Praise the Lord and pass the boogie board: MTN DEW Baja Blast is back on store shelves as of this week. Like the rest of the world, The Takeout is obsessed with this flavor, which originated as an exclusive MTN DEW/Taco Bell partnership and spawned an ever-growing line of other exclusive partnerships, like the newly-launched MTN DEW Purple Thunder. But good relationships are built on curiosity, and our staff’s curiosity led us to a MTN DEW quagmire this morning: What is a “Baja” flavor, exactly?
We Try (and Fail) to Guess the MTN DEW Mystery Flavor
We Try (and Fail) to Guess the MTN DEW Mystery Flavor
What makes a flavor “Baja?”
Per a press release sent to The Takeout, MTN DEW has declared 2022 “the Summer of Baja.” The brand is bringing Baja Blast to most major retailers, in addition to Baja Blast Zero Sugar, a Baja Blast energy drink, and two more “Baja-inspired” flavors: MTN DEW Baja Mango Gem and MTN DEW Baja Gold, the later of which features “a bright island pineapple flavor.” (Baja California is more of a peninsula, but okay.)
All of these drinks sound delicious—but what characterizes a “baja” flavor beyond a vague suggestion of peninsular vibes? Rather than frantically Google “WHAT MEANS BAJA,” I started at the source: a MTN DEW spokesperson. They told me the following via email:
“Baja Mango Gem, Baja Deep Dive and Baja Gold lean into the tropical nature of the original Baja flavor, while giving back to DEW Nation’s love of trying new ones.”
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Well. Alright. Unfortunately, that doesn’t tell me much about the innate Baja-ness of Baja Blast. I get it, I get it; MTN DEW can’t reveal its flavor secrets. Alas, that leaves us to speculate.
Let’s start with the origins of Baja Blast. Baja Blast was first released in early August 2004 as an exclusive partnership with U.S. Taco Bell locations. Per a CNN article published at the time of the beverage’s release, the drink’s “Mexican-inspired tropical lime flavor” was formulated specifically to pair with Taco Bell’s menu.
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But why “Baja?” I understand the appeal of product alliteration—but how Baja is this Blast, anyway?
How Baja Blast compares with actual Baja flavors
Baja Blast is named for Baja California, a Mexican state off the southern coast of California. (Baja Blast is not to be confused with Baha Men, a Bahamian band that formed in New Providence, Bahamas, though both Baja Blast and Baha Men continue to delight.) But does the soda’s tropical lime flavor actually connect to Baja California’s rich culinary delights?
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Eh, no. Not really. For one thing, limes didn’t originate in Mexico. You may have heard of the Mexican lime, which is a real thing—but it’s actually believed to have originated in the Indo-Malayan region. Perdue University’s horticultural department cites a 1987 paper explaining that the lime was “unknown in Europe before the Crusades,” though it was cultivated in parts of Europe by the mid-13th Century. The author adds that the lime was “undoubtedly introduced into the Caribbean islands and Mexico by the Spaniards, for it was reportedly commonly grown in Haiti in 1520.” Since then, it’s become naturalized in parts of the West Indies and Mexico.
But the drink is called Baja Blast, not Indo-Malayan Blast. So are there other elements of Baja California’s flavors incorporated into the beloved soda? To find out, I took a quick spin through the culinary internet to acquaint myself with the region’s favorite flavors.
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There’s savory machaca, a traditionally dried meat that incorporates beef, pork—even stingray. Speaking of seafood: Baja California has plenty, offering up pan-fried lobster as a popular choice. (Puerto Nuevo, a seaside village just south of San Diego, is famous for being the “Lobster Capital of Baja.”) The region also has a rich culinary connection to sea turtles, as outlined in this article by anthropologist and marine biologist Michelle María Early Capistrán. Finally, Baja California has peppers aplenty, with bountiful crops that include the ubiquitous Anaheim and jalapeño peppers. And while Baja Blast does have a bit of a kick to it, it’s certainly not that kind of kick.
