What Exactly Is Dirty Soda?

From prebiotic sodas to Diet Coke’s resurgence, fizzy drinks are back in the spotlight. One of the biggest trends leading this soda revival is a new wave of soda shops growing nationwide.

These places aren’t your typical old-fashioned soda fountains with egg creams and banana splits. Instead, modern soda shops operate more like fast-food joints where you can walk in or drive through and order off massive menus filled with unique soda combinations featuring brands like Coke, Sprite, Dr Pepper, or custom-made options.

Chains like Swig, Sodalicious, and Fiiz are some of the major players leading this soda revolution. They’re riding the wave of customized drinks that have taken over everything from Starbucks to Dunkin’.

These soda shops have popularized one particular trend: “dirty soda.”

What Exactly is Dirty Soda?

Dirty soda is not strictly defined, but it generally refers to soda mixed with other ingredients like syrup, juice, or cream.

Imagine taking a basic soda like Coke or Dr Pepper and giving it a tasty twist by adding flavors or cream. The menus at soda shops are packed with creative options similar to Starbucks’ specialty drinks or seasonal items.

Take Swig, for example. It’s the most well-known soda shop in the country, with popular dirty soda options like:

Dirty Dr Pepper: Dr Pepper with coconut syrup.
Island Time: Fresca with passionfruit syrup, fresh orange, mango puree, and coconut cream.
Cinnamon Cider (seasonal): Ginger ale with lemonade, cinnamon syrup, apple syrup, and a cinnamon stick.

You can also create your custom soda by choosing a base soda, adjusting the ice, and picking add-ons like flavored syrup or cream.

Some favorites include half-and-half, heavy cream, or coconut cream to give the drink a smooth and rich texture.

The Origins of Dirty Soda

The term “dirty soda” is believed to have been coined by Nicole Tanner, the founder of Swig. Tanner got the idea after frequently ordering Diet Coke with lime from Sonic.

She noticed that the wait times were long, and sometimes the cups smelled like greasy fast food, which led her to think, “Why not create a drive-thru business that focuses on drinks with better service and quality?”

In 2010, Tanner opened the first Swig in St. George, Utah, featuring innovative soda creations like the Dirty Dr Pepper. According to Tanner, customers loved making their drinks “dirty,” which made the concept take off.

By 2013, other soda shops in Utah started offering similar dirty soda combinations. Swig then trademarked “dirty soda” to secure its brand. This led to a lawsuit with rival chain Sodalicious, which also used the term.

Though Sodalicious argued that “dirty” is a generic term in the drink world, they eventually settled, and Swig retained the right to use the term.

Dirty Soda and TikTok Fame

While dirty sodas existed before TikTok, the trend exploded in 2021 when pop star Olivia Rodrigo shared a picture of herself holding a Swig cup.

The hashtag #dirtysodas went viral, leading to hundreds of thousands of TikTok users trying dirty sodas at home or local soda shops.

The hashtag has over 14,300 videos on TikTok, with users showing off their dirty soda creations. The trend was further boosted when Hulu’s unscripted series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives featured several stars discussing the role of soda shops in the Latter-day Saints (Mormon) community.

One star, Demi Engemann, shared her favorite dirty soda, 44-ounce sparkling water with sugar-free coconut, vanilla, raspberry, pineapple, and coconut cream.

Why Do People Love Dirty Soda?

Dirty soda has gained popularity for several reasons:

Customization: People love creating drinks that fit their taste, whether sweet, fruity, or creamy. It’s fun to mix and match flavors to find the perfect combination.
Social Media: TikTok and Instagram have made dirty sodas a social phenomenon. Sharing pictures and videos of your unique soda concoctions has become a trend.
Mormon Culture: In Utah, dirty soda shops are sometimes referred to as “Mormon bars” because they serve as a social hub where people, especially Mormons who don’t drink alcohol, gather to enjoy creative beverages.

Where Can You Get Dirty Soda?

While dirty soda shops began in Utah, they have expanded across the United States. Swig and Fiiz, two of the most popular chains, have more than 60 locations combined, and they’re spread across multiple states, including Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, and Mississippi.

Smaller soda concepts are also popping up in unexpected places. Cool Sips, for instance, opened its first store in New York City’s Rockefeller Center in 2023, with a second location opening later that year.

While smaller shops may offer more limited menus, they still provide that dirty soda experience.

How to Make Dirty Soda at Home

The beauty of dirty soda is that there are no rules, so you can easily make your own at home. Want to add a half-and-half splash and a lime squeeze to your Diet Coke? Go for it.

Or mix some coconut cream and guava puree with your Fresca for a tropical twist. The possibilities are endless.

You can also buy products specifically for dirty sodas, like Coffee Mate’s Coconut Lime Liquid Creamer, designed to be mixed with Dr Pepper. Whether you prefer sweet, creamy, or fruity, there’s a dirty soda combination for everyone.

Conclusion

Dirty soda isn’t just a fad—it’s a creative, fun way to customize your favorite fizzy drinks. Dirty sodas are gaining nationwide traction with the rise of soda shops and social media trends.

Whether you prefer trying new flavors at a local soda shop or experimenting with your mixes at home, Dirty Soda has something for everyone. And if the idea of cream in soda isn’t your thing, don’t worry—plain old soda is still as refreshing as ever.