Why an Orange Ingredient Hides in a Green Soda
Mountain Dew’s concentrated orange juice is one piece of a designed flavor blend, not the base of the drink. Concentrate is orange juice with much of its water removed, making it easier to use in a beverage formula. In the finished soda, it contributes citrus character alongside other flavor ingredients; the drink’s sweetness comes largely from high-fructose corn syrup.
Color Is a Separate Design Choice
The bright green appearance doesn’t mean the soda is made from green fruit—or that orange juice is its main ingredient. A drink’s color can be set by added coloring, independently of the ingredients that provide its flavor. So the orange juice can help round out a citrus taste without making the soda look or taste like orange juice.
That contrast is the useful detail: a small fruit ingredient can matter to a soda’s flavor even when it tells you little about what makes up most of the drink.
