MOXIE

I have heard it described as Dr pepper on steroids . Seems to be a love it or leave it alone item. tastes like medicine to me , my dad could'nt get enough.
Whenever I get down south I look for Sundrop and Cheerwine.

There is a source for is online www.sodaking.com. They offer the original and a few other of the moxie sodas.

Dearfolk,
Moxie is bitter enough that the word has become synonymous with courage, as in "It takes moxie to do that!" (Upper case is unnecessary in this, a more generic, usage.)
Obviously, it's an Indian name... a look at the map of Maine showed me Lake Moxie, nestled up heading toward the Quebec border on the New Hampshire side. However, as it was related to me by someone from New Hampshire who lived in Maine for awhile and who loves the soft drink, the word actually is from a local Indian dialect and means "bitter" or "bitter water." Apparently the lake contains some harmless mineral salts concentration that renders the water quite bitter: talc,perhaps... in any event, the soft drink name derives from that fact, not just the lake name, according to Elizabeth.
I enjoyed my first taste of it in September of last year when I lucked onto large bottles of it in a supermarket in Waterbury, CT. while visiting a friend in Litchfield. It was love at first taste. The company that makes it is in headquartered in Doraville, Georgia, but I've looked for years and never found it anywhere hereabouts; I'd been itching to try it since forever. It's funny that I have returning far-New-Englanders bring me back some of that along with Ipswich brews and local potato chips. Fortunately for me, a Diet Moxie is also on the market (I have to minimize my sugar intake) which lacks none of the amazing bitterness of the original.
It's the best soft drink I've ever found, disregarding Athens, Georgia's own late, lamented cherry-ginger conoction, Budwine. If only someone would get the rights to resurrect that!....
Pop-Culturally, Ort. Carlton in Athens, Georgia.

There was an article in this past Wednesday's New York Times about regional sodas that mentioned Moxie, "Surviving by Fizzy Logic"
by Paul Lukas.

It's the first time I've heard of Moxie soda, and found out that's where "moxie" comes from. Moxie was "marketed in Maine in 1876 as a patent medicine called Moxie Nerve Food. But even after sweetening and carbonation were added in 1884, Moxie's flavor — derived from the gentian root, once considered a cure-all — was an acquired taste, to put it kindly."

The article also mentions Cheerwine, commenting that it started as prohibition-era alternative to alcohol, like root beer and ginger ale.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/23/dining/23SODA.html
(This link will only be active for a few more days, then the article will be available in the archive for a fee.)

Have you ever licked a telephone pole or railroad tie? That is about what Moxie tastes like.

I've never heard Moxie's taste described as comparable to Creosote (the toxic substance that was applied to telephone poles and railroad ties). It definitely is an acquired taste.

Does it taste like Brio Chinotto -- the Italian drink?

Moxie is just the thing to wash down a dynamite and a bag of Humpty-Dumpty cheese and onion chips.
Sure, it's an aquired taste, but so is single-malt scotch.
Top
(90 miles from Moxie Falls)

It took a bit of time to gain an appreciation for MOXIE, but once I achieved that I have enjoyed the soda now and then.
With all due respect the soda has 'Character' and that makes it noteworthy in my book.

Licking a railroad tie.... Yep, that's it! LOL. The kids and I each got a bottle at Pray's General Store, waaaaaaay out in the north Maine woods. Nick and Chels both sprayed theirs out of their mouths. I took a couple more drinks but I just couldn't hunt with that dog. Tastes kinda like Paregoric also.

Dearfolk,
I'm down here in Georgia undergoing Moxie withdrawal... I have one large bottle of the Diet left and none of the regular. Hopefully my friend Steve will go to Waterbury, CT. over Christmas and bring me back some more... he can return the empties and get credit, after all.
Wouldn't Moxie go great with dandelion greens straight out of the can with a hit of pepper vinegar on them? Or some Tabasco(R) to boot? Yeah, that's the ticket.
Not Bitterly, Ort. Carlton in 30601-land.
P. S. Angostura Bitters are entirely another thing. I like a drop or three in Diet Dr. Pepper. Go ahead, tell me I'm whacked.

I went to the Union Maine fair this summer, and took a look through the Matthews Museum, which has a special section devoted to the man who invented what was originally known as "Moxie Nerve Food". They were raising money to restore the world's largest moxie bottle. Seemed like a worthy cause...I bought a T-Shirt and a six pack of Moxie.

Acquired taste indeed. I found it takes more than 6 to acquire that taste...as I'm not there yet.

It is easy to buy here in Massachusetts, but I don't because I don't like it.

It was my Moms favorite---and actually--i liked too, although everyone told me i wouldnt---even after id brinking it for yrs at family events someone ALWAYS said--oh you wont like that! I only get it now when i visit back home.

Whenever my parents visit me here in boston ther eis always a trip to the grocery store to buy out all the moxie. Not hard actually as they only stock like a hlf dozen or so 1 liter bottles at a time. My dad loves the stuff. And after not really liking it growing up, I tried some and found that I do like it.

Whenever I go to Farnhams ( a great fried clam place) I get a can of Moxie. Makes me feel more like a new englander somehow!

Being a 'Mainer',I cannot remember a time,growing up,when Moxie was not in the fridge. I have always enjoyed it and now being somewhat grown-up,I will stand by my conviction that Moxie is the greatest hangover 'softener'(there is no cure)ever!
The food channel does a show on the annual Moxie festival,which perhaps is taking things a bit far,but is part of maine culture. All things being equal,Ted Williams endorsed the stuff and was known to actually drink it...GO SOX.

Moxie was one of the standards among kids when I was growing up in Connecticut. Another standard was Iron Brew.

