Tiger’s Blood Lava Flow Drink Recipe

The Tiger’s Blood Lava Flow is an ice-blended tropical cocktail or mocktail that combines the flavors of strawberry, coconut, and watermelon. This easy drink recipe is a creative twist on the Piña Colada variant known as the Lava Flow, a staple in the Hawaiian cocktail scene.

Today, we’re blending two very nostalgic flavors to pay homage to the wonderful food and drink scene in Hawai’i.

For more fun and refreshing cocktails, check out more cocktail recipes like Frozen Calamansi Margarita and White Russian Boozy Boba!

Table of Contents

What is a Tiger’s Blood Lava Flow Cocktail?

The Tiger’s Blood Lava Flow gets its name from its combination of tiger’s blood flavor and a lava flow cocktail.

Tiger’s blood is a flavor combination of strawberry, coconut, and watermelon.

A lava flow is essentially a piña colada with frozen strawberry puree, meant to resemble lava.

The lava element in this recipe is achieved using real strawberry and watermelon, complemented by the subtle addition of coconut water.

The cocktail’s base is a piña colada, which we’ve adjusted to enhance the coconut flavor, making it more prominent.

We chose to use no artificial syrups or additional liqueurs to keep this cocktail as natural and healthy as possible.

The Nostalgic Inspiration Behind Tiger’s Blood Lava Flow

This recipe holds a special place in my heart because it is inspired by my memories of Maui.

My family and I spent many summers in Maui during my childhood, where I learned to swim, snorkel, and appreciate nature.

Being Filipino, I feel that my ancestral spirits already gifted me a strong connection to islands, beaches, plants, and the ocean. But it was in Maui that I nurtured that connection as a growing child.

I fondly remember visiting Ululani’s Shaved Ice in Lahaina, where I would attempt to devour an entire large shave ice—tiger’s blood flavor, topped with mochi and a snow cap, and featuring macadamia ice cream at the bottom.

I also remember that virgin lava flows were my go-to drink for cooling down between swims.

Now that I’m in LA, these flavors help me feel connected to the islands. Every time I make it, I think of Lahaina, those humid and sunny days at the beach, and also the recent fires that impacted all the locals who made my childhood so special.

This drink is my small way of returning the love I’ve received from Hawai’i, expressing my gratitude through food and uplifting their culture. 💖

History of Tiger’s Blood Flavor and Lava Flow Cocktails

Both the tiger’s blood flavor and the lava flow cocktail are famous tropical creations with somewhat unclear origins, though research suggests they both emerged around the 1980s.

Tiger’s blood came into the scene as a sweet syrup flavor for shaved ice, becoming popular for its bold red color and appealing name. While the original creator remains unknown, this flavor gained widespread popularity in regions from Texas to Hawai’i.

The Lava Flow cocktail is believed to have originated in the Maui tiki bars of the 80s and 90s. However, according to Rick Carroll, a renowned author for Hawaiian culture and travel, the Four Seasons Wailea was the original creator, as mentioned in his 1993 article, “Hawaii’s Newest Tropical Cocktails”.

Today, these foods remain popular in their respective shaved ice and cocktail scenes.

Tips & Tricks: Mastering the Lava Flow Technique

Here are some helpful tips to master the lava flow!

• Don’t overfill your blender – Filling the blender too full is tempting because doing everything in one batch would be nice and convenient.
  
  However, overfilling is a common mistake that prevents the blades from rotating properly, leaving no space for the ingredients to mix well.
  
  Working in batches is much faster than trying to overwork the blender and then having to fix it.
• For more distinct layers, slowly pour the top layer using a spoon to “float” the layers, allowing the liquid to run off the spoon and create clearer lines.
  
  We like to use this spoon technique, followed by a few up-and-down motions with the spoon, to create a “lava” design.
  
  • Alternatively, pouring straight into the cup without a spoon could make the layers blend together more. There is no right or wrong way; it simply depends on your desired style!
• Use coconut water to adjust the thickness. For ice-blended cocktails, the ideal consistency is slightly thick but still easily pourable.
  
  Coconut water is an excellent alternative to regular water for adjusting the mixture because it contributes flavor without diluting the drink.

Large Batch Prepping Tips

This recipe is not only great for a few servings, but it can easily be multiplied for larger batches!

We made this drink for my sister’s Lilo & Stitch-themed baby shower! We served them as mocktails in smaller cups to create more servings.

Follow this ratio for larger batches of Tiger’s Blood Lava Flow:

Tiger’s Blood Lava:

• 1 part fresh watermelon
• 1 part fresh or frozen strawberries
• coconut water to adjust thickness

Piña Colada:

• 1 part frozen pineapple
• 1 part coconut cream
• 1 part coconut water
• ½ part or 1 part rum, depending on strength
• ice

For a large gathering with varying preferences, consider preparing separate cocktail and mocktail batches.

Alternatively, you can make a large batch of mocktails and offer rum on the side for those who prefer a cocktail.

Equipment

• Our Place Splendor Blender
• glassware

Ingredients

Tiger’s Blood Puree

• 1 cup watermelon, cut into small/medium pieces
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• coconut water to adjust thickness

Piña Colada

• ½ cup frozen pineapple
• ½ cup ice
• ½ cup coconut water
• ½ cup coconut cream
• 2 oz rum, or increase to 4oz for a stronger cocktail. Exclude for mocktail.

Recipe

1. In a blender, combine watermelon, frozen strawberries, and a splash of coconut water. Blend until smooth, adding more coconut water as needed to adjust the thickness. The puree should be pourable like a smoothie. Set aside.

2. Clean the blender and make the piña colada mix. Blend together pineapple, ice, coconut water, coconut cream, and rum.

3. To assemble, fill the cocktail glass with about 1/3 tiger’s blood puree. Use a spoon to gently layer the piña colada mix on top, creating two distinct layers. Then, move the spoon in an up-and-down motion a few times to create a visually appealing “lava” effect.

4. Garnish with watermelon and serve!

Final Thoughts

Enjoy a taste of the islands with this refreshing Hawaiian-inspired drink! This easy, ice-blended cocktail/mocktail combines strawberry, coconut, and watermelon flavors for the perfect summer treat!

Explore more cocktail recipes and refreshing iced beverages like Filipino Melon Juice and Grape Yogurt Slush!

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this recipe, please give a star rating and review on the recipe card below + share your creations on Instagram and tag us @itsforkandspoon!

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References & Further Reading

https://www.tastingtable.com/1330684/what-is-tigers-blood-flavor-taste/

https://www.tropicalsno.com/tigers-blood-flavor-a-shave-ice-sensation/

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/recipe/lava-flow-cocktail/?srsltid=AfmBOops6TBlrqkOPMDgLc_x2NOrnAeA2igPBQh-u3xsKj-F1KPlwi5x

https://www.kauaimemorialgardens.com/obituary/RichardRick-Carroll