While Taco Bell is well known for varying its menu of burritos and tacos with frequent limited-time promotions, its dessert offering is much more carefully selected and tends to retain cult status long after it's no longer available in stores.
A longstanding partnership with Cinnabon makes the sugared donut holes a beloved breakfast favorite while a brief return of the nostalgic Choco Taco that was eventually discontinued by Klondike caused both a social media and onsite stir in the winter of 2022.
DON'T: Taco Bell wants to make you feel elegant with its latest addition
Another iconic sweet menu item is the turquoise-colored Mountain Dew Baja Blast fountain drink. Since the Yum Brands (YUM) -)-owned chain first started selling it in 2004, PepsiCo (PEP) -)'s vaguely "tropical-flavored" drink gained its own following on Reddit and appeared in both boozy and store shelf versions.
Yum! Brands
Making a gelato version of Baja Blast 'feels right,' Taco Bell says
To start off the fall of 2023, Taco Bell has started experimenting with a frozen version of the beloved drink. Also the chain's first gelato product, Mtn Dew Baja Blast Gelato will be available at one location in California's Irvine for two weeks starting on Aug. 31.
More Food + Dining:
- Taco Bell menu tries new take on an American classic
- McDonald's menu goes big, brings back fan favorites (with a catch)
- The 10 best food stocks to buy now
"This is the first time we are releasing a gelato and we are so excited to hear how fans enjoy the sweet and creamy indulgence," Liz Matthews, who leads global food innovation at Taco Bell, said in a statement. "BAJA BLAST is iconic to Taco Bell and has its own strong fandom, so introducing it in gelato form feels right."
The chain also said that the frozen dessert in a small paper cup with Taco Bell imagery is a testament to the "vibrant ocean teal innovations" whose "sweet test transports fans to an oasis and harkens to summers past, present, and future."
This is where (and how) you can score the new Baja Blast gelato
As with other limited-time promotions, the California run is meant to test sales and see whether a larger or eventual nationwide rollout is worth it. The product will be available at Irvine's 4101 Campus Drive store and cost $2.99 plus tax for a 3.6-ounce container.
It will also be given to some for free with the purchase of a larger entrée. On the flip side of the trial run, the product may not be available for the entire two weeks if it proves more popular than the chain anticipated and supplies run out (this has happened repeatedly with Mexican pizza.)
Taco Bell has also hinted at the fact that it plans to introduce another "flavorful Mtn Dew Baja Blast innovation" later in the fall. Along with the traditional fountain drink and Zero Sugar version, Taco Bell has also served a frozen slushy meant to resemble a "tropical lime storm" as well as a boozy version of the latter at some Cantina locations.
"As the end of summer nears, this is the perfect treat to wrap up any Taco Bell meal," Matthews said of the gelato version. With summer winding down, the gelato may be also be a test run for things to come next year.
