Baja Blast (2024)

Baja Blast is a Franchise Exclusive Mountain Dew flavor available since August 2004 only at Taco Bell restaurants. While originating as a Taco Bell exclusive flavor, it then received many retail summer releases until January 2024, when it turned into a permanent flavor for its 20th "Bajaversary" and beyond.

Description

Baja Blast is a Mexican-inspired Tropical Lime flavor of Mountain Dew and is an ocean-like teal in color. Its tropical theming is shared with its Baja Family of Flavors, while it was once paired with former secondary Taco Bell exclusive Sangrita Blast.

Tagline

Its standard Taco Bell tagline in the United States is "A Tropical Lime Storm," while its market release tagline was "DEW with a Blast of Natural and Artificial Tropical Lime Flavor."

History

Baja Blast was first released in early August 2004^[1], exclusively at Taco Bell locations in the United States. It marked the first time a beverage company and a fast-food restaurant have created a proprietary beverage. The drink was specifically designed to taste best for their Mexican-inspired food. Baja Blast was created with the intent to increase drive-thru beverage sales.

Baja Blast was an instant hit amongst Taco Bell consumers and Mountain Dew fans alike, leading to a massive cult following in the following years. Promotion of the flavor increased considerably as a result, and the drink's popularity eventually resulted in a retail release in bottles and cans in 2014. The drink has been a recurring staple of Mountain Dew's retail lineup ever since, frequently releasing as part of their summer lineup, plus turned into a permanent flavor in January 2024^[2].

Annual Limited-Time retail releases

2014 Original Limited-Time store release

Main article: Baja or Bust

In early 2014, after a successful decade of Taco Bell exclusivity, PepsiCo announced^[3] Baja Blast was to be released for the first time at retail stores. The drink was released for a limited time in the summer of 2014. To celebrate its 10-year anniversary release, a promotion named "Baja or Bust" coincided with the release, which gave fans the opportunity to win Baja Blast-themed prizes.

Several leaks confirmed the drink's store release, as well as its release timing. It was eventually officially confirmed that it would be rolling out in stores on May 5th, 2014, and remained available for the summer until October of that year.

2015 Limited-Time store release

After its first successful retail release in 2014, PepsiCo announced^[4], the re-release Baja Blast again for a limited time in the Summer of 2015. This release also featured Sangrita Blast, an all-new Taco Bell original flavor. The two flavors were released for the summer on April 20th, 2015. This remains the only store release of Sangrita Blast, which remained at Taco Bell locations until 2017.

2016 Limited-Time store release

Main article: DEWcision 2016

In 2016, PepsiCo announced^[5] DEWcision 2016, a promotion that pitted Baja Blast, returning to store shelves, against Pitch Black, another cult-classic Dew flavor. The winner of DEWcision 2016 was to be made the next permanent Dew flavor on store shelves. A national voting session was held for fans to vote on their favorite of the two flavors. Long-time Baja Blast fans had waited for this moment to come and took it to the next level with Twitter hashtags and challenges issued by Mountain Dew. Alas, Baja Blast lost to Pitch Black by a small margin^[6] and was again discontinued from retail sales, leaving Pitch Black as the new "permanent" flavor.

2018 Limited-Time store release

Main article: Dew Nation Rewards

After Baja Blast's loss in DEWcision, 2017 did not feature a retail release. In its limited-time release slot, that year was DEW-S-A, a mixture of Voltage, Code Red, and White Out in one flavored soda was released.

On September 1st, 2017, the official Mountain Dew Twitter account posted^[7], asking fans to show their support for a future Baja Blast retail release, using the hashtag #BringBajaBlastBack. The demand was high, and Baja Blast was released^[8] in stores on April 23rd, 2018, and remained available for the summer. Since 2018, Baja Blast has been a consistently recurring yearly release.

2019 Limited-Time store release

In the Summer of 2019, Baja Blast was re-released once again. This particular release, however, its usual limited-time schedule window slot for now on, was reduced to make room for other limited-time flavors. That year was Liberty Brew, a 50 Flavors in one flavored soda. Baja Blast was released on March 11th, 2019, until early June 2019.

Also, a Zero Sugar variant released in Taco Bell locations in December 2018 was supposed to be released alongside Baja Blast's Summer 2019 release, but it was canceled for unknown reasons.

In August 2019, Baja Blast was released in 24-packs for the first time as a limited-time Sam's Club exclusive and has been available at Sam's Club for some years, eventually having a 36-pack release in 2021.^[9]

2020 Limited-Time store release

In the Spring of 2020, Baja Blast was re-released as expected on March 23rd, 2020, and joined by the Zero Sugar variant for its first retail release until June 2020, for Liberty Brew's second release.

