The clock strikes Baja Midnight for Mountain Dew and Taco Bell
The chain expands on Baja Blast’s ‘cult status’ and place as the ‘cornerstone of the Taco Bell experience’ with a new flavor — and a limited-edition Freeze version.
It’s Brightly Colored Beverage Week over here at Snackology. After trying the Mt. McDonaldland Shake on Wednesday, I was back at it today, heading over to Taco Bell to pick up two new beverages: Mountain Dew Baja Midnight and Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Freeze.
While McDonald’s has forever had the iconic taste of Coca-Cola to complement its food, Taco Bell boasts its own signature soda: Mountain Dew Baja Blast. The bright teal Mountain Dew flavor celebrated its 20th anniversary last fall (it was the very first review for Snackology), and over the past two decades its earned an army of fans before eventually breaking free of its Taco Bell exclusivity and winding up on store shelves around the country.
Taco Bell announced its “first-ever evolution of the cult classic flavor” this week, adding Baja Midnight as a permanent menu item and pairing it with Baja Midnight Frozen for a limited run.
Would these new beverages live up to the lofty legacy of Baja Blast? (And how do they pair with the return of Taco Bell’s Cheesy Street Chalupas?)
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What it cost
A large Mountain Dew Baja Midnight is $2.99, a regular-sized Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Freeze is $3.79 and a set of Cheesy Street Chalupas with steak was $5.49.
My thoughts
When I first saw the Mountain Dew Baja Midnight announcement, my mind immediately went to Mountain Dew Pitch Black, the purple-hued flavor from the early 2000s. (I remember buying a bunch of cases of it along with the original flavor, Mountain Dew Code Red and Mountain Dew LiveWire during a big Pepsi sale when I worked at CVS back then.) But, no, Baja Midnight is not Pitch Black.
“Intentionally crafted to satisfy the thirst of a new generation, Mountain Dew Baja Midnight blends passion fruit flavor with the instantly recognizable taste of Mountain Dew Baja Blast for an entirely new experience,” Taco Bell notes in its press release. “This evolution builds on the Mountain Dew Baja Blast legacy while introducing modern flavors that reflect the vibrant tastes of today.”
Popping the top off my icy cup of Baja Midnight, I do get a whiff of a fruity scent that is different than the unmistakable profile of a Baja Blast. I can’t quite place my finger on it, but after taking a sip, I do recognize passion fruit. Have I ever tasted a real passion fruit? I don’t think so. But I did drink a ton of Fruitopia back in the 1990s, including Strawberry Passion Awareness, so this distinct version of the flavor is engrained in my brain somewhere deep, deep down.
It’s good. My Taco Bell drink of choice is the Zero Sugar version of Baja Blast, so my taste buds aren’t calibrated for a non-Zero Sugar version of any soda. With Baja Midnight being a permanent addition to the Taco Bell menu, my fingers are crossed for a Zero Sugar version to join it in the future.
I’ve had a lot of Taco Bell, but I’ve somehow never had a Freeze, the chain’s frozen version of a soda like Baja Blast. To borrow from Shaquille O’Neal, I owe you an apology, Taco Bell Freeze. I wasn’t really familiar with your game. The Baja Midnight Freeze is the star of Taco Bell’s one-two Baja Midnight punch. The passion fruit flavor is amped up in Freeze form, which I’m guessing is to combat any dilution as the frozen beverage starts to melt.
I loved the Maja Midnight Freeze. I would get it again. (Hopefully I can make that happen again before the limited-time item disappears.) And I’ll definitely have to try the classic Baja Blast Freeze now.
In Freeze form, it doesn’t matter that Baja Midnight isn’t a Zero Sugar version. This is a treat, like getting a Slurpee from 7-Eleven. I don’t expect a treat to be calorie free.
As a bonus, Thursday was also the day that Taco Bell brought the Cheesy Street Chalupas back. (According to the chain, these fellas are in the Taco Bell hall of fame, which is a place I’d like to visit.) The items debuted before Snackology’s launch in 2024, but I did get the Toasted Cheddar Street Chalupas when they were on the menu back in March.
I gave the Toasted Cheddar Street Chalupas a pass when I reviewed them, but the Cheesy Street Chalupas are a huge improvement on them. The balance is better. I got the steak version, and I really enjoy when Taco Bell elevates items with fresh cilantro and diced onions as toppings.
Final verdict: BUY Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Freeze
Mountain Dew Baja Midnight has the bones of a fun new addition to Taco Bell’s drink menu, but I’m holding out for a Zero Sugar version. Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Freeze is an instant hit. And definitely pick up some Cheesy Street Chalupas to go with it.
Mountain Dew Baja Midnight and Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Freeze were provided to Snackology for this independent review.
Copyediting by Tim Kuchman.
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