Why is kosher-for-Passover Coca-Cola different from all other Coca-Colas?

Every year, starting as early as February, Jeff Dobro calls supermarkets around Toronto for months leading up to Passover. His question? Whether or not they have a special kind of Coca-Cola in stock—the kind that's kosher for Passover.

While normal Coke is made with high-fructose corn syrup, Passover Coke is made with cane sugar, as many observant Jews are not allowed to consume corn-based products during the holiday. Many Coke drinkers—including non-Jews—prefer it, because it tastes sweeter, they say.

The Passover varietal also brings about a sense of nostalgia for the good old days, back when Coca-Cola was made with real sugar, before cheap corn lured the drink-maker to cut costs in the mid-1980s. On today's episode, we learn how Coca-Cola's bottling plant sanitizes its line to product the kosher product, what the origins are and how Jeff Dobro feels about this must-have addition to his seder table.

What we talked about:

• Find the Kosher Chef on Facebook

Credits

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Victoria Redden is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.