Dirty Soda Craze Bubbles Up in Canada
Two years ago, Jeremy Guenette was sitting in a parking lot in Idaho, waiting for his kids to finish back-to-school shopping, when something caught his attention.
A truck called Soda Tsunami was serving drinks mixed with cola, cream, and fruity flavours — and people couldn’t get enough.
“For about 45 minutes, I just watched people line up,” Guenette said. “They probably had 150 customers, and only one went to the taco truck next door. I was intrigued.”
After trying his first “dirty soda,” Guenette understood the hype. Back in Alberta, he couldn’t find anything similar, so he opened Sip Soda Co. near Edmonton.
Dirty soda is still new in Canada, but it’s growing fast. You can now spot the colourful drinks at summer fairs, on the menus of chains like Crumbl, and all over social media.
Why People Love Them
“They’re colourful, fun, and look great on Instagram,” said food service analyst Vince Sgabellone. “Some people even match their drink to their outfit.”
Dirty sodas are part of a bigger shift away from plain coffee to unique, “Instagram-worthy” specialty drinks.
In Canada, interest got a boost from the reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The show’s stars are often seen sipping dirty sodas or visiting Swig, the U.S. chain that helped make them popular.
From TV to Real Life
Sisters Mikayla and Brooklynn Cantelon from B.C. started experimenting with dirty soda recipes at home after seeing them on the show. They shared their creations with friends, then decided to open Pop Culture Dirty Soda, a trailer selling drinks around the Lower Mainland since May.
Some customers ask them to recreate cast members’ orders. Others choose from the sisters’ preset menu, which includes drinks named after singers like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter.
Prices range from $4.50 for a basic soda with syrups or creamers, to $8.50 for premium options. Their top July seller was the Cherry Bombshell — Dr Pepper, cherry syrup, coconut cream, and candy on top — for $6.
A Profitable Trend
Dirty soda costs more than a regular fountain drink, making it an attractive upsell for restaurants. Plus, the ingredients are cheap and already in most kitchens.
Carbonated soft drinks are the second most-ordered beverage in Canada after coffee, according to Restaurants Canada. Dirty sodas could boost sales even more by acting as a “destination beverage” — something people will go out of their way to get.
The Cantelons plan to launch a second trailer soon, while Guenette is working on a drive-thru franchise model across Canada. Big brands like Crumbl and even McDonald’s (in the U.S.) are also testing the trend.
For Guenette, more competition is welcome. “It’s been a blessing,” he said. “It keeps you moving forward and gets the best out of everyone.”
