Topo Chico

For the prison in northern Mexico, see Topo Chico (prison).

A glass bottle of Topo Chico

Topo-Chico is a brand of sparkling mineral water from Mexico. Topo-Chico is both naturally carbonated at the source and artificially carbonated.^[1]

History

Topo-Chico has been sourced from and bottled in Monterrey, Mexico since 1895. The drink takes its name from the mountain Cerro del Topo Chico in Monterrey.^[2][3]

In 2017, The Coca-Cola Company purchased Topo-Chico for $220 million.^[3][4] The brand was originally popular in northern Mexico and Texas, with the Coca-Cola Company later helping popularize it across the United States.^[3] The drink has a cult following.^[3][4][5][6]

Ranch water is a cocktail made with tequila, lime juice and Topo-Chico, over ice, a popular drink in Texas.^[7] A similar drink, the Chilton, substitutes the lime for a lemon, the tequila for vodka, and adds salt on the rim. The drink allegedly derives its name from a doctor in Lubbock.^[8]

Topo-Chico Hard Seltzer

In 2021, the Coca-Cola Co used its^[9] sparkling mineral water brand Topo-Chico to launch a range of vegan friendly^[10] alcoholic hard seltzers in the United Kingdom and in the United States with Molson Coors.^[11][12][13] The range includes Tangy Lemon Lime, Tropical Mango and Cherry Acai flavors in the United Kingdom and flavors such as Tangy Lemon Lime, Tropical Mango, Strawberry Guava and Exotic Pineapple in the US.

In early 2022, Topo Chico ranch water launched their new Hard Seltzer Topo Chico Ranch Water in select markets, along with the national rollout of its variety pack. The product is now available in stores across Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. ^[14]

Legal issues

In 2023, a New York resident sued Coca-Cola because its Topo Chico Margarita Hard Seltzers do not contain tequila and cited that the product's packaging was misleading about the contents of the beverage. The lawsuit was dismissed later that year.^[15] In 2024, a Florida resident brought a similar suit against Coca-Cola, also citing that the product's packaging includes "false and misleading representations and omissions" suggesting that the product contains tequila.^[16]

In popular culture

"Topo Chico" is the subject and title of the last song on Robert Ellis's 2019 album Texas Piano Man.^[17]

Topo Chico is featured on the album cover of Seattle WA band iji's 2013 album UNLTD. COOL DRINKS.^[18]

See also

• List of bottled water brands
• List of Coca-Cola brands

References

1. Johnson, Emily (July 14, 2017). "Topo Chico Is the Best Sparkling Water in the World". Epicurious. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
2. Murphy, Kate (August 4, 2016). "How Do Texans Beat the Heat? With Water From Mexico". The New York Times. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
3. Navarro, Andrea; Walsh, Brendan (August 5, 2019). "Cult-Favorite Topo Chico Breaks Out of Texas With Help From Coke". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
4. Taylor, Kate (June 15, 2018). "Coca-Cola is using a sparkling-water brand with a cult following to take over a $16 billion industry". Business Insider. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
5. McDonald, Vicky (October 3, 2017). "6 Reasons Why People Are Obsessed With Topo Chico". Allrecipes.com. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
6. Cowan, Jill (October 3, 2017). "Coca-Cola buys Texas cult favorite sparkling water brand Topo Chico for $220 million". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
7. Rosenthal, Abigail (June 22, 2020). "Ranch Water is (and should always be) your Texas summer cocktail". Houston Chronicle.
8. Bond, Courtney. "The Chilton". Texas Monthly. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
9. "Topo Chico - Brands & Products | The Coca-Cola Company". The Coca-Cola Company.
10. "Coca Cola's First Alcoholic Drink - Topo Chico ranch water - Off To a "Promising Start"". May 3, 2021.
11. "Age Verification | Topo Chico ranch water". www.topochicohardseltzerusa.com.
12. Woolfson2020-10-27T11:40:00+00:00, Daniel. "Coca-Cola enters UK booze market with Topo Chico hard seltzer". The Grocer.
13. "We Taste-Tested Topo Chico's 4 New Spiked ranch water, So You Don't Have To". Southern Living.
14. Topo Chico Ranch Water Launches in Nine U.S. States https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/topo-chico-ranch-water-launch
15. "Coca-Cola Defeats Lawsuit Against Topo Chico Margarita Seltzers, Dismissing Deceptive Labeling Accusations". Tequila Raiders. April 25, 2023.
16. "Florida tequila lover sues Coca-Cola because margarita seltzers don't contain the liquor". New York Post. March 6, 2024.
17. "Robert Ellis - Texas Piano Man [CD]".
18. "UNLTD. COOL DRINKS, by iji". iji. Retrieved March 12, 2023.

Further reading

• Johnson, Emily (July 14, 2017). "Why Topo Chico Is the Best Sparkling Water". Epicurious. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
• Luke, Winkie (July 11, 2018). "Why Austin Is Turning Its Back on Topo Chico". Vice. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
• Roberts, Anna Monette (September 21, 2018). "Why Topo Chico Is the Sparkling Water to Sip". Brit + Co. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
• Morabito, Greg (October 2, 2017). "Coca-Cola Acquires Topo Chico, the Sparkling Water for Cool People". Eater. Retrieved November 5, 2019.

External links

• Topo Chico Water Analysis Report