If it suddenly seems like dirty soda is everywhere, you’re not wrong—it quite literally is. Dirty Soda, for those of you unfamiliar, is traditionally made by mixing cola (preferably Diet Coke) with coconut syrup, lime juice, and half-and-half. These days, you’ll find a world of variations on that formula with some swapping in fruity sodas, additional syrups, and even inclusions like Sour Patch Kids and Nerds. It’s a phenomenon that has taken on a life of its own, but where on earth did this seemingly unhinged franken-concoction come from? For that, we have Utah to thank.
That’s right, the same state that brought the world the iconic Crumbl Cookie is responsible for bestowing us with one of the buzziest beverages we’ve seen in the last couple of years. The viral drink was originally dreamed up as an alternative to caffeine, which is frowned upon by the Church of Latter-day Saints. Practicing members typically avoid coffee, thus dirty soda was born. Nancy Bauer, News Director of KTVX, shared with SavorNation, “We have many drive-thru dirty soda shops in town. It is a huge thing here. You can get coffee, but as you might know, we have many non-coffee drinkers here.”
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But what started out as a regional delicacy has since taken on a life of its own, thanks to dirty soda shops like Swig. Swig is just one of many brands specializing in crafting the iconic Utah staple, and it’s often credited as being the birthplace of the very beverage itself. The first-ever dirty soda concoction was “Dirty Dr. Pepper,” which featured the famed 23 flavor soda mixed with coconut syrup. It was an instant hit, and pretty immediately, Swig began to see competitors copying their staple drink and passing it off as their own. This led Nicole Tanner, Swig’s founder, to seek a copyright for the phrase dirty soda and the rest is history. Well, that and a very prominent role on Hulu’s hit reality show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Of course, Swig is just one of many brands dishing out the viral beverage in Utah (and beyond). These days, you’ll find dirty soda at FiiZ, Sips, Thirst, Twisted Soda, and more. Even McDonald’s and Utah’s very own Crumbl are getting in on the dirty soda action by giving the trend their own spin. It’s truly taken on a life of its own, and it doesn’t look like the trend will be slowing down anytime soon.
Unlike most trends that die out after a few months in the news cycle, dirty soda seems to be one with real staying power, as evidenced by the overwhelming response to Dr. Pepper’s limited-edition Creamy Coconut flavor. In a direct nod to Swig’s Dirty Dr. Pepper that started it all, Dr. Pepper first unveiled the tropical limited-edition flavor in the summer of 2024. The flavor performed so well that it brought it back the following summer and again this year. Unfortunately, despite fan persistence, it isn’t a permanent flavor (yet) and will only be available until July 31.
As the viral beverage continues to evolve, only time will tell if we have had enough. But by the looks of things, we’ll be drinking our soda dirty for many more years to come.
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