Dark Green Cordial
October 26th 2007 15:30
I loved it! In every Coles store, and often in big department stores, when I was a wee nipper, there was a refreshment counter which had two large glass globe dispensers, side by side on a stainless steel pole, with bright red cordial in one, and a rich green cordial in the other.
I was a green cordial man. It was so rich and luscious to taste, so synthetic too, and all sugar and green dye of some sort. I didn’t care. I only worried about it being too freezing cold, so you got a brain-ache if you gulped it, which often happened on a hot day.
All the disposable cups were waxed paper, as were the straws.
The milk shakes were HUGE by today’s standards, and they froze your brain too. A full milk shake cost two shillings, or 20 cents. I loved the chocolate malt, and the shakes came in a silver metal container, then later on coloured anodised ones appeared. Sometimes my mum would say, "Lets have a milk shake race!" as the car approached a milk bar. there were two types of milk bar, a cafe style one, with wooden booths and padded bench seats, and the other lino type. Before the race began, we immersed the tips of our straws in the milk shake, we had only one between us, then mum would say, "Ready, set GO!"
And we would be off! Slurping on our straws, which were wax paper also, and soon started to collapse and flatten, if your lip grip was too strong. They made a kind of squeeling noise as you sucked harder as they collapsed. Mother was a champ, she always got more shake than me, not surprising as I was only five or less. But I was her babe, valiantly trying to keep up, and I think mumsy liked to win too!
But that ruddy brain freeze, boy that hurt!
I think it may have done some permanent damage...
fog
I was a green cordial man. It was so rich and luscious to taste, so synthetic too, and all sugar and green dye of some sort. I didn’t care. I only worried about it being too freezing cold, so you got a brain-ache if you gulped it, which often happened on a hot day.
All the disposable cups were waxed paper, as were the straws.
The milk shakes were HUGE by today’s standards, and they froze your brain too. A full milk shake cost two shillings, or 20 cents. I loved the chocolate malt, and the shakes came in a silver metal container, then later on coloured anodised ones appeared. Sometimes my mum would say, "Lets have a milk shake race!" as the car approached a milk bar. there were two types of milk bar, a cafe style one, with wooden booths and padded bench seats, and the other lino type. Before the race began, we immersed the tips of our straws in the milk shake, we had only one between us, then mum would say, "Ready, set GO!"
And we would be off! Slurping on our straws, which were wax paper also, and soon started to collapse and flatten, if your lip grip was too strong. They made a kind of squeeling noise as you sucked harder as they collapsed. Mother was a champ, she always got more shake than me, not surprising as I was only five or less. But I was her babe, valiantly trying to keep up, and I think mumsy liked to win too!
But that ruddy brain freeze, boy that hurt!
I think it may have done some permanent damage...
fog
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Coles caffeteria's were my personal favourite as a wee lad. In fact I was once chastised by my grandmother for kneeling down on the floor once and saying grace - cause "you don't have to say grace here matey . . ." Won a lot of hearts that day though.
Yeah - green cordial was huge. I was a big GI fan (remember that?). As for the milkshakes - they were equally enormous. Dad and I would often share our lives over a vanilla or lime shake.
That said - I'll I need now are 40c worth of hot chips wrapped up in newspaper and I'm set for the day.
All the best my friend.
MNG
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Thanks for commenting.
Yes I do remember GI!! It was exactly the same tasting cordial they used at Coles. LOVED it!
And the chips....wrapped in newspaper, "todays news is tomorrows fish and chips wrapper", or something like that, as the saying used to be.
And you kneeling for grace before meals on the cafeteria floor!!!! HEHEHEHEHE!!!
God I loved that! I can see it so clearly, what a sweetheart you must have been!
cheers matey
fog
Comment by Sheree
Cliche Murder
SORRY BUT IT'S BETTER THAN GREEN!!!
*pipes down*
love,
Sheeeeeeereez
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I never knew that Coles used to have a cafeteria....there is always something new to learn isn't there?
I don't think I would've liked the green drink, but it's great you have such vivid, happy memories about them.
Byeeee
Comment by Mountain Fog
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Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Of course you can crash the green cordial party! Red was always the second best, in my tiny world, however, it was still delicious!!
cheers and have one for me!!
fog
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Yes indeedy you would have LOVED green cordial, or GI cordial as it became when made available for the home.
It was delicious, kind of lime like, best very chilled!!
And yes, strange as it seems now, Coles used to have a cafeteria in every one of its large stores.
Soem years ago, when I lived in Melbourne, our local Woolworths tried it out, I was living in a low mountians area then, very artsy, but, it didn;t take off, it wasn't enclosed and so you really felt like you were sipping cappuchino in the aisles!
cheers my friend!
fog
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Sometimes I wouldn't mind sipping on a cuppa as I do the shopping, it can be thirsty work.
Byeee
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Loved cordigle as a kid, but I can rarely drink it now.
Michaelie
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Tracy, you teaser, you. Lol.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Mountain Fog
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Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Michaelie you made me larrfff!!
That reminded me exactly of how I first tried to pronounce the word cordial as a wee nipper...my version was corr-dee-gull...or some such.
cheers
fog
and rich deep green is my favourite colour!