For Utahns, “dirty soda” isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a cultural cornerstone — a siren call that lures even the most disciplined drivers into a 2 p.m. midday pilgrimage to the nearest drive-thru.
Once that’s taken care of, if you’re like me, that ritual usually demands a follow-up “sweet treat” run later that night.
With the new Twizzlers Straws — a blend of coconut, lime and vanilla — those two worlds finally collide.
Beginning this week, Twizzlers is joining in on the trend with a dirty soda-inspired, flavored edible straw.
“The straws are designed to be enjoyed as both an edible straw and a sweet treat,” the Hershey Company said in an official announcement.
16 years in the making
The “dirty soda” craze has taken over Utah and is well on its way to do the same nationally.
Sixteen years ago, in St. George, Utah, Nicole Tanner founded Swig, one of the first soda shops in the state.
Fast-forward, and Swig has been shouted out by musician Olivia Rodrigo, been featured on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” reality TV show, and helped rename a minor league baseball team.
In February, Swig recently partnered with the Salt Lake Bees to introduce their first-ever alternate identity: the Utah Dirty Sodas.
Mainstream sodas like Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper have released dirty soda versions of their drinks.
Not to mention, it feels like there’s a hundred different dirty soda shops in Utah now.
The straws are expected to be available online starting March 12 and at select Hershey’s Chocolate World locations while supplies last.
The Hershey Company says that “Twizzlers Straws are designed to be sipped like a straw and enjoyed like a snack — sip, bite and repeat!”