that when you sip it forms a foam in your mouth because of all the fizz. It's one of the worst drinks I've ever tried, and I couldn't actually take more than two sips.
I seriously can't imagine anyone liking McCol. I had to force myself to take a second sip so I could reasonably describe what it tastes like. But I've heard differently too. One of my thirsty friends guzzled the drink down without blinking, and I've read on a Korean blog (in English) that it just tastes like Coke or Pepsi with a slight barley aftertaste. Supposedly it's even somewhat good for you, fortified with Vitamins A, B, and C.
At the risk of being guilty of just "not giving McCol a chance," I was happy when I discovered a French blog (in French) that agrees with me. The author describes McCol like this:
"I'll be honest with you, it's disgusting. It does not resemble cola too much, rather a kind of Rivella which has aged poorly. Not great so I do not advise it."
- Louline (via Google Translator)
8 Comments
thanks for the quoting
(don't drink McCol, it sucks)
Actually i think its really nice. It doesn't fizz up on contact at all. as opposed to coke and pepsi...which also contains pesticides..mmmm
whereas mccol contains vitamins b1 b2 and c (riboflavin)
it has actually suffered several smear campaigns by coke over the last 10 years, suprise, are you a coke shareholder?
hehe, but still..for a balanced argument. i think its really nice, works with whiskey etc and tastes much nicer that the pesticidal rust descaler of mainstream cola.
try it for your self..dont just listen to what your told.
ps.. heres a LOT of other opinions on the matter:#
http://thedailykimchi.blogspot.com/2006/11/barley-coladoes-anyone-drink-mccol.html
I just hate one sided arguments against indepentant buisiness, in favor of global giant evil-mega corps.
(sorry for typos, am eating as i type...also am drinking it right now!)
Ed,
I did try it for myself and honestly thought it was disgusting. I'm aware that some people like it, and that's fine. To each his own.
I'm not a coke shareholder, by the way. I'm not sure what that has to do with McCol though except for the fact that it is supposedly a "cola."
I'm sure you're completely aware that the taste buds of non-Americans can be very different from our own. I can say that yes, McCol is a strong flavored beverage, and that's one reason why Koreans like it. We used to pour McCol and Coke into identical clear glasses and compare them side by side. McCol had a dark, and richly colored foam that looked like what you’d see from a beer, not a soft drink. Conversely, the cola sitting next to it had a pale and insipid look. Korean’s also appreciate that McCol includes some healthy ingredients too. Bearing in mind these points, McCol seems not only to be better for you, but could be said to be manufactured by a company with a higher moral purpose than just making money as well.
Bob,
I wouldn't say that non-American taste buds are different, but they're definitely used to different things. I think that liking or disliking certain foods or drinks is almost as much a result of habit as it is of your actual taste buds. That's why some foods are considered to have 'acquired tastes.'
Good points- acquired taste seems to be the key. I had an interesting experience with my eldest daughter. I brought some raw, sashimi grade tuna "tekka" home from the sushi place where I worked, and then seared it in some sesame oil to (I hoped) make it slightly more appetizing for her. She said, "Daddy, look, it's still raw!" I said, "Yes, it's delicious" without skipping a beat. She tried a little nibble, and from that day when she was fifteen, she still enjoys raw tuna today!