Farmer’s Coke

Some people like cherries in their Coca-Cola, others like a splash of vanilla or a scoop of ice cream. Nothing against any of those people; I like my Coke all those ways too. But truth be told, I’d rather have an old-fashioned Farmer’s Coke.

All y’all from the South are nodding in agreement right now. Everyone else is thinking: huh?!

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, a Farmer’s Coke is a Coca-Cola with salty roasted peanuts poured into the bottle. You can spot this famous duo at ballgames, playgrounds, and beaches all over North Carolina.

It might sound weird to outsiders, but putting peanuts in Coke is a longstanding tradition in the South. 

The combo can be traced back to the 1920s when prepackaged shelled peanuts first became available. One popular theory about the tradition’s origin is that Southern blue-collar workers poured peanuts into their Cokes because they lacked a place to wash up before eating. From there, the “working man’s beverage” spread. 

Ask anyone who grew up in the South when they first had a Farmer’s Coke, and you’ll get a story. Brandon was so little he can’t remember his first. He says his papa, daddy, and uncles all drank them.

I recall mine, though. The first time I tried the concoction was at a ballgame when I was about 8. Kids sitting in the stands around me sipped their Coke down just enough to pour a sleeve of Lance peanuts into the bottle. Curiosity kicked in, and I had to try it for myself.

That day I discovered that peanuts and Coke are a match made in Southern cuisine heaven. It is sweet, salty, crisp perfection.

When was the first time you had a Farmer’s Coke?