Taste Testing

A long time ago, I experienced true humiliation. I admitted to my friends that I probably couldn't tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi, even though I refuse to drink Pepsi. (That's not the humiliating part.) And so we arranged a taste test. They blindfolded me and I took a sip from the first cup they gave me. I waited a moment to truly experience the taste. And then, when I was ready, they gave me the second cup. I took a sip. I mulled it around. And then I declared, "Oh! The second one is better. Definitely the second one!" I was so sure. I was so emphatic.

I was so stupid. They'd given me Pepsi both times.

Yesterday I sent Murray to the store to stock up on yogurt. I used to be the type to let yogurt go bad in the fridge, but since the diabetes, it's become a diet staple. I have at least 2 yogurts a day, and more often than not, I have 3. That's an expensive habit, at 50 cents a pop. So I've switched to Walmart store brand, which is a mere 37 cents per yogurt. As I gave Murray specific instructions to get the Walmart store brand, he said, "I can tell the difference, you know. I know you said you can't tell the difference. But I can tell the difference."

"Okay," I said. Then pick up a couple of 50 cent yogurts too. Get the same flavors."

Murray's eyes lit up. "A taste test??"

"Yep. We're going to do a taste test. And in fact, while you're at it, go ahead and buy a Coke and a Pepsi. I want to tell if you can REALLY tell the difference."

You see, Murray would rather drink toilet bowl water than Pepsi.

When Murray got home, we busted out a couple of testing glasses. Murray took his turn first to test me. I closed my eyes while he poured the glasses, and then he set them on the counter. I opened my eyes and took a drink from the left cup.

"Okay," I said. I'm getting the taste of this...

Then I waited for my palette to clear and drank from the second one. "Okay. At least I can tell that there's a difference. Hmm... Which is which...?" I tasted them again and then pronounced the left beverage to be Coke.

"Nope. It's Pepsi," said Murray. (In my defense, I'll have you know that I never drink Coca Cola Classic---I always drink Diet Coke. And I was testing Coca Cola Classic.)

So I failed. I chose Poopsi.


Then it was Murray's turn. I carefully poured the drinks while his back was turned. Then he came to the counter and sipped his first drink. Then cleared his palette. Then sipped the second drink. Then pronounced very emphatically and assuredly, "It was Pepsi both times!"

Ha! Hahahahahahahahahaha! It wasn't! I'm not a mean wife and I would never pull that trick on anyone! But here was my husband, who SWEARS Pepsi is disgusting, and he couldn't even tell that there was a difference between the two beverages!!

I assured Murray that he had drunk both Pepsi and Coke and I showed him the equally depleted soda bottles to prove it. So, appropriately humiliated, Murray tried again. And then chose Pepsi to be the winner.

Hahahahahahaahahahahahahaha!

Stay tuned for the results of our yogurt taste test, which we will be conducting tonight or tomorrow!

(My mom has long wanted to host a taste testing party at which guests bring the brand that they're loyal to and a competitor's brand, and see for sure if they can really tell the difference. My dad tells her that it is mean because why shatter their happiness by proving that they don't actually know what's better.)

11 comments:

Sarah said...

I am very excited to hear the results of the yogurt taste test - because I swear I can tell a difference... maybe I can't and could save some dinero. I guess I could just do my own!

MTDA said...

Oh the shame. At least I can tell the difference between s Pixar Film and any variety of sucky non-Pixar films. It's surprising to me when I often hear people say, tha tone is by Pixar right?

I mean, wow. Granted, they advertise it a lot in the commercials and everything, but that's not what I am talking about, it just people seeing a film like 'Over the Hedge' and.....well.....I think I've made my point.

Unknown said...

I think I can tell the difference between Pepsi and Coke, but I've never actually tested it out. Maybe I should one of these days.

Emily said...

Oh, this is easy, I'll tell you the answer:

Pepsi is sweeter than Coke.

I would rock a taste test.

I used to like Pepsi better, and Coke didn't taste sweet enough to me, but then at work they only had Coke in the machines, so I started to drink Coke more. And then I decided I was spending too much on soda and bought Pepsi at the grocery store...but now it tastes too sweet to me and I think I like Coke better.

bedelia said...

I don't know about coke and pepsi but I totally rocked a skittles taste test once.

Carina said...

I'm totally interested in doing that test, because I've always wanted to know if my extreme dislike of Pepsi is rooted in fact or fiction.

I have always disliked Pepsi because it was TOO sweet, and liked Diet Coke because it has a bitter after taste.

I'm all about bitter after taste.

Unknown said...

I would put money on the fact that I can tell the difference in Pepsi and Coke. I will drink both, and infact sometimes crave one more than the other. BUT with other brands I would probably fail miserably! =)

jeri said...

I lurve Pepsi. It is sweeter. But I like Coke too. Since I've started running I've given up both but wow... reading this really made me crave one.

Janssen said...

This is awesome. Can't wait to hear about the yogurt.

For my statistics class at BYU, we conducted a blind taste test of Eggo waffles versus Walmart's brand and Dole pineapple against the Walmart brand.

In both cases, I believe, people could taste a difference and preferred the Eggo waffle (no surprise) but they STRONGLY preferred the Wal-mart pineapple So interesting.

Carly said...

Ha! So funny! I've been wanting to try a taste test with Coke and Pepsi for a while now. I will only drink Diet Coke and Regular Pepsi usually, so I might expand it to include diet and regular of both brands... now that would be interesting!

I'm also excited for your yogurt results... I'm super picky about my yogurt as well.

daltongirl said...

I've been buying the Cascade Springs yogurt on sale (60 cents) at the health food store because I gag on even the Costco brand yogurt. But recently I bought some Wallaby Australian yogurt (on sale at 75 cents), and I almost died from pure pleasure! I would love to have a taste testing party for yogurt, because if I found out I liked something cheap more than that expensive stuff, I'd be very happy indeed. Excellent notion!

Sorry about Murray's humiliation, but you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.