Why is everyone obsessed with the 'dirty soda' trend?

I can split my existence into two distinct eras: life before and after watching The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

Since debuting on Disney Plus (and Hulu in the US), this reality show has become nothing short of a sensation. Documenting the complicated lives of a friendship group of TikTok-famous (near identical) Mormon women in their 20s, it's about as chaotic as any reality show can get.

What sets this reality concept apart from its predecessors is the way that religion intersects with the day-to-day of these women. From what they drink to who they can date, these "MomTok" influencers' lives are limited by the rules established by the Church of Latter-day Saints.

But for one rule, the women have found a loophole and it's a weird one.

Listen to The Quicky's episode on the Mormon Wives here. Post continues below.

Mormons are not allowed to drink coffee, as according to the Word of Wisdom, the Lord commands that practicing Mormons abstain from harmful substances such as "hot drinks", which includes coffee and any tea other than herbal tea.

This means that Mormon wives don't frequent the coffee chains that are the common meeting ground for, well… most non-Mormons. Instead, these women congregate in specialised soda shops, such as the Utah franchise Swig.

In one episode, three of the women roll into Swig, which is known for its 'dirty soda' concoctions. "I just need my Mormon crack," one woman exclaims as they head in.

They take their dirty sodas very seriously.

@jess_on_mainstreet

I’ve been looking forward to this drink all day #secretlivesofmormonwives #swig #dirtysoda #recipe #watertok #drinktok #swigdrinks #sodatok #sodarecipe #sugarfree #dirtysodarecipe #mountiandew #momtok #swigtok #drinksoftiktok #hulu #drpepper

♬ Bed Chem - Sabrina Carpenter

A dirty soda is a mixture of creamer — typically powdered milk or coconut cream — with a soft drink. Basically, instead of going to a coffee shop to get a latte, they order a Coke or Pepsi with a creamer mixed in, in order to replicate the experience of coffee beverages.

"We don't drink alcohol or do drugs," said Demi Engemann in the series, referring to the dirty soda as "kind of our vice".

The flavours at Swig have cutesy names like Raspberry Dream, Mango Breeze and Summer Splash.

These women buy a lot of dirty sodas to fill the coffee-sized hole left in their lives.

"Six out of the seven days of the week, I'm having at least one 44-ounce soda," another wife Layla Taylor admitted. "I'm probably only going to live to like 50, but it makes me happy."

But I must say, these dirty sodas do look rather enticing. So much so, in fact, that viewers who don't live near a dirty soda shop are trying to recreate the drinks at home.

@beccers_gordonn

Make a utah dirty soda with me!!! #mormon #dirtysoda #byu #utah #fresca #nightimedrink #swig

♬ original sound - Rebecca Gordon

I'll be seated waiting for a Swig store to open up any day now in Australia.

The Mormon wives' obsession with dirty soda was just one of a handful of loopholes the women embraced in order to enjoy their lives while sticking to LDS' strict guidelines.

Some of the women admitted that they got regular Botox injections just so they could get high off the laughing gas administered before the procedure. Another pair of wives shared they had completed ketamine therapy together.

Dirty sodas aren't sounding so weird after all, huh?

Feature image: TikTok/Disney Plus.