Dirty Soda

Dirty soda is a drink consisting of soda "spiked" with cream, flavored syrups or fruit juices. The drink has been described as "alcohol-free mocktails with optional flavor, cream and fruit add-ins".

History

The history of dirty soda originates with the Mormons. Mormonism, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is a religious branch of the Latter-Day Saints movement, primarily based in Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States. Devotees follow various scriptures like the Book of Mormon, which is the main religious text, and the Doctrine and Covenants. One section from the Doctrine and Covenants, known as the Word of Wisdom, outlines practices to maintain a healthy body. The text prohibits followers from ingesting certain foods and beverages like alcohol, excessive meat, recreational drugs, and hot drinks, which encompass coffee and tea. Although the Word of Wisdom does not explicitly mention caffeine, many Mormons have taken to avoiding all caffeinated beverages as both coffee and tea generally contain it; however, this topic has been highly controversial among the Mormon community for some time. In 2012, the Mormon Church released an official statement clarifying that the Word of Wisdom does not prohibit caffeine consumption, but the choice to indulge in caffeinated drinks still remains a personal choice among followers today.

Origins

Avoiding common drinks like coffee, tea, and alcohol led the Mormon community to embrace sugar, often in the form of soda. While sugary beverages similar to the dirty soda have long been popular among the Mormon community as an alternative to prohibited drinks, it was not until 2010 that the first official dirty soda shop appeared. The shop was founded in Utah by Nicole Tanner, who named it Swig. Tanner trademarked the term "dirty soda" in 2013 when other companies began copying them.

In 2015, a court battle took place between Swig and their main competitor, Sodalicious, when Swig sued them for reproducing and selling their treats along with using their trademarked "dirty soda" idea. In response, Sodalicious emphasized how throughout history, the term "dirty" has been attributed to many alcoholic beverages. The suit ended in 2017 with both parties paying their own legal costs; no further details have been made publicly available.

Although "dirty soda" is a recent invention with Swig's trademark, customizing sugary drinks is not. The concept of a dirty soda originates from the early 20th century when soda jerks, who were people operating soda fountains, would combine carbonated water and flavored syrup to create a variety of customized drinks.

Geographic distribution and retail presence

The first shop widely credited with commercializing dirty soda is Swig, founded by Nicole Tanner in St. George, Utah, in 2010. What began as a modest drive-thru operation soon exploded into a regional phenomenon, particularly among younger consumers and families seeking indulgent but alcohol-free drinks. However, remaining true to their origins, dirty sodas are often still sold at drive-through restaurants.

As dirty soda grew in popularity, Utah became the epicenter of a beverage trend that would eventually spread beyond state lines. By the mid-2010s, a number of specialty soda shops—including Sodalicious, Fiiz, Thirst Drinks, and Quench It!—opened across Utah and neighboring states, each offering their own menu of flavored soda mixes. Swig and Sodalicious became especially dominant, prompting a 2017 legal battle over branding and trade dress, underscoring the drink's growing cultural and commercial importance in the region.

The dirty soda became popular in the mountain states region of the United States in the 2010s, and in the 2020s began to expand to a national consumer base. Swig, now one of the largest chains associated with the drink, has opened over 95 locations in at least 15 states, including Idaho, Arizona, Texas, Florida, North Dakota, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri. The concept has even entered the mainstream at national chains. Sonic Drive-In added "dirty soda"–style customization to its menu, allowing customers across the U.S. to add sweet cream and syrup flavors to their sodas. Convenience stores and gas stations such as Buc-ee’s and Speedway have also adopted the trend by offering syrups intended for coffee that customers use to craft their own soda creations.

While dirty soda is increasingly available across the U.S., it retains a distinctly regional identity, deeply rooted in Utah's beverage culture. Specialty soda shops in Utah continue to serve as hubs for innovation and experimentation in the genre, offering extensive menus with themed names, seasonal drinks, and customizable combinations that extend far beyond the traditional mix of cola, coconut, and cream. Even as the trend reaches broader audiences, its strongest cultural ties remain in the communities and retail environments where it first flourished.

Preparation and variations

Ingredients

* Soda
* Cream
* Syrup

There are many variations of dirty soda. However, all dirty sodas consist of a base soda - popular choices are Diet Coke and Dr. Pepper, however, these can change by personal preference. Additionally, dirty sodas include some sort of cream like half-and-half or coconut cream. The last ingredient that makes a soda dirty is a flavored syrup like vanilla or strawberry. These syrups add the extra sweetness and flavorful twist that dirty soda is known for. Outside of these three basic ingredients (base soda, cream & flavored syrup), one can top it with a wedge of lime or a cherry.

Due to the relative isolation of its origins, variations of dirty soda have been limited. However, expansion to the East Coast is expected to introduce more diverse flavors and preferences. Brands like Topgolf and Jack in the Box have introduced their own versions of the drink. Sonic also offers an option to make any soda on the menu a dirty soda by adding coconut cream and lime to their drinks.

Popularity

While dirty sodas first gained traction within Utah and among Mormon communities throughout the 2010s, in the past few years they have expanded to other communities due to virality on social media. In December 2021, singer Olivia Rodrigo posted a photo posing with a large dirty soda from Swig. By April 2022, there were over 700,000 videos under the hashtag #dirtysoda on TikTok, reflecting the growing interest in the drink globally.

In September 2024, Hulu released a reality TV show called The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, following a group of young Mormon women. In the series, they depict their lives as Mormons in Utah, and reference dirty soda many times. In one episode, cast member Demi Engemann said, "We don't drink alcohol or do drugs, so soda is kind of our vice." Another cast member, Taylor Paul, said, "In every other state he wayStarbucks sjust so busy, that’s how our soda shops are. That's like their ocals'treat."<

The popularity and intrigue of dirty soda has grown beyond Utah and Mormons. Coffee-Mate has partnered with Dr. Pepper to release a Dirty Soda Coconut Lime flavored creamer for a limited time. Dirty sodas are now more readily accessible to all, including those outside Utah or other states with dirty soda shops.

See also

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

References

{{Soft drink
Soft drinks
Utah cuisine
Utah culture