Charlotte, NC

Whether you are or once were a Charlottean (but face it — you’re always going to be a Tarheel! Ask any UNC fan!), you know the liquid refreshment held in every ice-cold can of Cheerwine™. The effervescent cherry soda, found in local supermarkets like Harris-Teeter and Food Lion and in just about every soda machine, has one unique characteristic: you can’t find it anywhere but in the Carolinas! And Charlotte, being the hub of the North-South Carolina connection, is where most of it’s happily consumed! Its taste is one that lingers long after the drink is finished but, unlike many other brands, always remains pleasant! An absolute area treasure, its makers have been inundated with requests to market it in other areas. Fiercely devoted to the tradition and tastes of our area — and to our pleasure — they’ve constantly refused.

Speaking of tastes: a delicacy that’s known throughout the South, and especially in the Mecklenburg County area is the delicious but tangy wild grape we call muscadines. These grow exceptionally well in the fertile soil of farm areas surrounding Charlotte, and are harvested to make jellies, preserves and wine (sometimes called scuppernong, especially by Yankees). I was introduced to them at my Aunt Kate’s farm off York Road in Southwest Charlotte, and can tell you they’re (a) filling, (b) a bit “tart” or tangy and (b) more chewable than regular grapes. A word of advice here: when picking muscadines, remember to wear something that’s fairly stain-resistant; if you get the juice on your good clothes, it can be a bit hard to get out …

While we’re on the subject of “things hard to get out”: the Queen City is also a favorite breeding ground for the amazingly-tough ivy-like vine known as kudzu. This plant, originally imported by Admiral Perry as a byproduct of an 1850s voyage to China, was to be used to solve early irrigation problems. But the plant became more of a menace as it veritably covered everything in its path, and was virtually indestructable. When Highway 521 (South Boulevard) toward Pineville was cleared to make way for new car dealerships, workers discovered that only by uprooting the plants could you actually destroy them.
They also had an eerie side-effect: If the atmosphere is still and there’s no outside noise (such as cars, birds, etc.), and one patiently stands by a stand of kudzu for awhile, he can actually hear it grow!! I tried that experiment personally at the Highway 521 stand in mid-1990 (this was prior to its clearing) and found it to be absolutely true.
This unusual ivy was popularized nationally in the comic strip Kudzu (by Charlotte Observer cartoonist Doug Marlette) in the late 1980s and, stangely enough, is also an ingredient in certain Southern recipes.

So, along with the sights, sounds and savories of the city and beyond, Charlotte presents visitors and residents alike with unique products that shine like jewels in the crown of this Queen City.

If you’re not here already, come on down this summer, kick off your shoes, sit a spell and enjoy! Our door’s always open …