2021 Limited-Time store release

Main article: 100 Days of Baja

On October 8th, 2020, a leaked internal reel video surfaced, showing upcoming plans for the Mountain Dew brand for 2021. This video reaffirmed much of the previously-leaked information for 2021, including Baja Blast's imminent rerelease, alongside the existence of two new Baja flavors Baja Flash and Baja Punch alongside a new promotion called 100 Days of Baja. This release had a massive design overhaul for Baja Blast alongside its Zero Sugar variant, featuring tropical waves in the background and a teal bottle cap instead of the black cap of previous releases. This information also marks two brand new flavors to be released every summer from now on.

Baja Blast was released in early summer of 2021, alongside its Zero Sugar variant, Baja Flash and Baja Punch, where the 100 Days of Baja promotion also took place. It ran until September 2021, when the promotion and flavors were discontinued.

2022 Limited-Time store release

Main article: The Lost Treasures of Baja Island

Baja Blast was released^[10] in early summer of 2022, alongside its Zero Sugar variant, Baja Mango Gem, Baja Gold, and Baja Blast ENERGY where the The Lost Treasures of Baja Island promotion also took place, which held a chance to win an unreleased Baja-themed mystery flavor Baja Deep Dive, ran until the end of summer.

2023 Limited-Time store release

Main article: Summer of Baja Blast

Baja Blast was released in early summer of 2023, alongside its Zero Sugar and Energy variant, Baja Caribbean Splash and Baja Passionfruit Punch with different colors to differentiate from those yellow and orange Baja-themed flavors with a new promotion named Summer of Baja Blast. It ran until September 2023, when the promotion and flavors were discontinued.

This summer release was Baja Blast's last limited-time release before being made into a permanent flavor.

2024 Permanent release/20th "Bajaversary"

Main article: 20th Bajaversary

Coming to its 20th Anniversary, for this release, PepsiCo^[11] decided to make Baja Blast a permanent flavor and beyond. The news struck on July 21st, 2023^[12], when Team Supernova ^[13] (a well-respected Mountain Dew news source) was leaked on Twitter stating it was scheduled to be released in January 2024 alongside Zero Sugar and is also planning to be in a Super Bowl LVIII commerical^[14] with actor Aubrey Plaza.

This release marked the United States as the second country to receive Baja Blast as a permanent flavor, the first being Canada. Baja Blast, alongside its Zero Sugar variant, was released alongside a cleverly named promotion referred to as its 20th "Bajaversary" which included two new limited-time Baja flavors slated to release in late March: Laguna Lemonade, Point Break Punch as well as the addition of Doritos Baja Fiery Mango chips^[15] also slated to be release in late March.

For unknown reasons, Pepsi was hesitant to use the word "permanent" when referring to Baja Blast when it hit the shelves in early 2024. However all signs internally and from Team Supernova's sources still indicated that the release was indeed permanent and not one year only.

Freeze Variants

Baja Blast Freeze

In August 2012, select Taco Bell restaurant locations began offering Baja Blast Freeze, an icy Freeze variant of Baja Blast with similar physical properties as the restaurant's pre-existing Frutista Freeze product line. After the successful test release, Baja Blast Freeze was added to the Taco Bell menu permanently on January 31st, 2013.

Since its introduction in January 2013 as a permanent freeze, it has become Taco Bell's most popular freeze.^[16]

Baja Blast Twisted Freeze

In September 2015, Taco Bell launched its first Taco Bell Cantina store in Wicker Park, Chicago, IL, which featured unique menu items and alcoholic beverages. Among these beverages was the Baja Blast Twisted Freeze, which was a regular Baja Blast Freeze served with a shot of rum, tequila, or vodka^[17]. Many new Taco Bell Cantina restaurants have opened in the years since, and the Twisted Freeze has now become a staple menu item. The specific brands of liquor used for the Twisted Freeze vary for each location, and there have even been some reports of whiskey being an additional option at select Cantinas.

Baja Blast Birthday Freeze

From October 17th, 2019, to November 20th, 2019, the Baja Blast Birthday Freeze was released for a limited time. It was released to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Mountain Dew Baja Blast. This birthday-themed variant consisted of the Baja Blast Freeze with added candy sprinkles.

Baja Blast Cherry Smash Freeze

Baja Blast Cherry Smash Freeze is a canceled variant of Baja Blast Freeze. Originally leaked from a Taco Bell marketing survey in late 2020, it was likely canceled, potentially being replaced by the Baja Blast Colada Freeze.

