dirty soda

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.{{cite web |author=((History.com Editors)) |date=December 20, 2017 |title=Mormons |url=https://www.history.com/articles/mormons |website=History.com}} Devotees follow various scriptures like the Book of Mormon, which is the main religious text, and the Doctrine and Covenants.{{cite web |title=Introduction |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/introduction?lang=eng |website=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints}} One section from the Doctrine and Covenants, known as the Word of Wisdom, outlines practices to maintain a healthy body.{{cite web |title=Word of Wisdom |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng |website=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints}} 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.{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Michel |others=Karen Grisby Bates and Matthew Bowman |date=January 3, 2016 |department=All Things Considered |title=Can Mormons Drink Coca-Cola? |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/01/03/461843938/can-mormons-drink-coca-cola |website=NPR}} 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.{{cite web |date=August 29, 2012 |title=Mormonism in the News: Getting It Right |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/mormonism-news--getting-it-right-august-29 |website=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints}}

Avoiding common drinks like coffee, tea, and alcohol led the Mormon community to embrace sugar, often in the form of soda.{{cite web |first= Hannah |last=Goldfield |date=October 21, 2024 |title=The Unexpected Pleasures of a Dirty Soda |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/10/28/the-unexpected-pleasures-of-a-dirty-soda#:~:text=Swig%27s%20founder%2C%20Nicole%20Tanner%2C%20a,a%20more%20exciting%2C%20customizable%20experience |website=The New Yorker}} 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.{{cite web |first=Ashley |last=Hainzer |date=March 18, 2025 |title=The Origins of Dirty Soda: From Mormonism to Mainstream |url=https://www.wsuguardian.com/article/2025/03/the-origins-of-dirty-soda-from-mormonism-to-mainstream#google_vignette |website=The Wright State Guardian}} 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.{{cite web |first= Nicole |last=Tanner |date=August 4, 2022 |title=How Nicole Tanner founded Swig |url=https://www.utahbusiness.com/entrepreneurship/2022/08/04/how-nicole-tanner-founded-one-of-the-biggest-utah-soda-shops/ |website=Utah Business}}

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.{{cite web |title='Dirty soda' Utah court battle ends with legal settlement |first=Lindsay |last=Whitehurst |date=November 8, 2017 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/business/2017/11/08/dirty-soda-utah-court-battle-ends-with-legal-settlement/AP%202017/AP%202017/ |website=The Salt Lake Tribune}} 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.{{cite web |title=Unleashing the Flavorful World of Dirty Sodas |url=https://www.thechoppingblock.com/blog/unleashing-the-flavorful-world-of-dirty-sodas#:~:text=Origins%20of%20Dirty%20Sodas,concept%20of%20%22dirty%22%20sodas |website=The Chopping Blog}}

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.{{cite web |first=Jeremy |last=Pugh |date=August 9, 2021 |title=Utah Field Guide: Dirty Soda |url=https://www.saltlakemagazine.com/utah-field-guide-dirty-soda/ |work=Salt Lake Magazine}}

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.{{cite web |title=What is dirty soda? MomTok's favorite drink is bubbling up across the country |first= Alex |last=Portée |date=May 3, 2022 |url=https://www.today.com/food/trends/what-is-dirty-soda-rcna26689 |website=Today}}{{cite web |title=Utah: Home of the 'Dirty Soda' |url=https://www.visitutah.com/articles/utah-home-of-dirty-soda |first=Jessica |last=Chindgren |date= February 6, 2025|website=Visit Utah}} 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,{{cite web |title=In the Mountain West, the 'Dirty' Soda Rush Is On |first=Victoria |last=Petersen |date=December 6, 2021 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/06/dining/swig-soda-shop-chains.html |website=The New York Times}}{{cite web |title=How This Entrepreneur Built and Sold Utah's 17-Store 'Dirty Soda' Empire |first=Kimberly |last=Weisul |date=May 2018 |url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/201805/kimberly-weisul/nicole-tanner-swig.html |website=Inc.com}} 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.{{cite web |first=Josh |last=Rothstein |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Dirty Sodas: An Alcohol-Free Twist to New Year's Resolutions |url=https://redstonefoods.com/candy-soda-blog/dirty-sodas-alcohol-free-twist |website=Redstone Foods Inc.}} 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.{{cite web |title=What Are Dirty Sodas, and Why Is Everyone Drinking Them? |first= Amy |last=McCarthy |date=March 8, 2024 |url=https://www.eater.com/23041658/dirty-soda-trend-tiktok-coffee-mate-creamer |website=Eater}} 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.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

• 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,{{cite web |first=Rebecca |last=Hubbell |date=May 3, 2022 |title=Dirty Soda (Popular TikTok Recipe) |url=https://www.sugarandsoul.co/dirty-soda/ |website=Sugar and Soul}} 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.{{cite web |first=Bret |last=Thorn |date=March 1, 2024 |title=Dirty sodas appeal to young experimental restaurant consumers |url=https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/dirty-sodas-appeal-to-young-experimental-restaurant-consumers |website=Nation's Restaurant News}} Sonic also offers an option to make any soda on the menu a dirty soda by adding coconut cream and lime to their drinks.{{cite web |first= Alvina |last=Vance |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Sonic Dirty Drinks 2025 – Mix Coconut, Cream, and Lime with Sodas |url=https://sonics-menu.com/sonic-dirty-drinks/ |work=Sonic Menu }}

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.{{cite web |title=Why Is Everyone Suddenly Obsessed With Dirty Sodas? |first=Emily |last=Bloch |date=September 27, 2024 |url=https://www.bonappetit.com/story/what-is-dirty-soda?srsltid=AfmBOooA22RXr18vMHl8ZAhiSQ7SXKLPC7eXqZYpvqpbEXfMv6D7qjwn |website=Bon Appetit}} 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 [the way] Starbucks [is] just so busy, that’s how our soda shops are. That's like their [locals'] 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.{{cite web |first=Heather |last=Martin |date=March 7, 2024 |title=Coffee Mate teams up with Dr Pepper to make creamer specifically for dirty soda |url=https://www.today.com/food/trends/coffee-mate-dr-pepper-dirty-soda-creamer-rcna142245 |website=Today}} Dirty sodas are now more readily accessible to all, including those outside Utah or other states with dirty soda shops.

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• {{anl|Soda bar}}
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Category:Utah cuisine

Category:Utah culture