Chemistry:Topo Chico
Topo-Chico is a brand of sparkling mineral water from Mexico. Topo-Chico is both naturally carbonated at the source and artificially carbonated.[1]
History
Topo-Chico has been sourced from and bottled in Monterrey, Mexico since 1895. The drink takes its name from the mountain Cerro del Topo Chico in Monterrey.[2][3]
In 2017, The Coca-Cola Company purchased Topo-Chico for $220 million.[3][4] The brand was originally popular in northern Mexico and Texas, with the Coca-Cola Company later helping popularize it across the United States.[3] The drink has a cult following.[3][4][5][6]
According to Consumer Reports, in 2020 Topo Chico sparkling water had PFAS measured at 9.76 ppt, the highest PFAS content of any brand.[7] In 2021 Coca-Cola reduced the level of PFAS chemicals in Topo Chico mineral water, but levels are still above the maximum for bottled water recommended by experts.[8] [9]
130th Anniversary Bottles
The year 2025 marked Topo-Chico's 130th anniversary. As was done for the 125th anniversary in 2020, Topo Chico released a 12-pack of 12-ounce glass bottles with labels commemorating Topo Chico's past. In each 12-pack, every bottle has a "130 YEARS" sticker on the neck of the bottle, but the bottle's primary label is from a specific year: 1895, 1912, 1926, 1943, 1970, 2025. For the bottles with past labels, the year is indicated on the lower left corner of the label. [10]
Cocktail
Ranch water is a cocktail made with tequila, lime juice and Topo-Chico, over ice, a popular drink in Texas.[11] A similar drink, the Chilton, substitutes the lime for a lemon, the tequila for vodka, and adds salt on the rim. The drink allegedly derives its name from a doctor in Lubbock.[12]
Topo-Chico Hard Seltzer
In 2021, the Coca-Cola Co used its[13] sparkling mineral water brand Topo-Chico to launch a range of vegan friendly[14] alcoholic hard seltzers in the United Kingdom and in the United States with Molson Coors.[15][16][17] The range includes Tangy Lemon Lime, Tropical Mango and Cherry Acai flavors in the United Kingdom and flavors such as Tangy Lemon Lime, Tropical Mango, Strawberry Guava and Exotic Pineapple in the US.
In early 2022, Topo Chico ranch water launched their new Hard Seltzer Topo Chico Ranch Water in select markets, along with the national rollout of its variety pack. The product is now available in stores across Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. [18]
Neither Topo Chico Hard Seltzer nor Topo Chico Ranch Water are made with mineral water from the original Topo Chico spring. Rather, they are “inspired by the taste” of the original drink.
Legal issues
In 2023, a New York resident sued Coca-Cola because its Topo Chico Margarita Hard Seltzers do not contain tequila and cited that the product's packaging was misleading about the contents of the beverage. The lawsuit was dismissed later that year.[19] In 2024, a Florida resident brought a similar suit against Coca-Cola, also citing that the product's packaging includes "false and misleading representations and omissions" suggesting that the product contains tequila.[20]
In popular culture
"Topo Chico" is the subject and title of the last song on Robert Ellis's 2019 album Texas Piano Man.[21]
Topo Chico is featured on the album cover of Seattle WA band iji's 2013 album UNLTD. COOL DRINKS.[22]
See also
- List of bottled water brands
- List of Coca-Cola brands
References
- ↑ Johnson, Emily (July 14, 2017). "Topo Chico Is the Best Sparkling Water in the World" (in en-US). https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/why-topo-chico-is-the-best-sparkling-water-review-article.
- ↑ Murphy, Kate (August 4, 2016). "How Do Texans Beat the Heat? With Water From Mexico". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/10/dining/topo-chico-water-mexico.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Navarro, Andrea; Walsh, Brendan (August 5, 2019). "Cult-Favorite Topo Chico Breaks Out of Texas With Help From Coke". Bloomberg Businessweek. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-08-05/cult-favorite-topo-chico-breaks-out-of-texas-with-help-from-coke.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Taylor, Kate (June 15, 2018). "Coca-Cola is using a sparkling-water brand with a cult following to take over a $16 billion industry". Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/coca-cola-secret-weapon-is-topo-chico-2018-6.
- ↑ McDonald, Vicky (October 3, 2017). "6 Reasons Why People Are Obsessed With Topo Chico". Allrecipes.com. http://dish.allrecipes.com/a-few-reasons-why-people-are-obsessed-with-topo-chico/.
