What Snow Cone Flavor Is Tiger's Blood?

While people have been enjoying shaved ice since the 10th and 11th centuries, it wasn't until much more recently –- 1919, in fact -– that snow cones came about. Naturally, just as we have with every other food item on the market, the human species has tried out just about every flavor and combination thereof we possibly can.

Some of the classic snow cone flavors include blue raspberry, cherry, watermelon, pina colada, and mango, but flavors also extend to favorites like cotton candy, bubblegum, and tutti frutti. However, we can't talk about snow cone flavors without talking about Tiger's Blood, perhaps the most iconic of them all.

Of course, the Tiger's Blood flavor isn't actually real tiger's blood, so what is it? What does it taste like? For that matter, where on earth did this flavor come from? How did this beloved snow cone flavor come by such a grisly name? Don't worry, we've got all the answers.

Contrary to what the name suggests, the Tiger's Blood flavor for snow cones is not real tiger's blood. Instead, Tiger's Blood is actually a tasty trio of summery flavors: watermelon, strawberry, and coconut. Does it get any more tropical than that? The name, as you might have guessed, simply seems to have come from the syrup's deep red color.

Now that we've addressed the Tiger's Blood flavor and color, let's get into where this summertime classic came from. According to an interview with Vulture, one snow cone vendor says the flavor "originated in the Texas area at least 25 years ago." Others, however, claim that the flavor has been around since the 1970s or '80s, and was created in California. Still, others insist Tiger's Blood began in Hawaii as early as the 1940s. Regardless of where this flavor got its start, one thing is for certain -– Tiger's Blood is still very much loved today, all across the U.S.