Dirty Mountain Dew

 

Product circa: spring 2026

Following the dirty soda trend, Pepsico decided to create its own bottled version.

I wish they hadn't.  Mimicking soda and cream was never going to work in a non-dairy shelf-stable version.  They simply added vanilla "cream soda" flavoring to their Dew, and they added too much.  In the end, the vanilla overpowers the rest of the product, and ultimately this tastes like cream soda, but more tangy and bitter.

Ironically, the zero sugar seems to have less vanilla, and veers further toward balance.  But the sweetener completely ruins the attempt.

Lay's Brazilian-Style Garlic Sauce

 

Product circa: summer 2026

One of several Lays products promoting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, representing Brazil.

With a possibly extra-salted bite, these start with easily the strongest and most realistic raw garlic flavor I've ever tasted in a snack.  Next, the various cheese powders in the ingredient list manifest as butter on the palate, very much like that of buttered popcorn.  In the end, there is a tanginess that doesn't taste like vinegar at all, and well mimics the lemon juice that is intended.

These are very tasty, but because of the fact that they make your mouth taste like garlic for 6+ hours after you eat them, I'll never buy them again.

Fritos Flavor Twists Spicy Dill Pickle

 

Product circa: Summer 2026

I guess "spicy dill pickle" is plenty zeitgeisty enough to be an "American" flavor as part of this US semiquincentennial promotion.

They really provided "the works" of flavor profiles here for this snack.  I've tried plenty of spicy pickle snacks recently, and this is different.  This seems to have a ranch flavor base, with dill flavor added, with salt & vinegar powder added, and also the "red hot" flavor on top.  They're not unpleasant, but they are very busy in an All Dressed kind of way.  More than anything, this snack highlights that the flavor twists form factor provides an impressive crunchy texture when using new-fangled flavors, and I wish Fritos experimented with them more.