DISCOVERING A
North Carolina
I recently tried other flavors. a North Carolina The company delicacy that, survived the Great even though I had Depression, and lived in the state in fact managed previously, I had to remain never sampled profitable. In MIKE BOLLINGER before. the 1950s, the mike@johnstonnow.com While enjoying first Cheerwine a meal at Cracker vending machine Barrel with friends recently, was built, selling the drinks I was looking to use up some for 5 cents each. In the 1960s, gift cards I received at my the first can of Cheerwine was retirement party and decided produced. Also in the '60s, the to buy a bottle of Cheerwine. first TV commercial for the I had been told several times drink hit the airwaves. I should try it, and I was Diet Cheerwine was pleasantly surprised. launched in the 1970s. The I don’t drink a lot of cherrycompany celebrated 75 flavored soda, but Cheerwine years of success in 1992, and is by far the best I have ever commemorative bottles were had. made. Those bottles remain Being the intrepid, collectibles today. In 2017, even though semi-retired, a centennial celebration was journalist, I decided to do a held in downtown Salisbury. little research. I’m sure a lot That celebration marked of you know this information, the start of the Cheerwine but I found the story a little Festival, which has become an fascinating and decided to annual event. share. Two presidents, Dwight According to www. Eisenhower and George W. cheerwine.com, the company Bush, are known to have tried was formed in 1917 in Cheerwine. Salisbury by L.D. Peeler. I’m sure I will have more Wanting to start his own soft Cheerwine in the future, drink, he found a wild cherry but it will never replace my flavor that mixed well with go-to soft drink, Sun Drop.
Sun Drop is also a Southern thing, most popular in North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee. When I lived in the mountains of Virginia, where Sun Drop is not available, when I would visit in an area where I could buy it I would load up the trunk of my car with it and take enough home to last until my next visit. However, there is another Southern food that I have only had once, and that one time was too many. That would be boiled peanuts. A brief history of boiled peanuts (apparently I’m in research mode as I write this) shows they were first made by slaves brought to the South from West Africa, according
DELICACY to www.seriouseats.com. They apparently originated in South Carolina. Once introduced, they quickly became popular in the region. Why, I’m not exactly sure. They are slimy and not at all tasty. In fact, they are one of the five worst things I have ever tasted. Not many people seem to share my opinion. Most of the people I have talked to about it say they love the things. They are welcome to my share. What do you think? Share your opinions with me on these or any other Southern delicacies you particularly like at mike@johnstonnow.com, and if I get enough responses I’ll share them in a future column.
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