If you’ve somehow managed to miss the bright pink truck parked outside Gyro Park in downtown Penticton, then let us be the first to introduce you to Peach City Soda, Penticton’s original dirty soda spot.

Open for almost a month now, this soda truck is taking the city by storm, offering the perfect mix of a sweet treat with creative twists just steps from the beachfront. We fully predict this will be a massive hit once the summer heat and tourists descend into the valley—honestly, it’s already a pretty big attraction. And as a mobile business, you can even book them for any exciting events you have in the pipeline!

So what exactly is dirty soda, and who are the faces behind this new soda truck? We’re so glad you asked…

For those of us who follow along almost biblically with The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, we’re already quite familiar with dirty soda… At their core, they’re a delicious mix of soda with combinations of cream, flavoured syrups, fruit juices, fruits, and sometimes other combos. They’re fun, fruity, and a great non-alcoholic option—which is why Utah residents coined them in the first place.

Dirty soda’s foray into the wider public has slowly picked up speed, particularly across Canada, in the last handful of years; now, Penticton has its own special spot thanks to the bright and brilliant entrepreneurial spirit of Peach City Soda. 

“The way we found out about dirty soda is my sister when she was pregnant, she saw it online,” explains Joceplyn Epp, co-owner of the business. “And she had pregnancy cravings. So we tried Coke with cream, just the most basic thing. I thought, ‘That’s not gonna taste good,’ and we tried it and I was like, ‘Wow this is the best thing I’ve ever had.’ And that’s where the idea came from.”

No one could have predicted that what started as some light, fun experimentation quickly evolved into this vibrant new business.

The face of the business is Jocelyn, who co-owns it with her parents, Tim and Saskia Epp. While Jocelyn is not originally from Penticton herself, her mom was born and raised here, and brought the family back throughout the years for vacations and other fond memories. 

“It’s my favourite place since I was little,” says Jocelyn. “I love the community. I love everything about this place.” 

You wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the entrepreneurial spirit runs in this family. Tim Saskia owns his own contracting businesses, where Saskia has played a big role for over two decades, easily influencing Jocelyn’s determined decision to open such a fun, niche business. Jocelyn says, “They’re both the most hardworking people I know and I definitely could not be doing this without them.”

While many people doubted them, Jocelyn and her parents persevered—and we are so thankful they did. “We’ve had a few people that were a little bit skeptical,” admits Jocelyn. “Obviously it’s kind of a new, trendy idea so a lot of people don’t know what it is and thought a lot of people wouldn’t be interested in something so unique. But obviously we proved them wrong.” 

It’s always a great sign to see someone so young have such a great entrepreneurial drive, and Jocelyn has a message for others her age interested in foraying into business. “It’s a lot of work,” she admits, “but it is the most rewarding work you can do. And even though I’m working long days everyday, I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had and I’m living out my dream.”

The full menu (https://peachcitysoda.ca/) is as impressive as the branding colours. We’d like to mention notable standout Just Peachy, a blend of Dr Pepper, peach purée, vanilla syrup, peach and vanilla cold foam, all topped off with a peach candy stick! And in a city as peachy as Penticton, it just fits, ya know?

We’ve tried out Cherry Picked (Coke, cherry and vanilla syrup, cold foam, and cherry candies) as well as Tidal Wave (Sprite, blue raspberry and coconut syrup, coconut cream, and gummy sharks) and have completely fallen in love with both.

They also have a fairly popular “build your own” option, which follows this pattern:

1. Pick your base: Coke or Dr. Pepper, lemonade or sparkling water, or an energy boost with Alani Nu Energy drink.
2. Add your flavours: fruity syrups like strawberry, peach, and blue raspberry to other classics like vanilla, toasted marshmallow, or even tropicals like pineapple or coconut.
3. Make it creamy: add sweet cream, coconut cream, or even flavoured cold foam.
4. Level it up: bring on edible shimmer, real fruit purée, or lining the cup with marshmallow fluff.
5. Top it off: finish with garnishes like freeze dried fruit, citrus wheels, gummy candies, mini marshmallows, or more.

Et voila! Happiness in a cup. You can also tell them what you like and let the team work their magic in fun and surprising ways. 

But if you’re a bit afraid of a fructose overload, don’t worry—Peach City Soda also has sugar-free syrups, diet and zero options, as well as plenty of ways to make this dirty soda a little less sugary while still satisfying those cravings.

There’s something so remarkable about the entrepreneurial spirit throughout the Okanagan, and Peach City Soda is no exception. They had a vision and stuck with it, bringing the community together for something made from love. Also the pink? Just an iconic and fun brand choice that somehow fills you with joy before you even step up the order window. 

Do yourself a favour and try out their selection of crafted dirty sodas this summer. But be warned! It is dangerously easy to become addicted to all their unexpectedly delicious combinations.

Xx,

Your Okanagan Curators