Taco Bell Baja Blast

Taco Bell Baja Blast is a tropical lime soda built from blue Powerade, Mountain Dew and lemon-lime soda. There is no cooking involved, just pouring over ice and stirring. It takes five minutes and makes two drinks.

I use Mountain Berry Blast Powerade specifically, because the blue is what turns the yellow-green Mountain Dew into that teal color. Any blue sports drink works, though the cheaper ones skew purple once the Dew goes in. Color is half of what makes this recognizable.

Pour the Powerade first and the sodas last, since dumping carbonated liquid onto ice knocks most of the fizz straight out. A flat Baja Blast tastes syrupy and dull, which is the usual reason a homemade one disappoints. Tilt the glass and pour down the side instead.

What follows is the part that decides whether yours tastes like the drive-thru or like flat soda.

FAQs

What size glass do I actually need?

Bigger than the eight-ounce glass the recipe names. Each serving is eight ounces of liquid, so once ice fills the glass halfway you need a twelve to fourteen-ounce glass to hold it. Use a pint glass and you will have room to stir without wearing it.

Does it have caffeine?

About fourteen milligrams per glass, since a twelve-ounce Mountain Dew carries roughly fifty-four and each serving uses three ounces. That sits well under a cup of coffee, which runs near ninety-five. Caffeine-free Mountain Dew drops it to almost nothing, though the flavor shifts slightly.

Why does mine come out green instead of blue?

Mountain Dew is yellow-green, so it fights the blue rather than blending with it. Too much Dew lands you on murky green, which is the most common complaint with homemade versions. Pull the Dew back by half an ounce and the teal returns.

Which ratio is right, since recipes disagree?

Some versions use equal thirds of all three, while this one weights Powerade and Dew at three ounces against two of lemon-lime. Equal thirds reads sweeter and lighter, the three-three-two reads closer to the restaurant. Make one of each side by side and pick.

Can I make a big batch for a party?

A punch bowl works, but fill it as guests arrive rather than an hour early. Carbonation is the whole point and it starts dying the moment the bottles open, so early batching ruins it. Pair it with their strawberry lemonade at home for a caffeine-free option.

What food does it actually go with?

Anything fried or heavily spiced, because the sweetness resets your palate between bites. It earns its place next to a basket of nacho fries more than it does beside a light meal. Skip it with dessert, since the sugar load stacks up fast.

Nutrition is as published by the source recipe and is automatically calculated, so treat it as an approximation. The source specifies eight-ounce glasses, which will not hold a full serving once ice is added.