Baja Blast Colada Freeze

On May 20th, 2021, another freeze variant was released called the Baja Blast Colada Freeze. This release consists the Baja Blast Freeze with a swirl of piña colada-inspired tropical cream.

Related Flavors/Variants

Diet Baja Blast

In December 2013, Taco Bell added a diet variant of Baja Blast to its main menu, titled Diet Baja Blast, along with the new citrus punch-flavored Dew, Sangrita Blast. Diet Baja Blast was later replaced by Orange Citrus Kickstart in 2015.

Baja Blast Non-Alcoholic Bubbly

On November 14th, 2016, Taco Bell gave an exclusive bottle of Baja Blast Non-Alcoholic Bubbly to the first fifty people attending the grand opening of the Taco Bell Cantina restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada^[18]. Although it looks like a different flavor, the ingredients suggest that it's actually the same.

Baja Blast Zero Sugar

In early December 2018, a zero-sugar variant of Baja Blast returned to Taco Bell restaurants, replacing an underperforming flavor, Spiked (Lemonade) and rebranded under a new name: Baja Blast Zero Sugar. It was released to Taco Bell locations nationwide by March 2019.

Baja Blast Zero Sugar first saw a retail limited-time release in 2020 alongside Baja Blast. It used a slightly different formula than the fountain version. The fountain version contains aspartame, while the packaged version does not. Baja Blast Zero Sugar was once again released in retail stores in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 as a permanent zero-sugar variant.

Sangrita Blast

Main article: Sangrita Blast

Following the success of Baja Blast, the Citrus Punch flavored Sangrita Blast was exclusively released to Taco Bell restaurants in December 2013 in the United States, alongside Diet Baja Blast. The drink remained at Taco Bell locations until 2017, when it was discontinued, possibly due to low sales.

Baja Flash and Baja Punch

Main article: Baja Flash

Main article: Baja Punch

From now on, in 2021, PepsiCo would be releasing two new unique tropical flavors with Baja Blast-Esque undertones for every year that follows. That year began with two new flavors, Baja Flash and Baja Punch. Baja Flash was inspired by the popular Pineapple-Coconut drink Piña Colada, and Baja Punch was a Tropical Punch flavor with sturdy notes of Cherry and Orange.

Baja Mango Gem and Baja Gold

Main article: Baja Mango Gem

Main article: Baja Gold

Similar to 2021, by the looks of the color of the two previous drinks, that year began with two new flavors, Baja Mango Gem and Baja Gold. Baja Mango Gem was a Mango flavored soda, and Baja Gold was a Pineapple flavored soda with a bit more artificial tasting Maui Burst as such.

Baja Caribbean Splash and Baja Passionfruit Punch

Main article: Baja Caribbean Splash

Main article: Baja Passionfruit Punch

Different for 2023 by new pink and purple colors and looks, that year began with two new flavors, Baja Caribbean Splash and Baja Passionfruit Punch. Baja Caribbean Splash was a Guava flavored soda, and Baja Passionfruit Punch was a Passionfruit flavored soda.

Baja Laguna Lemonade and Baja Point Break Punch

Main article: Baja Laguna Lemonade

Main article: Baja Point Break Punch

Different for 2024 by new pink and yellow colors and looks, this year began with two new flavors, Baja Laguna Lemonade and Baja Point Break Punch. Baja Laguna Lemonade is a Mango Lemonade flavored soda, and Baja Point Break Punch is a Tropical Punch flavor with sturdy notes of Raspberry, Pineapple, and Cherry.

Baja Paloma Punch

Main article: Baja Paloma Punch

For 2025, a new pink colored Tropical Punch (Grapefruit-Lime) flavor, based on a popular co*cktail: the "Paloma," will be releasing in for a limited time in Late April/Early May 2025 while having a Fountain and a Freeze release in Taco Bell restaurants.^[19]

Baja Cabo Citrus

Main article: Baja Cabo Citrus

In May 2024, it was leaked from a marketing survey^[20] that Baja Cabo Citrus (a Tropical Punch (Mango-Lime-Orange-Grapefruit) flavor) was being tested to see if people would buy it based on its looks and presentation. Currently, there are no current plans for the release schedule for this flavor, its status remains unknown until further notice. Aside from that, this flavor has the potential to be released in 2025.

