It’s the Real Thing.
Historically rooted in the early 1900s, the practice is believed to be a pragmatic solution for workers in gritty industries like textiles, agriculture, mechanics, and farming. The tradition is supposedly borne of labourers looking for a quick and filling snack that could sustain them through long hours of physical work without having to break to wash their hands. Peanuts, abundant in the South and packed with protein and healthy fats, became a natural choice.
At the same time, Coca-Cola, which originated in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1886, was rapidly gaining popularity as the drink of choice for Americans all over the country.
The combination itself is simple: a small packet of salted peanuts is emptied into a bottle of Coca-Cola. The salty crunch of the peanuts complements the sweet, fizzy cola, the peanuts also soften slightly in the drink as they sit, giving a snack that evolves over the day.
The drink, also known as a “farmer’s coke” became an internet trend back in 2018, and probably now in our backyards.
Why do people put peanuts in their Coca-Cola?
From a taste perspective, the marriage of salty and sweet is the key. The initial sip of Coca-Cola gives way to the savoury crunch of peanuts, creating a gutsy flavour that is a trademark in Southern cooking. Collard greens with brown sugar and salty bacon, slow-cooked barbecue with sweet tangy sauce, and even ham basted in Coca-Cola itself. You get the idea.