What Flavor Is Tiger’s Blood?

Here’s the thing about me: I’m all passion. I win here and I win there. I have one speed, I have one gear: GO. How do I survive that? Because I’m me. I have a different brain, I have a different heart, I have tiger blood. 

What’s that? You’re telling me tiger’s blood is a real thing that you can actually eat? And not a reference to Charlie Sheen’s epic, sad, and unfortunate public meltdown? Well, color me surprised! But what is tiger’s blood flavoring? Find out what’s actually going into that tiger’s blood snow cone flavor. 

What is tiger’s blood flavoring?

Tiger’s blood flavoring is a fruit syrup that is used in cold treats like shaved ice and snow cones. A relative to the Italian ice, shaved ice (or shave ice) is a Hawaiian specialty that, as the name suggests, is made from shaving a large block of ice and dousing it in some flavoring. This is different from the more common snow cone, which is crushed ice. The name tiger’s blood comes from the fruit syrup’s bright red color and the fact that tigers are just badass, man.

Versions of tiger’s blood started popping up in the 1980s in other states like Texas, Utah, South Carolina, and Missouri, but they can all be traced back to the originalHawaiian flavor.

What’s in tiger’s blood flavor?

Perhaps to the dismay of Sheen apologists, there is no actual blood from any animal in tiger’s blood. But it does have the next closest thing: high fructose corn syrup!

Commercially made fruit syrups like tiger’s blood are mostly made from corn syrup and natural or artificial flavors. In the case of tiger’s blood, those fruit flavors are usually watermelon, strawberry, and coconut, with some variations including cherry. 

What does tiger blood’s flavor taste like?

Tiger’s blood syrup (the commercially made stuff) tastes a lot like the flavor known as fruit punch with a hint of coconut. This flavor exists in the same world as things like cotton candy, blue raspberry, or sour apple. We’ve all been marketed the fruit punch flavor for so long that we’ve come to accept it as its own thing. It’s generically fruity and very sweet. A far cry from actual tiger’s blood. Of course, if you make it yourself at home or go to a really artisanal shave ice spot where they make tiger’s blood from real fruit, it will taste like watermelon, strawberry, and coconut. 


About the Author

Luke Field

Luke Field is a writer and actor originally from Philadelphia. He was the former Head Writer of branded content at CollegeHumor and was also a contributing writer and actor to the CollegeHumor Originals cast. He has extensive improv and sketch stage experience, performing both at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and with their Touring Company. In addition to writing, he also works as a Story Producer, most recently on season 4 of Accident, Suicide, or Murder on Oxygen. Keep your eyes peeled for his brief but impactful appearance as Kevin, the screaming security guard, in the upcoming feature The Disruptors, directed by Adam Frucci.

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