Wanta Fanta?

May 16, 2006 8:25 PM

FantaFilter: Help me get some european soft drinks in the US...

When I have been to Europe, I've consistently formed short term additicions to Fanta Orange. This is not the glorified-sunkist-hooey of the US, but rather a mildly pulpy, tangy delicious amalgam of heaven in a bottle. However, I can never find it in the US. Any ideas? It comes in plastic bottle of the shape of the glass one's on the left and middle of this picture: http://www.cokepubandbar.co.uk/images/px_range_330ml.jpg

posted by weaponsgradecarp to food & drink (21 comments total)

I haven't the slightest idea where to find that, but try looking for Orangina--it sounds like the same kind of to me, so you might like it.
posted by hototogisu at 8:30 PM on May 16, 2006

I second hototogisu's suggestion: Orangina is almost entirely like the Fanta I would get in Germany.
posted by Mr. Six at 8:34 PM on May 16, 2006

Popsoda is the best site I know of for this kind of thing. I've never ordered from them myself, but some friends have had good results.
posted by inkyz at 8:40 PM on May 16, 2006 [1 favorite]

i totally share your addiction. we get fanta narangha here in ariz. at the local mexican mercadito. it's the real deal.
posted by RockyChrysler at 8:43 PM on May 16, 2006

Pulpy? Doesn't sound much like Fanta in Australia (which was, for almost my entire 30-odd years on the planet, the only orange soda you could buy here). Does the European stuff really have orange pulp in it? Or does it just taste like oranges (unlike Sunkist)?
posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:46 PM on May 16, 2006

Seconding what RockyChrysler said. This is also found in Mexico. Check local Mexican groceries.
posted by vacapinta at 8:51 PM on May 16, 2006

There are several different drinks that are orange Fanta drinks, even within Europe (I'm pretty sure).

If you're looking for the Italian variety (aranciata), San Pellegrino maks aranciata that's very similar and a bit better than Fanta, and you can get it in cans at Trader Joes. It is heaven.
posted by JekPorkins at 8:56 PM on May 16, 2006

BevMo also carries varieties of non-local sodas. I'd second the random *-soda drinks from TJ and Whole Foods, since they're typicall nowhere as sweet and overpowering as our soda is and they taste similar to Fanta I've had in Europe.
posted by kcm at 9:03 PM on May 16, 2006

This place is where we've ordered Mexican Fanta Orange in the past, but it looks like they are currently out ofstock. It's a great source for hard to find sodas and candies from the 50s and 60s. Also a great place to visit in person for those near L.A.. It's a fun place to stop in, pick up one of their killler sandwiches at the deli counter and browse their vast selection of beers.
posted by buggzzee23 at 9:04 PM on May 16, 2006

Orangina tastes quite diluted compared to Fanta.
posted by meehawl at 9:05 PM on May 16, 2006

meehawl: Orangina and aranciata are both inferior to eurofanta, which seems to be incredibly elusive! It's amusing, the first ever sip of this fanta I had was in London, but the drink had a cyrillic label and was imported from the republic of georgia...
posted by weaponsgradecarp at 9:53 PM on May 16, 2006

The orange fanta that I was similarly addicted to (in africa), tasted like an extra-sweet orange Crush, no natural pulpiness in sight. I wonder how they can call such divergently different drinks the same name? Anybody know how many different drinks there are that are all called 'fanta'?

Also, to totally piggy-back, if anyone knows where you can get Stoney Tangawizi (an east african Coke product) in the toronto area, I'd LOVE to know.
posted by Kololo at 10:48 PM on May 16, 2006

Coca-Cola uses the Fanta brand in many markets, but the recipe appears to be different depending on where you go. I've never seen or tried the German one, but I know that the Fanta we get here in Ireland (and presumably it's the same one as the UK) has gradually changed colour and taste over time, from a deepish orange with a sickly sweet syrupy taste to a brighter orange with more of a tang to it, more like Club Orange (the Irish readers will know what I mean).

