This week, the internet buzzes about Dua Lipa, and surprisingly, it's not about her music. The singer has sparked a viral trend with her unusual concoction: spicy Diet Coke. This eyebrow-raising "drink recipe" has everyone intrigued. What exactly is in this drink, and is it worth the hype?
The Anatomy of Dua Lipa's Spicy Diet Coke
Dua Lipa couldn't be clearer on how to make this drink. The recipe is surprisingly simple. First, pour a can of Diet Coke over ice. Then, add pickle juice and what she calls "jalapeño sauce" (likely the brine from a jar of pickled jalapeños). Garnish with pickles and jalapeños, and you're done! The brands used don’t matter, but in our case, we went with Trader Joe’s branded pickles and jalapeños. Use your favorite!
Initial Reactions: From Disgust to Intrigue
The initial reactions to Dua Lipa's spicy Diet Coke have been mixed, to say the least. Many find the combination of flavors disgusting, while others are intrigued by the unusual mix. The singer’s coy smile throughout the video suggests this all might be a joke, but the swiftness and confidence with which she assembles the beverage could also mean she’s made it before. She gives all her tablemates a taste, each of whom takes a sip and responds with some mix of trepidation, pleasant surprise and/or cringing.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay even tried the drink and had a dramatic reaction, spitting it out and exclaiming, "Dua Lipa, for god's sake, girl!" But not everyone has been so dramatic. For most tasters, spicy Diet Coke lands somewhere between inoffensive and fine.
A Surprisingly Pleasant Experience?
Despite the initial skepticism, some tasters have found the drink surprisingly palatable. One taster even declared that they "actually liked it once I got past the jarring first sip." The combination of the saltiness of the brine, the sweetness of the Diet Coke, and the slight spice of the jalapeños somehow works. It hits on all the cravings, with the sweet fizzy DC complemented by a salty zing from the tangy pickles and a little kick from the spicy jalapeños. Tbh, it makes perfect sense when you look at cooking principles: Salt, Acid, and Heat, with a nice little sweetness from the soda to sub in for fat.
Read also: Delicious Spicy Food
Variations and Experimentation
The basic recipe is just a starting point. Experimenting with different types of pickles and peppers can lead to interesting variations. Since the pickles I used were spicy bread and butter slices, their sweetness actually lent itself well to the Diet Coke, making it taste shockingly similar to a regular full-sugar Coca-Cola, just with a sour, puckery finish.
One taster found that dill pickles may not have been the most accurate choice, and the drink ended up being way more briney than spicy. Apparently, I've been sleeping on sweet and spicy pickles all my life because these are ridiculously good. Like, I'm currently snacking on them as I write this.
Adding Alcohol to the Mix
For those looking to kick things up a notch, adding alcohol can create a unique cocktail experience. Three shots of vodka might be a little too reminiscent of my college days, but I figured one shot of tequila couldn't hurt. Sure, vodka could work, but spice plus tequila is the perfect combo in my eyes. Plus, the salty Coke somewhat reminds me of a batagna, a Mexican cocktail with tequila, Coke, lime juice, and a salt rim.
One taster was baffled - this was so good. The tequila balances this "weird-tasting drink" incredibly well, especially with those spicy pickles. Think of it like a spicy margarita with a salt rim, but sweeter. The tequila I used had some light citrus notes, so I ended up adding a squeeze of lime and a couple of spicy bitters to take things up a notch, and they sure did. For the record, I also tried this with bourbon and the original dill pickles to make a pickleback of sorts. I'm generally not a bourbon/whisky gal, but because the other flavors were so strong, I actually ended up really enjoying this combo, too.
Potential Downsides
While some enjoy the drink, it's not without its potential drawbacks. The sweetness from the Diet Coke clashes with the sour pickle, so it feels like they’re both fighting for attention instead of working together to create something tasty.
Read also: Can Spicy Foods Help You Lose Weight?
One complaint was that it could've been spicier, but that's on me (and Target's misleading "HOT" label). I did start craving my OG Diet Coke after a few sips, though - the saltiness plus the aspartame taste started to get a little old. My only grievance? The soda-soaked pickles at the bottom of the glass. I’ll keep my crunchy pickle chips separate, please and thank you.
A Broader Trend of "Dirty Sodas"
Dua Lipa's spicy Diet Coke is part of a larger trend of unusual drink combinations. From "dirty sodas" to the viral protein Diet Coke, it seems we're in the era of eyebrow-raising "drink recipes" for our favorite fizzy beverages. Who amongst us hasn’t been to a bar and been offered a Pickleback, which is a shot of whiskey chased by a shot of pickle brine? Then you’ve got the Pickle Martini and Pickle garnished Palomas. Plus, any drink that calls for olive brine can be subbed with pickle brine.
Is It Worth Trying?
Ultimately, whether or not you'll enjoy Dua Lipa's spicy Diet Coke is a matter of personal preference. If you like spice, pickles, and soda, I’d recommend trying Dua Lipa’s spicy Diet Coke. If you don’t like pickles or spicy drinks, you’re never going to like this. It is as interesting as you’d expect, so try it if you’re an adventurous foodie, but don’t expect it to be your go-to order.
Read also: Healthy Spicy Food