The peculiar appeal of Tab cola
—Posted by Tim Nudd UPDATE: I, on the other hand, have plenty to add concerning the cult of Tab, because for the last 20-some-odd years I’ve been a recovering Tabaholic, forced into withdrawal by the 1982 launch of Diet Coke, which effectively led to the mass disappearance of those iconic pink Tab cans from our nation’s store shelves. It’s been a long hard road, as I was a sympathizer with the members of the Tabaholic Union at my suburban New York high school once upon a time and then progressed inexorably to using Tab as my drug of choice to get me through those nights writing papers on deadline in college. (At 35 cents a can, it was, fortunately, a pretty cheap habit.) Yeah, these days I drink Diet Coke, but it’s never been quite the same, and having once, around 1990, in a moment of relapse, bought a dusty can of Tab in a Manhattan bodega, I have to admit it does taste like metal. On the other hand, that was always the point. —Posted by Catharine P. Taylor |
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February 1, 2006 | Permalink |
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Did Tab really go away? Or just get really, really scarce? Because every few years, I find it for sale somewhere or another. And it's in aluminum cans, with UPCs, even!
It's Cott to be Good!
Posted by: Talbott, the Wonder Dog | Feb 1, 2006 11:33:07 AM
TaB's still being produced by Coca-Cola. In fact, I just saw a 6-pack today on the shelf of a Price Chopper store in upstate New York.
I wonder if anyone besides me noticed the similiarity of the new TaB Energy's packaging to an already-existing energy drink, Pink:
http://www.populationstatistic.com/archives/2006/01/02/tab-energy-juiced-by-pink/
Posted by: CT | Feb 1, 2006 9:41:40 PM
Yes, Tab is now a regional drink--meaning that Coke bottlers have the option of either producing or not producing the item. Thankfully--I can still ge tit in cans or 2 litre bottles. Have drunk it for 35 years, love it, wish they would go back to all saccharin as opposed to the blend, and yes--I am a TAB ADDICT. I have always said there is something in this drink that leads to cravings much like hunger. That aside--there is no drink like it--BAR NONE.
Posted by: Denny, Tab Addict | May 29, 2006 4:19:01 PM
You can buy TaB Cola in Australia for around $5.00 a can.
Posted by: Keva | Jul 26, 2006 2:44:11 AM
TaB has sass!
I remember my first sip of TaB, out of a glass refill bottle. I was young probably hated it but loved it beacues it was pop out of a bottle and had that taste!!
I always felt that the ability to slam TaB's gave me the ability to slam beers like they were water!
I miss it, used to see it once in a while, have not seen it in years. Although I know a psycologist/hair dressser who buys it by the pallet!!
Posted by: TaB queen | Jul 27, 2006 1:59:58 AM
Hello, do you know where in australia tab can be bought at all? :)
From
Brooke.
Posted by: Brooke Tolliday | Feb 9, 2007 2:49:43 PM
Please, just because we're on the other side of the world doesn't mean we should be deprived of the drink of the gods
Posted by: Tabris | Oct 14, 2007 1:36:01 AM
Tab is still widely available in the US Midwest. I bought 2 12-packs today (12/07) for $5 total. Gotta make sure the xperation date is far off though, older Tab is flat.
An important event in Tab history -- original Tab was replaced with the 'new' Tab around 1989 or so. Serious Tab drinks unhappy. I searched near and far for months for the real stuff, and when it all disappeared I switched to Barqs or whatever was cheap.
I came back to Tab years later and love it. The ultimate sugar-free soft drink and till the best.
Posted by: | Dec 29, 2007 6:44:29 PM
Another thing about ol' Tab. The original Tab that came in 16oz glass bottles was simply exceptional-- it was much, much more carbonated then the stuff that came in cans and later plastic bottles. It was intense!
If anybody nows of a bottler that still produces the glass-bottled version please share it.
Posted by: | Dec 29, 2007 6:55:53 PM
