Why do Texans refer to all soda as "Coke"? (Houston: work, house)

[Trainwreck20]

Having worked in a restaurant for many years, everybody orders the 'soft drinks' by the proper name - Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Coke, etc., but when referring to 'soft drinks' in general, the word coke is often used. Go figure .

[houstoner]

I've never noticed, I guess, but I can say I have NEVER heard anyone in Texas refer to it as "pop". I've always said soda, perhaps because I don't drink colas as a general rule, and asked for the check.

[yosoyway]

About 15 years ago we went to visit my brother in law in Georgia. First thing we were asked is if we would like a pop. First thing I thought coming from south Texas, was if I wanted to shoot something. They meant soda.

7 years ago he moved to Michigan and we went to visit him there. The people there called it a pop as well.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by yosoyway

About 15 years ago we went to visit my brother in law in Georgia. First thing we were asked is if we would like a pop. First thing I thought coming from south Texas, was if I wanted to shoot something. They meant soda.

Was he really a native born Georgian?

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Yes, I can remember my grampa always talking about drinking a RC and eating a Moon Pie with it. Another southern tradition is to empty a pack of salty peanuts into a bottled Coke, and then eat them while swishing the Coke in your mouth. Real Coke is also sometimes called "Cocola".

I use to drink RC at my grandparents as that is what they usually had on hand. I'm more of a Dr Pepper girl myself . Never did like Pepsi.

OH YES!!!!!!! I grew up putting peanuts in my coke. They tasted MUCH better when done w/ the glass bottles. Cans and those plastic ones just don't taste the same.

Someone else mentioned the peanut patties............... lordy, I remember those too. Some stores have the double decker Moon Pies (talk about FILLING!!!). The Little Debbie ones are ehh. Gosh, I loved and still do love Moon Pies.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by bellestaroftexas

always a "coke" for me...
tanks (as in stock tanks) and icebox's are routine words in my vocabulary.

i noticed one thing, not sure if it's been mentioned here, but when i am done with a meal, i ask for the "ticket"...i have noticed that in other regions of the US, you ask for the "check"

"throwed off" is another word that i use that turns heads outside of TX...meaning "crazy" or "just ain't right in the head" etc..

different strokes for different people. You have your dialect and I have mine.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Yes, I can remember my grampa always talking about drinking a RC and eating a Moon Pie with it. Another southern tradition is to empty a pack of salty peanuts into a bottled Coke, and then eat them while swishing the Coke in your mouth. Real Coke is also sometimes called "Cocola".

Moon pies. Never tasted one until I was 6 when I moved to South Carolina(from Seattle respectively). They're quite good.

[yosoyway]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Was he really a native born Georgian?

Nope. It's not a Georgia thing?

[TexasReb]

LOL This thread is rapidly becoming a sub-set of the "Texas Tawk" one we did a while back!

Anyway, I was just thinking of what we used to call "coke floats" Y'all 'member them? Coke poured over ice-cream. (yeah, in the THIS case, yankees, it WAS actually co'cola....couldnt resist that! hee hee).

ALSO -- along the same lines as the RC's and moon-pies -- taking a bag of "Tom's Peanuts" and pouring them into your coke BOTTLE, before you drank it?

Ahhh, memories!

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

LOL This thread is rapidly becoming a sub-set of the "Texas Tawk" one we did a while back!

Anyway, I was just thinking of what we used to call "coke floats" Y'all 'member them? Coke poured over ice-cream. (yeah, in the THIS case, yankees, it WAS actually co'cola....couldnt resist that! hee hee).

ALSO -- along the same lines as the RC's and moon-pies -- taking a bag of "Tom's Peanuts" and pouring them into your coke BOTTLE, before you drank it?

Ahhh, memories!

We still do coke floats at our house, also root beer floats. Used to be you could get them at DQ. I don't know if you still can or not. Sonic has root beer or coke floats, I know, but actually the floats are better when using hard ice cream.

When we were able to get a snack to go with our coke, I guess I had a ritual which I varied sometimes, but for the whole, stuck with it. I would get a bag of peanuts (yes it was Tom's) to put in the bottle of Dr. Pepper, when I got it. I would get the package of peanut butter crackers (Tom's also, orange square crackers with peanut butter in the middle) to go with my Coke. Sometimes I would switch the two, i.e. put the peanuts in the Coke. For some reason it has been a long time since I've done this. I've got to get some of Tom's little bags of peanuts and some Cokes and Dr.Peppers and do this with my daughter. She might want to show her kids one day.