That must be a recent phenomenon, because when I was working the concession stand at my local multiplex back in 2000, the Fanta was most definitely deep orange gloopy syrup - it came in a big metal cylinder that we hooked up to the machine in the back, just like all the other sodas. No pulp in that puppy, believe me.

Funnily enough, in South Africa they still have the syrupy Fanta that we used to have here. They've also got Grape Fanta, which is gorgeous.
posted by macdara at 1:33 AM on May 17, 2006

You can do it grassroots-style and just ask someone in Europe to send you some, via the global swap community. You just have to swap something in return -- some crazy American pop soda perhaps (Coke "blak" anyone??)
posted by milkdropcoronet at 6:34 AM on May 17, 2006

I just saw Italian Fanta 2 days ago at our local Italian specialties/pasta shop! I couldn't believe that they had it, because I thought you could only the HFCS kind here. (The place is called Russo's, on 7th Ave, in Park Slope, Brooklyn.) So it might be worth trying other ethnic gourmet & specialty shops.
posted by TG_Plackenfatz at 8:28 AM on May 17, 2006 [1 favorite]

I've never seen or tried the German one, but I know that the Fanta we get here in Ireland (and presumably it's the same one as the UK) has gradually changed colour and taste over time, from a deepish orange with a sickly sweet syrupy taste to a brighter orange with more of a tang to it, more like Club Orange (the Irish readers will know what I mean).
that sounds a lot like german fanta. german fanta is tangy like orangina, but not so pulpy and sweeter. it's hard to explain, but it's way tastier than aranciata or orangina. i've toyed with the idea of buying some orange fanta and mezzo mix from german stores like the german deli, but i want to buy a case, not an individual can.
posted by kendrak at 8:39 AM on May 17, 2006

Well.. I know for a fact that the Fanta Orange I have tasted in France and Germany is the same as the ones available here in the Netherlands. So it seems (mainland) European is largely (meant to be?) the same stuff. I'm suspecting that local producers might use their own recipes and only operate under a Coca-Cola license? At least.. that's vaguely how I understand how Coca-Cola works.

There is a big difference in the availability of the different Fanta flavours. Here's the obligatory 'pedia link.
posted by Harry at 9:23 AM on May 17, 2006

Oh, and I heartily recommend the Pomelo flavour. I don't know what a pomelo is, but it's a very nice, fresh grapefruit-like taste.
posted by Harry at 9:24 AM on May 17, 2006

weaponsgradecarp: I am the same as you. While in Europe, I drink Fanta Naranja like there's no tomorrow. It's so different. I also love Orangina, but it isn't the same. I'm actually going to Spain tomorrow, and plan to drink almost as much Fanta Naranja as wine, beer, and sangria.

I recently found European-style Fanta Orange--made with real oranges and real sugar as opposed to HFCS--in my local supermarket, in the ethnic food aisle next to the Goya sodas. I believe it was imported from Ireland, which seemed strange to me, and I have to be honest--I think it suffered for the trip. It just wasn't as good. For the record, though, it was at the Key Food on 30th Ave and 34th street in Astoria, Queens. (Note to potential stalkers: I no longer live in this neighborhood).
posted by lampoil at 9:30 AM on May 17, 2006

TG_Plackenfatz: I LOVE YOU!

I've got a house in Park Slope this summer and dear god you have totally added a giant piece of pure amazing to my summer!!
posted by weaponsgradecarp at 3:14 PM on May 17, 2006

I'm glad I could help! If you need any other Brooklyn food recs, my husband and I are a bit obsessive about tracking down delicious. Email's in my profile.

(BTW, Russo also has excellent fresh ravioli and vodka sauce among other delicious Italian treats.)

Welcome to the neighborhood!
posted by TG_Plackenfatz at 7:27 PM on May 17, 2006