Dirty Soda Culture Guide
How a customized mix of soda, flavored syrups, and cream grew from a Utah drive thru idea into a social media trend.
What Exactly is a Dirty Soda?
In short, a “dirty soda” is a fountain soda (like Diet Coke, Dr Pepper, or Mountain Dew) customized with flavored syrups, fruit purees, and creams.
Swig’s own FAQ calls it “a signature Swig creation” and adds, “It’s not Dirty Soda if it’s not from Swig.”
For the full breakdown, including the four-part formula and how to order, see our guide to what is a dirty soda.
Because you pick the base, the syrups, and the cream, the flavor combinations vary a lot, which feeds a culture of fan favorite recipes. For homemade versions, see our Swig recipes.
The Utah Origin Story
To understand the dirty soda explosion, you have to look at its birthplace: St. George, Utah. The state has a large population of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Many members of the Church avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol under its Word of Wisdom health code, so local culture developed a strong demand for alternative social beverages. That is also why dirty soda is sometimes called “Mormon soda.”
Nicole and Todd Tanner opened the first Swig in St. George in April 2010 as a drive thru soda shop.
The format gave customers a customized drink at drive thru speed, and other Utah soda shops, such as Sodalicious and Fiiz, later built menus around the same idea.
The Dirty Dictionary
Ready to order like a pro? Here is the essential lingo you need to know before you pull up to the window.
The Base
The foundation of your drink. Usually a popular carbonated soda like Diet Coke, Dr Pepper, Sprite, or Mountain Dew.
Many places now offer sparkling water or energy drinks as bases too.
Making it “Dirty”
Swig’s The Founder is a classic example: Diet Coke with sugar free coconut, fresh lime, and coconut cream. Today, the term generally refers to adding any combination of syrups and creams to a standard soda.
Purees
Unlike thin syrups, purees are thick, blended fruit mixes (like strawberry, mango, or raspberry) that add a real fruit texture and rich flavor profile to the drink.
The Cream
The final touch. This is usually half and half, vanilla cream, or a dairy free alternative like coconut cream.
It cuts the acidity of the soda and creates a smooth, creamy texture.
Ready to try it yourself?
Explore the full menu to find your perfect flavor combination, or start with our picks of the best Swig drinks.
Explore The Full MenuWondering about ownership specifically? See Is Swig Mormon Owned? Ownership explained.
Last updated: November 2, 2026