My partner found Moxie at Beverages and More here in California. It sits in the fridge for months at a time because he insists on buying it. I agree with the comparison to creasote. All the more for you Moxie lovers!

This soda has recently been turning up in more and more stores and shops here in Connecticut. One day my curiousity got the better of me and I bought a bottle. It was the most disgusting tasting thing Ive ever drank. Like a non alcoholic Jegermeister. I dont mean to offend anyone and probably was just expecting something different...but man!!!

quote:

Originally posted by kilerclown

This soda has recently been turning up in more and more stores and shops here in Connecticut. One day my curiousity got the better of me and I bought a bottle. It was the most disgusting tasting thing Ive ever drank. Like a non alcoholic Jegermeister. I dont mean to offend anyone and probably was just expecting something different...but man!!!

Are you trying to say that you do not care for the delightfully complex taste of Moxie? Surely not.

Definitely an acquired taste, I visited the wonderful state of Maine the summer before last and finally got to try some Moxie, the creosote comparison is close. The Mainers were pretty defensive about the taste, I compare it to traveling in India - you hate it for the first month, then you love it for the rest of your life....

Had my first taste of Moxie today at the Red Square Cafe here in Portland, Oregon. Interesting taste, like Dr. Pepper mixed with fruity cough syrup. i could learn to like this stuff!

quote:

Originally posted by mr chips

Had my first taste of Moxie today at the Red Square Cafe here in Portland, Oregon. Interesting taste, like Dr. Pepper mixed with fruity cough syrup. i could learn to like this stuff!

You could learn to like the stuff! You mean they ruined it???

My grandmother always used to have this in her fridge when I was a kid. She died when I was 10 and we got the remaining bottles. I think that's the last time I've ever drank it.

Welcome to the 'Real Soda World' Mr Chips. Be careful that the addiction doesn't grab you. It may take awhile, but if you drink MOXIE for a period of time it WILL take hold!

In truth, it let me go, or I let it go.

Loved the stuff when I was a kid. Tried it again in my 30s and: cherry-flavored creosote. Tasty as that goes, but nothing I need to stock up on.

It's been about 10 years. Maybe I'll try it again, if it crosses my path.

quote:

Originally posted by hilldweller


The article also mentions Cheerwine, commenting that it started as prohibition-era alternative to alcohol, like root beer and ginger ale.

While it was clearly available during Prohibition,[url='http://www.cheerwine.com/index.cfm?event=getSince1917']Cheerwine's official history[/url] indicates that it was available earlier.

quote:

Originally posted by drpep

Have you ever licked a telephone pole or railroad tie? That is about what Moxie tastes like.

Nope, but I toted so many railroad ties building corrals in my younger days this creosote cola sounds pretty rough!

I was just surfing the boards when I came across the Jagermeister quote. I love it! For years, I've tried to describe the flavor to other and that hits it on the head. I tried it a number of times in Wiscasset and New Harbor. ME, but never develpoed a taste for it. I think there is or used to be a Moxie Festival up there each year. If you go to www.moxiefestival.com, there's info on this year's goings on. I think though, the site is under construction at the moment.

quote:

Originally posted by kilerclown

This soda has recently been turning up in more and more stores and shops here in Connecticut. One day my curiousity got the better of me and I bought a bottle. It was the most disgusting tasting thing Ive ever drank. Like a non alcoholic Jegermeister. I dont mean to offend anyone and probably was just expecting something different...but man!!!

When we would travel to Maine each summer to visit relatives they would try to get my sister and I to drink it. No thank you then and no thank you now. Always reminded me of well used motor oil.

Moxie, is very gross. I tend to think of it as a combo of Dr. Pepper, Coke, Pepsi, Tea, and a few herbs, all left to sit out in the sun for a few centuries, and then its bottled.



That stuff is unpalatable.

Only to the uneducated palate.
When I was working construction I always asked the roach coach operator for Moxie, got to be a joke between us. Well he decided one week to pick up a six pack to shut me up. When he got to our stop and the banter begain he told me he sold it all on the first stop. He wasn't jokeing.
As time went on he was selling 2 cases a day of the stuff. I still have it on a daily basis during the summer, SOFT drink of choice for me. But over the years they seem to have toned it down a bit. I think Coca-Cola owns it now or at least the bottling rights. Chow Jim

This is a true story. No, really, it is!
A former co-worker had worked at the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Portland,Me. She was QA and periodically had to taste some of the stuff coming down the line to check it. She hated Moxie, so never checked its flavor. This was YEARS ago.
I don't know which is worse: Moxie or uninspected Moxie. As a New Englander born and bred, it pains me to admit the stuff is HORRIBLE!

QFan finally had his first actual taste of the stuff this past Fall. Yecchhhh! Tastes like cough syrup or bad mouthwash. However, I continue to read w/ interest the posts on RF from others about their Moxie experiences. Seems you either love it or hate it. There's no in-between!

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

All you fellow moxie lovers mark your callenders now.
www.moxiefestival.com

Just another great reason to visit the state of Maine.
Chow Jim

Hey
Just ordered some moxie and Zero Bars from Hometown Favorits, Just had to try Moxie.

Jim

I tried Moxie at Old Orchard beach in the 50's as a kid, I sort of liked it, later I tried it ice cold out of an old Coca-Cola ice chest you would put you hand into the ice cold water and pull out the soda or should I say tonic you wanted...Cold it was very good.

During USAF basic in San Antonia circa 1965 July temp way up there we were not allowed to have any Soda for first few weeks, finally the DI gave us a "Patio Break" I tried Dr. Pepper for the first time, I swear it was like the Nector of the Gods ice cold cherry delicious!