People From The South Are Putting Peanuts In Coke
In Southern cooking, in addition to staples like pecan pie and fried chicken, there is one unusual custom that endures: adding peanuts to Coke. This practice dates back to the 1920s, when shelled peanuts were offered in country stores alongside bottled Coke, according to historian Rick McDaniel. Workers started mixing peanuts with Coke as a workable way to prevent handling them with unclean hands.
Another idea connects this custom to road journeys in the days of stick shift automobiles. For drivers, putting peanuts in the Coke bottle provided a hands-free snack option. Enthusiasts advise using salted peanuts and normal Coke for the real deal. Many people claim that drinking from a glass bottle enhances the flavor.
This Southern custom has persisted through the decades despite being unorthodox, and it offers a distinctive combination of sweet and salty flavors that many find surprisingly delightful. It is therefore not surprising to see someone sipping a Coke with peanuts the next time you are in the South, as this is a deeply ingrained custom in Southern history and culture.
