Despite its namesake, dragon fruit isn’t exactly the boldest of flavors. Now, don’t get me wrong, I \*like\* dragon fruit, especially the yellow kind. However, I really find that it adds more in the way of color and texture than flavor, which is why I was honestly kind of surprised when I heard that Mountain Dew, a brand known for bold flavors like Flamin’ Hot and Code Red, had decided to add a dragon fruit flavor to its lineup.

I do have to give them credit where credit is due (or Dew, haha): this stuff DOES really taste like dragon fruit. The flavor is mild, but it is present, and it does evoke the actual namesake fruit. There is a hint of that trademark vaguely citrusy taste most varieties of Mountain Dew share as a background note and a slight aftertaste, and that Dew scent remains present. However, there is a sort of mild, earthy hint of kiwi-like sweetness from dragon fruit that ties it all together.

Even the color looks close. If you’ve ever blended a few chunks of red dragon fruit into an otherwise pale smoothie, topped some Greek yogurt with it, or even just picked up a piece with your bare fingers, you know that bright pink shade it imparts, and I daresay this Dew nails it.

All that being said, the flavor is still really weak. If I’m taking in as much sugar as two servings of Skittles (there’s no zero sugar variety), I want to TASTE something! This almost feels like a sweetened La Croix with the fruit-like whisper of flavor the dragon fruit lends. So, if you’re looking for a bold new Dew to celebrate the summer with, I might suggest Baja Cabo Citrus, 7-Eleven’s exclusive Infinite Swirl, or the returning Summer Freeze. Because sadly, this one just misses the mark and the flavor I have come to expect from one of my favorite soft drink brands.

Purchased Price: $2.38
Size: 20 fl oz bottle (also available in cans)
Purchased at: Walmart (Exclusive)
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bottle) 280 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 73 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 73 grams of total sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

There’s a new Dew in town, and that town is Cabo. Or is it Baja? Both of those are towns in Mexico, right? I wasn’t sure, so I looked it up. It turns out Baja is a state in Mexico, on the California peninsula, while Cabo is a city in Baja, so I guess the name kind of works? Anyway.

In the bottle, this soda is shockingly orange. The deep teal label provides a nice counterbalance, heightening the depth of the drink’s color. I know this might be a bit much for a color, but I find it really appealing. It’s very summery and bright. Looking at it just feels refreshing and summery. Like, I want the bottle to be wearing sunglasses with a pool floaty around it.

Opening the bottle, the scent is very orange-forward citrus. It’s not overpowering, but definitely noticeable. There are faint hints of lime as well, but kind of a syrupy sweet lime, unlike Baja Blast itself. It’s really nice and fresh, and I wouldn’t mind an air freshener or candle that smelled like it.

Then I took a sip. Have you ever had those very generic gummy orange slice candies? The ones dusted with sugar and seemingly only available at gas stations? Yeah, Mountain Dew Baja Cabo Citrus could have been called Mountain Dew Gas Station Orange Slice based on flavor alone. The lime and supposed “Citrus Punch” vanishes into the background, all but invisible against the looming presence of sweet, yet very artificial tasting, orange. If you’re a fan of orange sodas in general, I feel like you’ll probably like this. There’s a brief flash of Dew-flavored aftertaste, but that candy flavor is far more dominant.

I think this would make excellent floats with some vanilla ice cream or freezes with some lime or orange sherbet. It’s not bad, and I actually like it. It’s just very, very orange-forward, and I’m a lime girlie who really appreciates the more tart notes in my soda. (RIP Pitch Black II, the sourest of them all!)

In conclusion, this isn’t a super original flavor, but it is a nice orangey addition to the Dew lineup if you aren’t into that spicy mango flavor that recently dropped at Little Caesars.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 20 fl oz bottle
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Per Serving: 280 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 74 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 74 grams of total sugar, and 0 grams of protein.