What Is Dirty Soda? The Utah Trend, Plus a THC Dirty Soda Recipe

Dirty soda is soda mixed with cream, flavored syrups or fruit juice: think cola with coconut syrup, a squeeze of lime and a splash of cream. It started as a Utah drive-through favorite and has since spread nationally. Wikipedia describes dirty sodas as "alcohol-free mocktails with optional flavor, cream and fruit add-ins."

A THC dirty soda builds the same drink on a measured pour of THC soda instead of regular soda. This page covers what dirty soda is, where it came from, how to make one, and how to make a THC version without guessing at the dose. It is general information, not medical advice.

What is dirty soda?

According to Wikipedia, "Dirty soda, also known as Mormon soda, is a drink consisting of soda mixed with cream, flavored syrups or fruit juices." The classic build is a cola or lemon-lime soda over ice, plus one or two flavored syrups (coconut, vanilla and peach are common), a squeeze of citrus, and a splash of cream or coffee creamer.

The "dirty" part is just the add-ins. There's no alcohol in a standard dirty soda.

What are dirty sodas, and where did they come from?

Wikipedia traces dirty soda to Utah. It says the first dedicated dirty soda shop, Swig, was founded in St. George, Utah, in 2010 by Nicole Tanner, who trademarked the term "dirty soda" in 2013. Other soda shops followed across Utah and nearby states in the mid-2010s, and in the 2020s the drink reached a national audience, with Swig opening over 95 locations in at least 15 states, per the same article.

The appeal is easy to see: it's cheap, endlessly customizable, and works as a treat without alcohol.

How to make a dirty soda at home

A basic formula:

• Soda: about 12oz of cola, diet cola, lemon-lime or root beer, over pebble ice if you have it.
• Syrup: one or two pumps or a tablespoon of flavored syrup, such as coconut, vanilla or peach.
• Citrus: a squeeze of fresh lime.
• Cream: a splash of half-and-half, cream or coconut creamer, added last.

Stir gently. Some popular combinations are cola with coconut and lime, root beer with vanilla cream, and lemon-lime with peach and cream.

A THC dirty soda: build it on a measured pour

Many THC sodas are multi-serving, which makes them a good base for a dirty soda as long as you measure. From our product pages:

• Looper D9 Soda Pop: 50mg hemp-derived Delta-9 THC per 12oz can. The label lists 10 servings of 5mg, at 35ml (1.2oz) each. Flavors include Toka Cola, Diet Toka Cola, Lemon Lime, Grape, Orange and Pineapple.
• Habit OG Sodas: 100mg Delta-9 THC per 12oz can, portioned into 20 servings of 5mg.
• Uncle Skunks Chronic Craft Sodas: 100mg hemp-derived Delta-9 THC per 12oz can, in flavors like root beer, cherry cola and bourbon cream, meant to be poured in measured servings.

Example: THC dirty Toka Cola (5mg). Over ice, add one labeled 5mg serving of Looper Toka Cola, which is 35ml or 1.2oz. Top with regular, non-THC cola to fill the glass. Add a splash of coconut syrup, a squeeze of lime, and a splash of cream. That's one dirty soda with 5mg of THC, because only the measured pour contains THC.

Prefer to start from a regular soda? A THC drink mix or syrup works too. Hometown Hero's unflavored DASH comes in single-serving packets, and Habit's Pure Syrup is unflavored. Follow each label's serving size, and don't free-pour a syrup; Habit's product page notes that "a little syrup goes a very long way."

Dirty soda with THC: start low, go slow

• Measure the THC part only. Use a jigger or measuring cap for the THC soda or syrup, then fill the rest with regular soda.
• Start small. Health Canada's guidance for cannabis you eat or drink is to "start with a low level of THC: for example, 2.5 mg or less." Half a labeled 5mg serving gets you there.
• Wait before a second glass. Health Canada says effects can take up to two hours to begin. A sweet soda goes down fast; your second one shouldn't.
• Close and refrigerate the THC can if it's resealable, or plan to share it among adults. Label it so nobody mistakes it for regular soda.
• No alcohol, no driving.

Not medical advice: talk to a doctor before using THC if you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition.

Shop THC sodas and mixers

Our THC sodas shelf has the Looper, Uncle Skunks and Habit sodas, and THC syrups and drink mixes has the syrups and packets for building your own. To see how sodas compare with seltzers and lemonades, read THC seltzer vs. soda vs. lemonade. New to THC drinks? Start with What Are THC Drinks?

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FAQ

Is dirty soda alcoholic?

No. A standard dirty soda is soda, syrup, citrus and cream, with no alcohol.

Why is it called dirty soda?

The "dirty" refers to the add-ins mixed into the soda. Swig trademarked the term "dirty soda" in 2013, according to Wikipedia.

Can you make a dirty soda with a THC soda?

Yes, if you measure. Pour one labeled serving of the THC soda, top it with regular soda, and add your syrup, citrus and cream.

How much THC is in a THC dirty soda?

Only what you pour. One labeled 5mg serving of Looper or Habit soda makes a 5mg drink.

Sources

• Wikipedia, "Dirty soda" (checked October 18, 2026)
• Health Canada, "New cannabis products: What you need to know" (checked October 18, 2026)
• Product servings and milligrams: ShipSips product pages, October 18, 2026

This article is general information and is not medical advice. Our products are for adults 21 and older. Do not drive or operate machinery after consuming THC, and check your state's laws before purchasing.