‘Dirty soda’ chain Swig expanding to Austin area

AUSTIN (KXAN) — "Dirty soda" — made popular on Tiktok and "Momtok" — is coming to the Austin area.

Utah-based Swig is bringing its “dirty soda” menu to Central Texas. These drinks combine soda with flavors, fruits and creams.

Preliminary project details filed last week show Swig plans to open a location near Pflugerville in the Commons at Star Ranch development, according to project information from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. 

Swig’s customizable menu has drinks like the “Dirty S.O.P” with Dr Pepper, coconut and peach or the “Big Al” with Diet Coke, coconut and lime. Another soda called the “Texas Tab” mixes Dr Pepper with vanilla and coconut cream. 

Construction is expected to begin in November and be completed in January, but these dates are subject to change. KXAN reached out to Swig to learn more about its Central Texas expansion.

The Austin Business Journal previously reported the “dirty soda” company planned to franchise in the north Austin and south Austin regions. At the time, letters of intent were active in Cedar Park, Round Rock, San Marcos and south Austin with lease negotiations in Pflugerville. 

Swig already has multiple Texas locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio locations with more shops planned. 

Why is ‘dirty soda’ popular right now? 

The hit Hulu show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which chronicles a friend group of Morman women in Utah, highlighted their obsession with “dirty soda” and their frequent Swig stops. 

“Utah is like land of the Mormon bar, which are all of the soda shops that we have,” cast member Jessi Ngatikaura explains on the show. “There’s one on every corner.” 

According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Mormons are advised against “hot drinks” including coffee and tea as they “are not for the body or belly.” Alcohol and tobacco are also listed as harmful. 

Caffeine is not mentioned in Mormon beliefs, as the church clarified in 2012, according to LDS-focused nonprofit FAIR. 

A few of the women visit Swig during an episode, where cast member Demi Engemann orders a sparkling water with sugar-free coconut, sugar-free vanilla, sugar-free raspberry, sugar-free pineapple and coconut cream. 

Layla Taylor, another cast member, said she orders a 44-ounce soda at least six days a week.

“I’m probably only going to live to like 50, but makes me happy,” Taylor said on the show.