Mountain Dew is a high-sugar, caffeinated citrus soda that delivers 170 calories and 46g of sugar per serving. The commercial version contains problematic ingredients including high fructose corn syrup, artificial 'natural flavors,' preservatives (sodium benzoate, erythorbic acid), and Yellow 5 dye. A DIY version uses real organic citrus juices, organic cane sugar, and natural caffeine from green tea extract, eliminating all artificial additives while providing cleaner energy.
Based on: Mountain Dew
· Makes approximately 30 servings when mixed with sparkling water
· Serving: 12 fl oz (when mixed with sparkling water)
Why This Recipe is Seed Oil Free
Commercial Mountain Dew from Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) often contains inflammatory seed oils like canola, soybean, or sunflower oil. This homemade version replaces them with healthier fats like butter, ghee, coconut oil, or avocado oil — giving you the same great taste without the processed oils.
Provides clean caffeine equivalent to commercial Mountain Dew (approximately 54mg per serving) without synthetic caffeine
Sea salt
3g (about 1/2 teaspoon) · Redmond Real Salt, 16 oz
Replaces sodium citrate to provide the mineral content and enhance flavor balance
Filtered water
240ml (1 cup) · Home filtration or spring water
Creates the liquid base for the concentrate and helps dissolve all ingredients evenly
Instructions
Step 1. Begin by preparing your citrus juices fresh. Juice 4-5 organic lemons to yield 60ml (1/4 cup) and 3-4 organic limes to yield 30ml (2 tablespoons). Strain both juices through a fine-mesh strainer to remove pulp and seeds. Fresh citrus is crucial as bottled juices often contain preservatives that can interfere with the clean flavor profile.
Step 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine 552g (2.75 cups) organic cane sugar with 6g (2 teaspoons) citric acid. Whisk thoroughly for 2-3 minutes to ensure even distribution - citric acid can clump and create sour spots if not properly mixed. The mixture should look uniform with no visible crystals of citric acid.
Step 3. Heat 240ml (1 cup) filtered water to just under boiling (around 185°F/85°C). Add 3g (1/2 teaspoon) sea salt and stir until completely dissolved. Pour this hot water over the sugar-citric acid mixture and stir vigorously for 3-4 minutes until all sugar is completely dissolved. This creates your simple syrup base.
Step 4. While the syrup is still warm (but not hot), open 4 Zhou green tea extract capsules and empty the powder directly into the syrup. Whisk immediately for 2 minutes to ensure the extract dissolves completely - green tea extract can be bitter if it clumps. The mixture may turn slightly greenish, which is normal.
Step 5. Add 180ml (3/4 cup) organic orange juice concentrate, 60ml (1/4 cup) fresh lemon juice, and 30ml (2 tablespoons) fresh lime juice to the cooled syrup mixture. Stir gently but thoroughly for 1-2 minutes. The concentrate should have a vibrant citrus aroma and a deep amber color.
Step 6. Transfer the concentrate to clean glass bottles or jars, leaving 1 inch of headspace. Allow to cool completely before refrigerating. The concentrate will develop its full flavor after chilling for at least 4 hours. Before each use, shake or stir gently as natural settling may occur.
Storage
Store concentrate in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Without preservatives, it has a shorter shelf life than commercial products. To serve: Mix 2 tablespoons (30ml) concentrate with 12 oz chilled sparkling water. Adjust to taste - some may prefer 2.5 tablespoons for stronger flavor.
Cost Comparison
Cost per serving (homemade)$0.16
Cost per serving (store-bought)$2.19
Savings93%
Initial ingredient purchase requires about $72 upfront investment, but ingredients make multiple batches. After the first purchase, each subsequent batch costs only $4.85 for 30 servings. The massive savings come from bulk purchasing and eliminating retail markup.