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Adam Allington
Once a regional obsession in the Mountain West, “dirty soda” — a mix of soda, flavored syrups, cream and ice — is suddenly everywhere. Fueled by TikTok, the sugary drink trend is now spilling into the menus of national chains such as McDonalds, Chick-fil-A and Dunkin’.
Douglass Miller
Senior lecturer in Food and Beverage Management
Douglass Miller, a senior lecturer in food and beverage management at Cornell University, says sodas that contain dairy and are customizable have a long history in the U.S.
Miller says:
“Egg Creams could be considered a type of dirty soda. A root beer float could also be seen as a precursor to the dirty soda. Swig, the company that created the dirty soda, states on its website that it draws inspiration from soda shops in the 1950s.
“The younger generation has grown up with the ability to personalize their food and drinks. For example, Chipotle, Cava, and Starbucks allow customers to customize their orders. Dirty soda is an extension of this trend which, along with social media, has helped boost the product's popularity. In addition, this is an option for consumers beyond a coffee drink at a similar price point.
“Some versions of dirty soda use cold foam, which originated in the coffee industry. As soda sales have declined over the last decade, dirty sodas may be a way to increase sales in the sector. There is also cheese foam, originating in Taiwan, that is becoming popular in the U.S. and is often used with cold tea, boba, or sodas.”
