Fresh from Utah and rooted in Mormon culture, the dirty soda trend has made its way to the campus of Loyola. Thanks to TikTok, Instagram Reels, and a growing presence on mainstream coffee shop menus, what began as a regional favorite has quickly become a national sensation.
The appeal? A balance between health-conscious choices and a bit of indulgence.
The drink starts with a familiar soda base, like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dr. Pepper, and gets “dirtied” with flavored syrups, fruit purées and creamy additions like coconut cream or half-and-half. The result is a dessert-like, customizable drink that has resonated with Loyola students looking for a sweet pick-me-up.
Adam Dempsey ’25 counts on dirty soda to power through his day. His regular order is Diet Coke with coconut cream and strawberry syrup.
“It’s the best part of the day,” Dempsey said, holding the drink tightly. “It’s the perfect little sweet treat to bring a little joy.”
Connor Von der Ahe ’25 agrees. A dirty soda enthusiast, Von der Ahe has developed a complex recipe that he drinks multiple times a day.
“I’m absolutely obsessed with this dirty soda trend because I desperately need new variations and exciting new renditions of my daily beverages,” he said. “I love to have a dirty soda in the morning, in the afternoon, and as a little night cap.”
His drink of choice is a twist on the Texas Tab: Dr. Pepper, coconut cream, non-dairy vanilla cream, vanilla syrup, coconut syrup, white chocolate syrup, maple syrup, caramel syrup, a dash of hazelnut syrup, a dash of tiramisu syrup and a dash of French vanilla syrup.
“My drink is so incredibly refreshing and satisfying,” Von der Ahe said. “I think more people should try a dirty soda every once in a while.”