Hard Mountain Dew Baja Blast

Main article: Hard Baja Blast

On January 28th, 2022, the official Mountain Dew Hard account announced^[21] that Hard Baja Blast would accompany the Hard lineup of Original, Black Cherry, and Watermelon. It was released on February 22nd, 2022, in a few states.

This version of Baja Blast has zero sugar, is caffeine free, contains 5% alcohol and was the only version of Baja Blast to be a permanent flavor in the United States of retail stores from 2022 to 2024, when the regular Baja Blast variant was recently released.

Mountain Dew Energy (Baja Blast)

Main article: Mountain Dew Energy (Baja Blast)

In March 2022, a Mountain Dew Energy variant called Baja Blast ENERGY was leaked and released for a limited time in Summer 2022 as part of the The Lost Treasures of Baja Island promotion. It returned in the Summer of 2023 as part of the Summer of Baja Blast promotion. After that, Baja Blast ENERGY with a Baja Blast Charged Berry variant was then test-marketed in a select few Taco Bell locations in September 2023^[22].

It was planned to be released as a permanent Energy variant, but the Energy line was planned to be discontinued ^[23] the same year, and was fully discontinued in January 2024 ^[24].

It was the first Mountain Dew Energy to be based on an existing Mountain Dew flavor.

International release

Canada

2018 Taco Bell Restaurant release

In the Summer of 2018^[25], the Canadian Taco Bell division announced that Baja Blast would become exclusively available at Canadian Taco Bell restaurant locations, making this release of Baja Blast the first time it would get released in a country outside of the United States. In addition, a medium-sized paper cup has a Baja Blast-inspired design, with a cyan face and an all-black Baja Blast logo in the center. The large-sized cup, however, is based on the original Mountain Dew design.

2019 Canadian Permanent release

Months after its release in Taco Bell restaurants, it was later uncovered^[26] that there was a retail release planning on releasing on January 27th, 2019, in bottles and cans. After its release in bottles and cans, it later was confirmed as a permanent flavor in the Canadian lineup. In the same year, a Freeze^[27] variant was released in a few Taco Bell restaurants.

2021 Limited Time Baja Punch and Baja Flash release

In the Summer of 2021, shortly after the American release of Baja Punch and Baja Flash, both flavors were exclusively released in Circle K and Couche Tard convenience stores from late May 2021 to September 2021 in individual 16-ounce King Cans and 12 packs of 16-ounce cans. At the same time, Baja Blast 12-ounce cans started disappearing due to supply chain shortages, and have not been seen since.

Despite this release, no 16-ounce cans of Baja Blast were to go alongside the two. The American release of Baja Blast also had a massive design overhaul, which still has yet updated for the Canadian version, a design unchanged since 2019. Halfway through the season, Baja Punch was later released in 20-ounce bottles for a limited time, no longer as a specific store exclusive.

2022 Limited Time Baja Gold release

In the Summer of 2022, shortly after the American release of Baja Gold and Baja Mango Gem, Baja Gold was released nationwide in August 2022^[28] in 20-ounce bottles. However, its companion flavor Baja Mango Gem was not released alongside it.

Themed-Merchandising

Foods

Baja Blast Hot Sauce

In 2023, for National Hot Sauce Day, on January 22nd, Mountain Dew announced that it had launched a partnership with Houston hot sauce shop iBurn to create a limited-edition hot sauce. The teal colored hot sauce blended the tropical lime taste of Baja Blast with habanero peppers, green chiles, tomatillos, and jalapenos. Only 750 bottles were created and were available as an award through a contest that ran until February 8th, 2023.^[29]

Baja Blast Gelato

In early January 2023^[30], PepsiCo filed trademarks for Baja Blast in the ice cream/frozen category for food, unconfirmed what form of ice cream it would be like. It was later confirmed that Baja Blast Ice Cream was planning to be released in select Taco Bell locations between August and October^[31].

On August 31st, 2023^[32], a Baja Blast flavored gelato was test marketed to one location in California for a limited time for two weeks or while supplies last.

After a massive response to the Baja Blast Gelato, Taco Bell confirmed it will be making its nationwide release^[33] in time for Baja Blast's 20th "Bajaversary," for a limited time at the end of Summer 2024^[34].

Compared to Baja Blast, formulated to taste best with Taco Bell's food, the Gelato was formulated the same to taste best with cheesy, spicy, saucy foods.

This flavored gelato was the first to be sold on the Taco Bell main menu.

Baja Blast Pie and Cinnamon Twist Topping

On February 9th, 2024, a live event was held in Las Vegas, unrevealing innovative products, and streamed to an audience on YouTube^[35]. In this stream, they've unrevealed a Baja Blast flavored pie and Baja Blast toppings for the Cinnamon Twists. Both are in the testing phases^[36] and are unconfirmed of releasing them.

