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Mountain Dew is a citrus flavored soft drink produced by PepsiCo. It was first marketed locally in 1948 and across the United States in 1964.
Mountain Dew often incurs the disapproval of health experts due to its relatively high caffeine content. However, Mountain Dew marketed in Australia and Canada — as well as several U.S. states — has no caffeine added at all. Mountain Dew also contains tartrazine ("FD&C Yellow No. 5" in the US), which could lead to allergic reactions in some people. This has also led to an urban legend that the Yellow No. 5 in Mountain Dew reduces the sperm count of male drinkers. This is, however, a myth. Diet Mountain Dew contains aspartame.
In Europe, Mountain Dew is available in the following countries:
A version of the drink was marketed for three years in the UK during the late 1990s. However, it is believed (more of an urban myth) that Mountain Dew is actually illegal (its American formulation at least) to sell in the UK due to its high caffeine content and excessive artificial ingredients.
Mountain Dew was originally marketed as "zero proof moonshine" and had pictures of hillbillies on the bottle until 1973. Today's marketing target is radically different. The drink is mainly marketed to people in the 20-30 year old demographic group, and Mountain Dew advertising creates a connection between the drink and extreme sports.
Recently, Mountain Dew has used the characters from Spy vs. Spy in commercials that feature them fighting over the drink.
Mountain Dew syrups are used as Slurpee flavors.
Varieties
Diet Mountain Dew is the second most popular soda in the Mountain Dew family behind the original flavor.
- -AMP is an energy drink "from Mountain Dew" and was introduced in 2001.
- -Baja Blast is tropical lime flavored. It is available exclusively at Taco Bell restaurants.
- -Originally tested in a few areas like Chicago, Blue Shock is berry citrus flavored. Mountain Dew Blue Shock failed to sell in the test market though and as such was later released nation wide only in Slurpee form as an exclusive to 7-Eleven stores in 2002. It was there that Blue Shock made one of the most successful Slurpee flavor launches ever.The formula has since been reported as being purchased from PepsiCo by Faygo and is now used for their Moon Mist Blue flavor.
- -A non-caffeine form of the original Mountain Dew flavor. Available in eastern Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, Iowa, Vermont, North Carolina, Provo, Utah, Nevada, and parts of Ohio
- -A diet and non-caffeine form of the original Mountain Dew flavor. Available in eastern Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, Iowa, Virginia, Michigan, Tennessee, Nevada, and Ohio
- -Code Red is cherry flavored and has a bright red color. It was introduced in 2001 and comes in both normal and diet forms.
- -A diet version of Mountain Dew's original flavor.
- Diet Mountain Dew Fountain
- -As indicated on the official Diet Mountain Dew website, Diet Mountain Dew Fountain is a variation of Diet Mountain Dew that uses treated water instead of carbonated water in its formula. It is available in limited areas only.
- -Energy is caffeinated Mountain Dew that was introduced in Canada in 2005. It is marketed as an energy drink, and is no different from regular Mountain Dew sold outside of Canada. The packaging contains extensive health warnings about the high caffeine content of the drink.
- -LiveWire was orange flavored. It was introduced in summer 2003 as a limited-time product, but was brought back again for summer 2004 for another limited-time offering. In 2005 it is now a permanent addition to the Mountain Dew family, although it may not be available in all areas.
- -Mountain Dew's original citrus flavored drink.
- -Mountain Dew X is the tentative title for a new flavor of Mountain Dew, rumored to be a new energy drink. A "beta test" of the new soft drink was conducted in 2005 through the Mountain Dew web site. Six-packs were also given to selected attendees at the 2005 E3 videogame trade show. Individual cans were released at the XBox 360 introduction party at 2005 E3 as well. Little is currently known about the flavor of the new beverage, but by all accounts it tastes very similar to original Mountain Dew, with the exception of a mild bitter aftertaste, likely from the addition of the energy drink roots and extracts. Its tentative release date is November 1, 2005.
- -Pitch Black is grape flavored. It was a limited edition flavor for Halloween and originally released in August 2004.
- -It is also grape flavored but has a more sour bite to it. This is a "sequel" to the original Pitch Black, and was released in August 2005 also as a limited edition flavor.
- -Not to be confused with Code Red, Red was the first Montain Dew flavor variation, fruit flavored to be exact, from around 1988 and would be a precursor of things to come. Many people did not like the taste though and it didn't last long. This came in both normal and diet forms.
- -Sport was test marketed in several states in 1990 and 1991 as a sports drink. This came in both normal and diet forms.
- -Sugar-Free was an early artificially sweetened variation of Diet Mountain Dew.
Historical meanings
An old 10 US fluid ounce (300 mL) Mountain Dew bottle (date unknown): "It'll tickle yore innards!"
Mountain Dew was originally southern and Irish slang for moonshine (homemade whiskey), or poitín as it is called in Ireland.
An 1882 song from Ireland "The Rare Old Mountain Dew" (words by Edward Harrigan and music by Dave Braham) begins:
- Let grasses grow and waters flow
- In a free and easy way,
- But give me enough of the rare ould stuff,
- That's made near Galway Bay,
- Come gougers all from Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim too,
- And we'll give them the slip and we'll take a sip,
- Of the rare ould mountain dew.
A 1947 version by Grandpa Jones (1913-1998) may be better-known to Americans:
- There's a big holler tree down the road here from me
- where you lay down a doller er two.
- When you come round the bend and when you come back again
- there's a jug full of good old mountain dew
- Oh they call it that old mountain dew and them that refuse it are few.
- I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug with some good old mountain dew.
And one more from Bluegrass group Flatt and Scruggs:
- There's a big hollow tree down the road here from me
- Where you lay down a dollar or two
- You stroll 'round the bend and you come back again
- There's a jug full of good old mountain dew
- They call it that mountain dew
- And them that refuse it are few
- I'll hush up my mug if you fill up my jug
- With that good old mountain dew
- My uncle Mort, he's sawed off and short
- He measures about four foot two
- But he thinks he's a giant when you give him a pint
- Of that good old mountain dew
- Well, my old aunt June bought some brand new perfume
- If had such a sweet smelling pew
- But to her surprise when she had it analyzed
- It was nothing but good old mountain dew
- Well, my brother Bill's got a still on the hill
- Where he runs off a gallon or two
- The buzzards in the sky get so drunk they can't fly
- From smelling that good old mountain dew
Trivia
- The Code Red worm was named for the fact that anti-virus software programmers drank Mountain Dew "Code Red" to stay awake while working on the software update that would protect against this threat.
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