Taco Bell has once again partnered with Mtn Dew (aka Mountain Dew) to bring a flavor sensation to menus—and fans of the fast food giant are joking that “If we don’t get this nationwide I will lose my faith in humanity.”
The restaurant chain, known for its popular exclusive beverage, the Mtn Dew Baja Blast, has added an interesting and seemingly strange item as an order item at one test store: the Mtn Dew Baja Blast Gelato.
Taco Bell Adds Mtn Dew Baja Blast Gelato To Test Store Menu
For the first time ever, Taco Bell has added a gelato to its test store menu in Irvine, California—the Mtn Dew Baja Blast Gelato, inspired by the chain's wildly popular drink offering, Mtn Dew Baja Blast. The item will cost $2.99 per order of the 3.6 oz. container of soft drink-flavored gelato, and has a tropical lime taste and bright teal green color very similar to the hit beverage of the same name. In a press release this week, Taco Bell Global Chief Food Innovation Officer Liz Matthews stated, "Baja Blast is iconic to Taco Bell and has its own strong fandom, so introducing it in gelato form feels right. As the end of summer nears, this is the perfect treat to wrap up any Taco Bell meal."
Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo Global Foodservice Scott Finlow added to Matthews' remarks, "Dew Nation’s passion for BAJA BLAST runs deep. At PepsiCo, we love to create unexpected ways to thrill fans and are pumped to join forces with Taco Bell to turn the Mtn Dew Baja Blast flavor they love into a refreshing gelato. We’re confident Dew Nation is going to love the bold new spin we’ve put on this iconic flavor." Baja Blast has only been offered before as a freeze or fountain drink in its 20 years as a Taco Bell staple, and this is the first gelato of any kind ever tested at the fast food chain. As of its release date of August 31st, it is only planned to test at the Irvine Taco Bell location, but there is a possibility the offering may extend to other Taco Bell restaurants and, if popular enough, be rolled out nationwide.
If we don’t get this nationwide I will lose my faith in humanity.
— Bill Leach (@BillLeach15) August 30, 2023
Fans Comment: 'That Looks Terrifying! I Need It'
Taco Bell enthusiasts across the internet have taken to social media to discuss the new innovation, with jokes about the unique offering and their desperation to try it despite its extremely limited availability. "That looks terrifying! I need it." cracked one fan on a post about the new item on a Taco Bell fan Twitter (or "X") account. Another, responding to the same account, wrote, "If we don't get this nationwide I will lose my faith in humanity." The @AlwaysLivingMas fan account noted of the possibility for a wide release that, "[Taco Bell] did say to expect another Baja innovation this fall. We're very curious if that will be on the same wavelength as this release," adding 3 fingers-crossed emojis.
That looks terrifying! I need it.
— Jordan Brown, on BlueSky (@robotortoise) August 30, 2023
Over on Reddit, users on the r/fastfood subreddit have also responded to news with a mix of curiosity and interest. "I need this in my life," wrote one commenter. Another noted that it "seems weird to star testing a summer treat at the end of summer," though a user pointed out that California's summer starts later and ends later than the typical American summer, which is relevant as that is the only locale receiving the exclusive item at this time.
On r/TacoBell, followers debated the possible pros and cons of the item. "I'd eat it," shared one Redditor. "This doesn't sound bad at all." One responder felt that the treat would be "better as a sorbet, not as a gelato." Another TBell fan summed up their feelings on the item succinctly: "I'd definitely tear this up lol." The Mtn Dew Baja Blast Gelato will be available, for now, only at the Irvine CA location of Taco Bell for just 2 weeks starting August 31st—or while supplies last.
