In May, I hopped on a train to Moab, Utah. It was my first time in the state, and I knew that when I arrived, I'd be met with some cultural differences from what I was used to back home in Denver, Colorado.
For example, I had heard about the state's strict liquor laws, and I knew I couldn't go into a restaurant and order an alcoholic drink without buying food.
I had also heard about the state's fascination with soda. Sprinkled across Utah are shops that solely sell soda. According to The New York Times, as of last December, there were more than 100 soda shops in Utah and its nearby states.
Some of the state's cultural differences, like its soda shops, can be traced back to its large population of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints followers, which is widely known as the Mormon church, according to Utah's Deseret News. Nearly 70% of people living in Utah identify as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the World Population Review.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, people are urged not to consume alcohol, tobacco, and hot caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee, according to The Washington Post.
In 2012, the church clarified that cold caffeinated drinks like soda are allowed, Vice reported. And thus, soda shops started popping up selling what's been nicknamed "Dirty Sodas," according to the same source.
While I'm not the biggest soda drinker, I was curious about the hype and decided to visit three soda shops during my five days in the state.