- ↑ Cowan, Jill (October 3, 2017). "Coca-Cola buys Texas cult favorite sparkling water brand Topo Chico for $220 million". The Dallas Morning News. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2017/10/03/coca-cola-buys-texas-cult-favorite-sparkling-water-brand-topo-chico-for-220-million/.
- ↑ SCHALTEGGER, Megan (July 17, 2023). "What You Need To Know About The Potentially Dangerous Chemicals In Sparkling Water". Delish. https://www.delish.com/food-news/a44566150/pfas-chemicals-sparkling-water-explained/.
- ↑ Felton, Ryan (February 12, 2021). "Topo Chico Cuts PFAS Levels by More Than Half in New Tests by Consumer Reports". Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/water-quality/topo-chico-cuts-pfas-levels-by-more-than-half-a4286812129/.
- ↑ Kravitz Hoeffner, Melissa (June 3, 2024). "Are 'Forever Chemicals' In Your Favorite Sparkling Water? Here's What to Know". Food & Wine. https://www.foodandwine.com/pfas-in-sparkling-water-8640113.
- ↑ "Topo Chico celebrates 130th anniversary with packaging release". BNP Media. May 15, 2025. https://www.bevindustry.com/articles/97500-topo-chico-celebrates-130th-anniversary-with-packaging-release.
- ↑ Rosenthal, Abigail (June 22, 2020). "Ranch Water is (and should always be) your Texas summer cocktail". Houston Chronicle. https://www.chron.com/life/food/article/Ranch-water-is-and-should-always-be-your-Texas-15358032.php.
- ↑ Bond, Courtney. "The Chilton" (in en). https://www.texasmonthly.com/recipe/the-chilton-cocktail-recipe/.
- ↑ "Topo Chico - Brands & Products | The Coca-Cola Company". https://www.coca-colacompany.com/brands/topo-chico.
- ↑ "Coca Cola's First Alcoholic Drink - Topo Chico ranch water - Off To a "Promising Start"". May 3, 2021. https://vegconomist.com/products-and-launches/coca-colas-first-alcoholic-drink-topo-chico-hard-seltzer-off-to-a-promising-start/.
- ↑ "Age Verification | Topo Chico ranch water". https://www.topochicohardseltzerusa.com/av?url=https://www.topochicohardseltzerusa.com/.
- ↑ Woolfson, Daniel (2020-10-27). "Coca-Cola enters UK booze market with Topo Chico hard seltzer". https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/new-product-development/coca-cola-enters-uk-booze-market-with-topo-chico-hard-seltzer/649763.article.
- ↑ "We Taste-Tested Topo Chico's 4 New Spiked ranch water, So You Don't Have To". https://www.southernliving.com/drinks/topo-chico-hard-seltzer.
- ↑ Topo Chico Ranch Water Launches in Nine U.S. States https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/topo-chico-ranch-water-launch
- ↑ "Coca-Cola Defeats Lawsuit Against Topo Chico Margarita Seltzers, Dismissing Deceptive Labeling Accusations". April 25, 2023. https://tequilaraiders.com/article/coca-cola-defeats-lawsuit-against-topo-chico-margarita-seltzers/.
- ↑ "Florida tequila lover sues Coca-Cola because margarita seltzers don't contain the liquor". March 6, 2024. https://nypost.com/2024/03/06/us-news/florida-tequila-lover-sues-coca-cola-because-margarita-seltzers-dont-contain-the-liquor/.
- ↑ "Robert Ellis - Texas Piano Man [CD]". https://newwestrecords.com/products/robert-ellis-texas-piano-man-cd?_pos=1&_sid=b39e3bbf6&_ss=r.
- ↑ "UNLTD. COOL DRINKS, by iji" (in en). https://ijiiji.bandcamp.com/album/unltd-cool-drinks.
Further reading
- Johnson, Emily (July 14, 2017). "Why Topo Chico Is the Best Sparkling Water". Epicurious. https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/why-topo-chico-is-the-best-sparkling-water-review-article.
- Morabito, Greg (October 2, 2017). "Coca-Cola Acquires Topo Chico, the Sparkling Water for Cool People". Eater. https://www.eater.com/2017/10/2/16401848/coca-cola-topo-chico.
- Roberts, Anna Monette (September 21, 2018). "Why Topo Chico Is the Sparkling Water to Sip". Brit + Co. https://www.brit.co/topo-chico-sparkling-water-success/.
- Walsh, Casey (2018). Virtuous Waters: Mineral Springs, Bathing, and Infrastructure in Mexico. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520291737.
- Winkie, Luke (July 11, 2018). "Why Austin Is Turning Its Back on Topo Chico". Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-austin-is-turning-its-back-on-topo-chico/.
External links
 |  |
