I overheard a woman in the store asking for yellow cap Coca-Colas, saying she would NEVER buy the ones with red caps. What does it mean? She already seemed angry, and I didn’t want to ask her!

I Overheard a Woman Asking for Yellow-Cap Coca-Colas — and Saying She’d NEVER Buy the Red-Cap Ones. What Does It Mean?

While shopping, you might hear a strange request that makes you stop and wonder. That’s exactly what happened when I overheard a woman in the soda aisle asking specifically for Coca-Cola bottles with yellow caps, insisting she would never buy the ones with red caps.

She sounded serious — even annoyed — and I didn’t dare ask. But the reason behind this preference is actually well-known to some shoppers, and it has nothing to do with superstition or flavor myths.

So what’s the deal with yellow-cap Coca-Cola?

The Meaning of the Yellow Cap

Coca-Cola bottles with yellow caps are typically made with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. In the United States, most regular Coca-Cola (with red caps) is sweetened with corn syrup, while the yellow-cap version is produced seasonally using real sugar.