Justin is again to sort out one other sugary Nintendo deal with.
Kung Fu Tea has performed it once more! That’s proper, one other Nintendo promotional beverage for 2023 is right here. I suppose final yr’s Kirby impressed beverage from the boba franchise did effectively sufficient to entice them to tackle Pikmin. After barely surviving the earlier beverage, I needed to come again for extra to sort out the Pikmin Tropical Punch and Slush.
First, I simply need to thank Kung Fu Tea for having the center to again Pikmin in such a manner. I do know it’s not certainly one of Nintendo’s most identified franchises, however it’s for that cause it feels all of the extra particular. Pikmin 4 is a good sport and effectively deserving of its personal speciality drink.
Anyway, onto the Pikmin beverage journey. Kung Fu Tea isn’t the most important chain, so I do need to go a bit out of my solution to even get to 1. Fortunately the primary retailer I known as claimed to have all objects included on this particular promotion, so I excitedly headed off. Upon arriving, I observed that the shop had a poster for the 2 marketed Pikmin drinks, along with having these drinks showing on in-store screens to assist promote them.
I ordered one Pikmin Tropical Punch and two Pikmin Tropical Slushes. Why? There are three totally different cups–that sane folks would throw out–displaying the Purple, Blue, or Yellow Pikmin on them. Moreover, there are three particular Straw Toppers that may be collected that depict every stage of a Pikmin’s power, so there are the Leaf, Bud, and Flower toppers.
The excellent news is that I used to be in a position to purchase all three Straw Toppers. Sadly, even after being informed the shop particularly had all of them, and asking for them when ordering, there was solely the Purple Pikmin cup to be discovered at this location. I used to be upset, however took the prizes I did have outdoors for a couple of photos. The cups look cool particularly with the collectable Straw Toppers that serve little function afterwards, however I’m positive Nintendo lunatics like myself will likely be clutching them to the grave.
First up in my style take a look at I tackled the Pikmin Tropical Slush. The beverage tastes like a slushy model of fruit punch; it was actually good! The downfall, for my part, is that the bubbles used on this drink have been a bit totally different than those in final yr’s Kirby drink. I keep in mind the Kirby bubbles being chewy, however the bubbles within the Pikmin Tropical drinks are like a skinny sugary movie full of goo. Upon popping them in my mouth I felt the flavour gush out, however that movie nonetheless remained to be eaten. That is positive total, however as somebody who doesn’t drink a lot boba I’m not used to those variances.
The worst a part of the drink is that these bubbles are full of mango taste. I’m not huge on mango and was anxious getting into. That stated, the flavoring in these bubbles wasn’t tremendous robust, and I even got here to love them somewhat. It wasn’t the overwhelming mango I’m used to in different merchandise. Nonetheless, I want they might have chosen a special fruity taste to enhance the icy chilly drink.
One other factor I observed was that I didn’t really feel like dying whereas making my manner via the drink like I did with final yr’s Kirby’s Fruity Flurry. I’m simply going to imagine that the Pikmin Tropical Slush has much less sugar or that I’ve in some way constructed up a tolerance for consuming these certainly unhealthy treats. Enthusiastic about it, it’s sort of unusual {that a} drink primarily based on vegetable creatures isn’t higher for you.
I sampled the Tropical Punch on the primary day however dove in on day two after it had sat within the fridge for an evening. Truthfully, I feel the 2 drinks are about the identical, and it simply comes right down to the way you need to eat them. When you choose slush drinks, go together with the slush possibility. If you would like the beverage to be extra like a particular fruit punch, go together with the punch. Consuming the punch is simpler although and goes down easy. It additionally nonetheless has the identical mango bubbles. These trying to attempt each on a finances may drink half of the slush after which attempt letting it soften into its punch kind. Possibly there’s extra of a distinction, however I couldn’t actually inform.
General, I feel the Pikmin Tropical Slush and Punch drinks are first rate, however I undoubtedly loved Kirby’s Fruity Flurry extra. I say that figuring out full effectively that I undoubtedly felt manner worse after consuming Kirby, so there may be that caveat to the comparability.
Anyway, even after I loved my first beverage on day one, I knew my quest wasn’t over. I nonetheless wanted the Blue and Yellow Pikmin cups. I then traveled to a different close by Kung Fu Tea location in a crowded space with terrible parking. That proper there ought to inform you my desperation. Once I obtained in I informed them my story and the man behind the register responded with a mixture of shock and confusion, “You’re attempting to gather the cups?”
Sadly this location additionally solely had the Purple Pikmin cups. The worker was good although and informed me to attempt again within the coming weeks after which requested if I had the Kirby cups. I coolly replied, “You already know I do.” The clerk estimates that the Pikmin drink will final for about two months, however these in all probability should not wait. Who is aware of how lengthy these straw toppers will maintain out. Good luck on the market Pikmin followers. Hopefully we will all return to our Onions with the treasures we need!
