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Mountain Dew is often described as 'citrus' flavor but that is a broad range of fruits with infinite possible combinations. It does have orange juice in the ingredients, but also "natural flavor". How can I recreate the flavor of Mountain Dew using ingredients available to me, such as fruit juices, with no added sugar or caffeine?

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  • To me Sprite and Sierra Mist taste like citrus. I have never associated Mountain Dew with citrus. – Jay Jan 7 '16 at 19:27
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    I've heard grapefruit, but when I think 'grapefruit soda', I think Fresca. – Joe Jan 7 '16 at 19:33
  • It's been some time since i've last had mountain dew.... IIRC there was a slight artificial vanilla taste, similar to most colas? – rackandboneman Jan 8 '16 at 10:02
  • I think that the only way to answer this definitively is if Mountain Dew sells a version of their drink somewhere where labelling laws require them to explicitly list all the flavours included; all the current answers are just speculation. – nick012000 Oct 1 '20 at 12:01
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OK, this is dangerously close to a recipe request, but far enough away that I feel OK to answer.

Use the rule of two.

  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 2 two oranges
  • 2 limes
  • 2 lemons

Juice and zest the whole fruit.

Strain and and fill to 1 gallon with water. Filter if you want it to be clear.

Carbonate using whatever technique you normally use whether that's a Cornelius keg or soda stream.

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    1. Thanks for your response. 2. Just because you answered with a recipe doesn't mean I asked for one :) (equal amounts of orange, lemon and lime + zest, sweeten to taste would have been a 'fair' answer) – Cos Callis Jan 7 '16 at 21:05
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    'restaurant mimicry' is specifically allowed, though ... which this is closer to. – Joe Jan 7 '16 at 21:15
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    No way you are going to carbonate that in a soda stream without foaming all over the place. – moscafj Jan 8 '16 at 14:47
  • Actually, if you are just patient with a Soda Stream and let it sit for a few minutes after charging it you don't get the eruption. – Cos Callis Jan 8 '16 at 21:02
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    Yep, we use the soda stream also. Some syrups erupt, others don't and as @CosCallis has said, sometimes it's just oatience in letting the co2 settle into suspension, sometimes it's pouring in the syrup at s trickle to avoid the mentos volcano. – Escoce Jan 8 '16 at 21:04
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I definitely taste Grapefruit, but I suspect there is a bit of Mango as well as the Lime and Lemon. I think the Mango might be what adds a bit of the candy like flavor to it (asides from the sugar).

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I drink Diet Dew daily am to pm. At times I sensed one of the complexity of 3-4 citrus flavors is a hint of grapefruit.

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I always associated Mountain Dew with candy, like Skittles or Starburst (especially when we're dealing with the numerous variations like Code Red or Baja Blast). It tastes kinda candy-like to me. Not quite citrus, but very much a tart flavor. Not entirely sure how you could make a fruit juice alternative that tastes like it. Maybe combine various fruit juices together and see what kind of flavors you get?

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Only saying something because I see people adding their input. I've always tasted green grapes in my mt dew

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