Other

The Bell: A Taco Bell Hotel and Resort

In August 2019, Taco Bell opened a limited-time hotel and resort in Palm Springs, CA for four nights only, fittingly named "The Bell: A Taco Bell Hotel and Resort." The Bell featured a pool, salon, DJ, and gift shop, along with food and drinks, all being taco Bell-themed.^[37]

A Mountain Dew co*cktail named the Strawberry Sangria Baja Blast Pop was available for purchase at this event for $10. It was described as a "Strawberry Sangria Baja Blast Popsicle served in a Baja Blast & champagne co*cktail." A non-alcoholic version of this drink made without champagne was also available at The Bell.

Additionally, at some point later during the event, a co*cktail named the Baja Mango Mojito was available. However, little is known about this drink outside of the name.^[38]

Trivia

• Baja Blast is the first Franchise Exclusive flavor. Similar to Code Red's impact of inspiring new flavors on the main lineup, Baja Blast followed suit to inspire new franchise exclusive flavors along the way, which didn't take off until nowadays, such as the creation of these flavors like 2021's Thrashed Apple.
  • Franchise exclusive flavors have become a staple of Mountain Dew's lineup because they create opportunities to have a business bond between the franchisee and PepsiCo. After the discontinuation of underperforming flavors back in 2019, PepsiCo thought to make new flavors exclusive to a franchise without overpacking store shelves, which explains the underperforming flavors.
• Due to the popularity of Baja Blast in the United States, this flavor has turned into its own branded Baja Blast merchandising. Baja Blast has multiple products, such as a Hard alcoholic beer, Baja-themed room scent sprays, foods, such as Baja Blast Pie, and other products.
  • Once PepsiCo made Baja Blast its own brand, meme images revolved around Gerber's Baja Blast baby food^[39] and other unofficial products, such as a scented candle^[40], and Italian Ice Cream^[41] showing how popular and mainstream this flavor is nowadays.
• Baja Blast's name originates from Baja California, a Mexican state off the southern coast of California. The state is known for its countless beaches.
• Baja Blast is one of the prime interests in the classic YouTube prank video "Operation: Soda Steal,"^[42] as it was still a Taco Bell exclusive drink in 2008 when the video was made.
  • Operation: Soda Steal gained massive amounts of attention, eventually leaving the official Mountain Dew Facebook account in May 2014^[43], poking fun at the idea of "Baja Bootleggers."
• The freeze version of Baja Blast is the only Mountain Dew freeze available exclusively at U.S. and CA Taco Bell restaurants.
• Until Baja Blast's first official market release in the summer of 2014, many people had speculated on the internet whether such a release would ever take place, and numerous images of fake bottles had circulated over time.
• The Dew Drinker Discord server has continuously leaked information regarding Baja Blast's re-releases months in advance.
• In The Philippines, Taco Bell released a drink titled Aqua Blast in 2019. It has an adjacent familiar aquamarine appearance and similar branding to Baja Blast, but lacks any Mountain Dew branding.
• There are also KFC/Taco Bell combined restaurants, where both restaurants' exclusive Dew flavors, Baja Blast and Sweet Lightning, are available.
• Baja Blast has a very similar name to Maui Burst, Dollar General's Franchise Exclusive flavor which initially released in 2019. Both have a similar ring in their names, although this is likely just a coincidence.
• The first Baja companion flavors, Baja Flash and Baja Punch, were originally called "Baja Blast Pineapple Punch" and "Baja Blast Tahitian Twist." These names were scrapped, potentially due to their long length as well as "Tahitian Twist" being overly similar to the Canada Dry drink "Tahitian Treat."
• During the Summer 2021 limited-time release, there used to be Baja-inspired room scent sprays^[44] by Baja Blast, Baja Punch, and Baja Flash. When you spray the scents up in the air, it would smell like the flavor.
• From February 2022 until January 2024, you could get Baja Blast as a permanent flavor in the U.S. only as a Hard alcoholic variant.
  • Speaking of alcohol, other beers^[45] were created and inspired by Baja Blast, made by various brewing companies.
• There is a Baja Blast "Dye Hard" shirt^[46] that contradicts the permanent release of Baja Blast in its 20th Bajaversary. The shirt reads: "MAKE MTN DEW BAJA BLAST AVAILABLE IN STORES ALL THE TIME."

Official Links

• Official Taco Bell Drinks Website section.

References