Unless you’re from the South (and even then unless you’re a fan of the old-fashioned almost forgotten treat) peanuts and Coca-Cola don’t sound like they belong in the same container. But as strange as it may sound to outsiders the tradition of mixing salty roasted peanuts and soda is actually a culinary quirk that dates back at least a century in the South. Long before current TikTok trends like pickles and Dr. Pepper or coffee creamer soda people were pouring salty nuts into their soda. When the peanuts come into contact with the sugary drink they release their salty flavor into the carbonated beverage. With each refreshing sip you’re treated to a mouthful of crunchy nuts and fizzy sweetness.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
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 13News Now | 2018-08-05 15:45:31 |  4,001 Views |
Putting peanuts in Coke. A sweet and salty southern tradition?
If you’re not one to shy away from a little texture in your drink (boba tea anyone?) or you’re someone who appreciates a classic sweet and salty combo this culinary dinosaur might be one to pull out of the vault and try for yourself. While its origin story has become a bit muddled due to the passage of time most food historians agree that this unique beverage/snack originated in the 1920s. At the time Coca-Cola (which had been around since the 1880s) and packaged shelled peanuts were cheap and easy to find in any typical southern store so they were very popular with working-class folks.
The easy satisfying snack of a cold Coke and a handful of roasted peanuts is a no-brainer for a road trip or a baseball game. The two are readily available at any concession stand or gas station. But the impetus for combining the two into one creation might be rooted in functionality and practicality.
We all have our favorite on-the-go snacks that are easy to eat with one hand in the car and Coke with peanuts may have been born out of a similar necessity. Workers in the 1920s South needed a snack that provided calories and some nutrition but also kept them refreshed and hydrated. Food historians theorize that putting nuts in the bottle of Coke created a drinkable snack that workers with greasy or dirty hands (say after working under the hood of a car or in a sooty coal mine) could enjoy on the job.
