Fear not, tiger’s blood flavor is not really blood from a poor tiger. But it’s not your ordinary boring snow cone flavoring either. It’s an exotic summertime flavor that can satisfy the sweet tooth of any iced-based dessert connoisseur. What’s tiger’s blood flavor made from?
Tiger’s blood flavor is a bright red mixture of watermelon, strawberry, and coconut flavors. It’s one of the most popular syrups used to flavor shave ice, snow cones, and other ice-based desserts.
So what’s all the fuss about this favorite summertime frosty flavoring? Let’s try to tame this fruit-flavored feline.
Tigers Blood Flavor Origin: the Mystery behind the Tiger
Contrary to popular belief, Charlie Sheen was not the originator of tigers blood flavor. Surprising, since it’s almost impossible for Charlie Sheen’s name not to pop up on Google when you search for “tigers blood flavor”.
While his remarks about having “tiger’s blood” on the Today Show made the snow cone flavoring extra trendy, the tigers blood he was talking about was actually something different entirely.
In fact, according to TMZ, the so-called “tiger blood” drink of the actor is, in reality, some kind of mangosteen-based drink.
So that’s that – Charlie Sheen’s got nothing to do with it.
At this point, Tiger’s blood flavor has been popular for more than 3 decades. During that time, many people from different parts of the US have claimed the drink as their own invention, but the true tiger’s blood inventor still remains a mystery.
The only thing certain about this shave ice flavor favorite is that it probably originated somewhere in the southern United States. It first rose in popularity in North Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana before eventually moving westward and becoming super popular in Hawaiian shave ice shacks.
Yes, the origin of tiger’s blood, like a sneaky secret agent ninja tiger, is hard to track down. Whoever invented this flavor is definitely someone who deserves a medal. Or a wikipedia page.
What’s With Calling It Tiger’s Blood?
Its playful name is said to be derived from its luscious red color, which apparently resembles that of a tiger’s. Of course, I guess it also resembles the blood of most other animals too. But then, tiger’s blood does sound way more badass than kitten’s blood or hamster’s blood.
Aside from its distinct color, what separates tigers blood from other flavorings is its exotic fruity taste. It’s not just strawberry and watermelon mixed in a container, it’s all about getting just the right balance of punchy and zesty ingredients to get a harmonious and refreshing balance.While it definitely isn’t the blood of a live roaring tiger, tiger’s blood flavor does roar with flavor. Or something like that.
Tigers Blood Flavor: Rise to Stardom
Going from being unknown to one of the best-selling snow cone flavorings in just a few decades, tiger’s blood flavor has quickly joined the top ten list of favorite flavorings in the US.
This is not only true for shave ice shops, but for online sellers as well. Amazon alone has dozens of different types of tigers blood available. Just like other popular flavorings across the US, tiger’s blood flavors may vary considerably from one maker to another, so make sure you check the reviews to get an idea of what to expect.
And it’s no only shave ice and snow cone shops that are peddling the flavor. Sonic, the popular drive-in chain, served tiger’s blood slushies that received overwhelmingly positive reviews from enthusiasts.
How to Make a Tigers Blood Shaved Ice
The good news is, you don’t have to head out to get yourself a tigers blood snow cone because you can simply make one at home. With a few fruity ingredients and of course, shaved ice, you can get a daily supply of your favorite summertime treat.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup strawberry (hulled)
- ½ cup watermelon juice
- 2 teaspoons coconut extract
- 1 cup sugar or sugar substitute
- ½ cup water (add water if needed)
Steps:
- Mix all the ingredients together. You can also use a blender to create a strawberry puree.
- Once the puree is ready, pour it in a saucepan and let it boil for around 30 seconds.
- Let it cool.
- Once it cools, pour the syrup into a bowl or glass of shaved ice. (you’ll need some kind of shave ice machine for this step)
- Enjoy your tigers blood shaved ice with your loved ones!
Where to Buy Tigers Blood Syrup
If you’re looking to save some time, the easiest way is to buy ready-made syrup. Although you can sometimes find it at local restaurant specialty stores that cater to business owners, it’s usually pretty difficult to find in stores. Your best bet is to buy it online on a place like Amazon.
Tigers Blood: More than Just a Shaved Ice Flavoring
Tigers blood shaved ice may be the perfect definition of a summertime treat, but there is definitely more to this fruity flavoring than what meets the eye (of the tiger!?). Sorry.
Thanks to dessert connoisseurs, the tiger’s reach became even wider. Aside from being served as a dessert to kids and pool goers, tigers blood flavor is now being used in a variety of kitchen applications.
Today, this flavoring is used for making a fruity-flavored gelato and ice cream. Plus, if you want to add life to your “strictly-for-adults-only” party, you can also make tigers blood cocktails and punches. Sounds cool and extra zesty, right?
From Sonic tigers blood flavor slushies to DIY snow cones, your dessert is only bound to get better, thanks to this refreshingly-fierce flavoring.
