Taco Bell unveils new Baja Blast flavor with purple twist
For the first time in two decades, Taco Bell is expanding the Baja Blast line with a new flavor called Mountain Dew Baja Midnight.
The drink, described by the chain as an "unexpected purple twist on the iconic tropical lime flavor fans know and love," will be available nationwide on Thursday, Aug. 14, as a permanent menu addition.
Taco Bell says Mountain Dew Baja Midnight blends passionfruit flavor with the "instantly recognizable" taste of Mountain Dew Baja Blast.
'McDonaldland' debuted in 1971. Now its back. What to know about the new meal.
Prices, frozen version, how to get a free drink with purchase
The drink will be available in a regular and frozen option. The frozen version, called a Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Freeze, is only available for a limited time.
The Baja Midnight drink costs $2.49 for a small, $2.79 for a medium and $2.99 for a large, while the Baja Midnight Freeze drink costs $3.79 for a regular and $3.99 for a large.
Additionally, on Aug. 15, Taco Bell Rewards members can try a medium Mountain Dew Baja Midnight for free when they spend $5 or more in the Taco Bell app.
'BAJA BLAST has consistently sparked creativity, defied expectations, and continues to be a cornerstone of the Taco Bell experience,' said Taylor Montgomery, Chief Marketing Officer at Taco Bell, in a news release. 'Our fans made it iconic, and they're the reason we're expanding the universe for the first time with Mountain Dew Baja Midnight. It's unexpected, it's Taco Bell purple, and it's tasty enough to earn its place in the fandom.'
Taco Bell unveiled new Refrescas drinks earlier this summer
Taco Bell also announced on June 26 it was introducing new beverages called Refrescas to menus nationwide. According to the chain, the drinks are crafted to "quench every kind of craving – whether you're seeking a refreshing sip, an energizing boost or a frozen escape."
The six drinks include three refreshers, two energy drinks and a cooling freeze. According to Taco Bell, the three Agua Refrescas join menus permanently after initially being tested in Southern California in 2024, with a positive response.
The Agua Refrescas cost $3.99 for a 20-ounce drink while the Rockstar Energy Refrescas cost $4.49 for a 20-ounce beverage. The Refrescas Freezes are available in a 16-ounce or 20-ounce option and cost $3.79 and $3.99, respectively.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Texas judge rules that Alex Jones' Infowars will be put up for sale once again
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones faced another setback in court as a Texas district judge ruled that his Infowars platform could be put up for sale again. The decision follows a 2024 ruling to halt an earlier sale due to concerns about the auction process. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled on Wednesday, Aug. 13, that Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems, was to be placed in the hands of a court-appointed receiver and that the company's assets would be used to pay the $1.3 billion in legal judgments. In 2022, the courts ruled that Jones defamed the families of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting, in which six adults and 20 children were killed. He made repeated false claims that the massacre was a 'hoax' staged as part of a government plot to confiscate guns from Americans. Gamble's order paves the way for The Onion to try yet again to purchase Infowars and its assets. In December 2024, the satirical news site initially won the court-ordered auction for Infowars, but a U.S. bankruptcy judge blocked the sale, stating that the bankruptcy auction did not result in the best possible the court's latest ruling, The Onion's CEO Ben Collins posted on the social media platform Bluesky on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 'We're working on it. That's all I can say for now.' Reuters and USA TODAY's Jeanine Santucci contributed to this report. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
Instant coffee sold nationwide recalled for possible glass pieces
USA TODAY Instant coffee sold at Dollar General stores nationwide is being recalled due to potential glass contamination, according to a notice shared by the Food and Drug Administration. Dollar General Corporation initiated the recall on Monday, Aug. 11, saying in an announcement that a customer had reported the presence of glass fragments in their coffee grounds to a store employee. The company is investigating the cause of the contamination with knowledge of the FDA, it said. The coffee was sold in stores nationwide except for Alaska and Hawaii. Here's what to know about the recall. Which Dollar General coffee products are recalled? The recalled products include 8-ounce Clover Valley Instant Coffee packages with certain lot numbers and best-by dates, which can be found around the neck of the bottle. Impacted units have a package UPC of 876941004069 and the following lot numbers and best-by dates: Lot: L-5163 / Best By 12/13/2026 Lot: L-5164 / Best by 12/13/2026 Lot: L-5165 / Best by 12/14/2026 What to do if you have recalled coffee If you have a package of the recalled coffee at home, do not use it and discard it immediately. Dollar General warned that accidentally ingesting glass fragments may cause injury, including damage to teeth, mouth and throat, lacerations or perforation of the intestine. No injuries have been reported thus far.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
Here's the tea: Why AriZona may raise price of famous 99-cent cans
"If pressures keep rising, we may have no choice but to adjust pricing, though we'll work hard to avoid it," AriZona Chairperson and Co-founder Don Vultaggio said. After more than 30 years, AriZona iced tea may see a price increase for the first time. AriZona Beverage Company is known for its 22-ounce cans of iced tea, including its wildly popular Green Tea with Ginseng and Honey served in the iconic teal can adorned with cherry blossoms. Since its founding in 1992, AriZona has sold these cans for 99 cents, but Chairperson and Co-founder Don Vultaggio told USA TODAY that if tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump continue to rise, the company may have to adjust its pricing. Vultaggio said the situation is "particularly unfair" because 80% of the sheet metal used for AriZona products is recycled from the United States. The other 20% is imported. On June 3, Trump signed an executive order that issued a 50% tariff on all aluminum and steel imports. "If pressures keep rising, we may have no choice but to adjust pricing, though we'll work hard to avoid it," Vultaggio said. "Wherever we see savings – like lower crude oil costs for PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate, a plastic used for bottles) – we're passing them to customers with deeper promotions or outright price cuts, including plastic tall boys at $1," Vultaggio continued. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