So, is there anything truly Baja about Baja Blast? Other than the product’s vague association with Mexican food, I’d say no. There is, however, a whole world of Baja Californian cuisine out there, drawing you in with the promise of buttery pan-fried lobster and zingy machaca. If you live in Southern California, you’re only a short drive away. Feel free to chug a Baja Blast en route.
Some sources say Baja Blast is regular Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew, stylized as Mtn Dew in some countries, is a carbonated soft drink brand produced and owned by PepsiCo. The original formula was invented in 1940 by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman. A revised formula was created by Bill Bridgforth in 1958.
spiked with lime. The official word comes from PepsiCo, which says it is a "cult favorite" with a "legendary Tropical Lime flavor," which would explain the tropical-beach-ideation-producing "Baja" in the drink's title.
Baja Blast is named for Baja California, a Mexican state off the southern coast of California. (Baja Blast is not to be confused with Baha Men, a Bahamian band that formed in New Providence, Bahamas, though both Baja Blast and Baha Men continue to delight.)
The Baja title invokes surfer vibes, and the lime part makes it a summery refresher. Our final answer is that Baja Blast is hint of lime Mtn Dew, which definitely pairs well with T-Bell's zingy cuisine. Still, that descriptor feels reductive.
Baja Blast is a sweet and tropical beverage that offers a one-of-a-kind taste experience. It combines the flavors of lime and tropical fruit, creating a deliciously tangy and slightly citrusy profile. The bold and vibrant flavors of Baja Blast make it a favorite among soda enthusiasts.
The prototypical fish taco originated in Baja California, Mexico, and the preparation referred to in this country as “Baja-style” is similar to what you might find on the Mexican peninsula. It usually involves deep-fried white-fleshed fish, shredded cabbage, and a creamy white sauce.
Not just Taco Bell: Mountain Dew Baja Blast hits US grocery store shelves in 2024. Mountain Dew Baja Blast will be in stores nationwide all year for the first time in honor of the drinks 20th anniversary.
Leading up to 2004, PepsiCo conducted extensive research to develop a beverage with a taste and color to complement Taco Bell food products. The resulting product was named Baja Blast, a light blue-green colored, tropical lime-flavored variety of the soft drink.
The flavor was first made available in 2004. Created for, and exclusively sold at Taco Bell locations, it was a collaboration between the company and Mountain Dew owners PepsiCo. One of the first instances of a restaurant offering an exclusive soda beverage, it was created to increase sales of fountain soda.
HARD MTN DEW is a new flavored malt beverage (FMB) available in four bold flavors, including MTN DEW, Baja Blast, Livewire, and Watermelon. MTN DEW lovers of legal drinking age can experience the bold, citrus flavors of the soft drink they know and love with 5% alcohol by volume (ABV).
The Baja title invokes surfer vibes, and the lime part makes it a summery refresher. Our final answer is that Baja Blast is hint of lime Mtn Dew, which definitely pairs well with T-Bell's zingy cuisine.
To mark its 20th anniversary, the beloved beverage will now be available beyond the taco chain, at retail stores nationwide all year long. It looks like 2024 (welcome to it) is going to be a big year for fans of Mountain Dew Baja Blast.
After years of pleas from fans, Mountain Dew launched the beverage a decade later in retail stores for a limited time. Baja Blast has since had seasonal relaunches in stores, but 2024 will mark the first time the drink has been sold for a full year. This story was reported from Cincinnati.
Baja Med is a term conceived by Chef Miguel Ángel Guerrero that refers to fusion cuisine of Mexican cuisine, such as chicharrón and cotija cheese, with those of Mediterranean, such as olive oil, and Asian cuisine, such as lemongrass. Baja Med dishes showcase the fresh produce and seafood of Baja California.
Well California was colonized by the Spanish in the 1500's, and it was named by the Spanish, about 300yrs later it was part of the Mexican Empire. The area that the US took which was sparsely populated was 'Alta California' or High California, while the Peninsula was known as 'Baja California' or Low California.
Originally the term was originated from Baja 1000 off road race. The race takes place in Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. (Lower California peninsula) .
A trophy truck, also known as a Baja truck or trick truck, is a vehicle used in high-speed off-road racing. This is an open production class and all components are considered legal unless specifically restricted.
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