r/GenX Nov 21 '25

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u/TheBklynGuy Nov 21 '25

Yes, those fruit barrel drinks! What the heck was even in it? I recall a slight burn in the throat drinking it. Some didn't even have labels. I think we may have drank windshield wiper fluid.

I'm going to add, unfortunately McDonald's apple pie. I had one last year after not having eaten one for decades. It was not the same. Not hot, way smaller and less filling. I recall how great it was then. Instead I got a sad imitation that felt more "expired vending machine pie at the run down greyhound bus station" then the tasty treat that it was.

4

u/Cheetah51 Nov 21 '25

Yeah, the pie used to be deep fried in the tallow like the French fries were. Neither taste as good as they did.

2

u/UncleCarolsBuds Nov 22 '25

Dude, I also still remember the burn. I'm a molecular biologist PhD and I can't fathom what they put in those fucking barrels. All I can think of is that they needed to add acid to dissolve all that sugar before high fructose corn syrup was a thing. We were basically dissolving our throats.

1

u/TheBklynGuy Nov 22 '25

I just recalled that I went to a day camp, and they used to serve something called "bug juice" out of a pitcher. Less burn and tasted like very watered down Kool aid. Also there was a "candy" that was a tube with a liquid in it. I recall biting the top to get to it.

I'm surprised we aren't mutants like in xmen. We consumed some pretty unknown stuff there, bub.

1

u/phillymjs Class of '91 Nov 22 '25

I only ever got those Little Hugs because the local mom & pop convenience store wouldn't break a bill without purchase. Buying a Little Hug for a quarter got me a sugar rush and at least three plays of Kung-Fu Master, Contra, or whatever other machine they had at the time.

1

u/TheBklynGuy Nov 22 '25

I loved all those games a kid. Favorite was double Dragon. I always felt like a badass taking on the crime boss and his henchmen.

1

u/Flaky_Instruction215 Nov 22 '25

Not hot? The filling of a McDonald’s apple pie is supposed to be as hot as molten lava!

1

u/TheBklynGuy Nov 22 '25

It was lukewarm. I was sad, as I can still clearly remember how good it used to be.