As temperatures rise, a new summer drink trend is bubbling up: dirty soda. This customizable drink is made with soda, flavored syrup, and mix-ins like candied fruit or boba. The concept is simple, but the result is a sweeter and creamier drink that’s closer to a dessert than a standard soda.

How it Works

Dirty soda has been around for years in Utah, where independent soda shops built a loyal local following around the build-your-own drink format. Chains like Swig turned that concept into a drive-thru business and expanded beyond the western United States, helping fuel rapid growth. Now, major fast food chains are expanding their specialty drink menus at an accelerated rate, with McDonald’s adding six new specialty drinks to its menu, including a Dirty Dr Pepper.

The growth has also attracted major beverage brands, with PepsiCo launching Dirty Mountain Dew nationwide and Dr Pepper bringing back its Creamy Coconut flavor. The trend has even crossed into alcohol, with Mike’s Hard Lemonade launching a dirty-soda-inspired line.

Make it at Home

Making dirty soda at home is easier than it sounds, and the ingredients are available at any grocery store. You only need three things: a soda, something creamy, and whatever mix-in sounds good to you. Try combining Dr Pepper with coconut cream and a squeeze of fresh lime for a tropical flavor, or lemon-lime soda with vanilla syrup and maraschino cherries for a sweeter treat.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.