By Tom Kalb, Horticulturist

NDSU Extension

Blue raspberry is one of the most popular flavors in America. You can find blue raspberry slushies, drinks and candy everywhere.

It would be fun to grow blue raspberries in our gardens, but no blue raspberry plants are sold at garden centers. That’s because blue raspberries are produced in factories, not on farms. The fruit is completely artificial.

The blue raspberry originated when makers of slushies and other frozen treats had more red flavors than shades of red dye. Fifty years ago, when you saw a purple popsicle, you knew it was going to taste like a grape. When you saw an orange popsicle, you knew it was going to taste like an orange. But when you saw a red popsicle, you didn’t know if it would taste like a cherry, strawberry, raspberry or watermelon. Kids were confused and sometimes disappointed.   

Raspberry treats often used a burgundy-red dye (FD&C Red No. 2). This dye was banned in 1976 by the Food and Drug Administration as a possible carcinogen. Scientists needed to find a new dye for raspberry.  

The ICEE frozen treat company found brilliant blue dye (FD&C Blue No. 1) sitting on the laboratory shelves, and the blue raspberry was invented.

Blue raspberry treats are brightly colored and distinctive. There is no other fruit (or food) that has its electric blue color. When a kid sees a blue popsicle, they think the color is cool, and they know it is going to taste like blue raspberry.

Since blue raspberry is artificial, the scientists could make its flavor anything they wanted. The flavor of a blue raspberry varies slightly from company to company, but it does not taste like a natural raspberry.

Natural raspberries have a delicate zest and floral aroma. Blue raspberries typically have a sharp, tangy, sweet-tart flavor. It has been reported that the chemicals used to create blue raspberry may be similar to the aromas found in apples, cherries and pineapples.

With added sugar, blue raspberry tastes more like candy than fruit. It’s no wonder blue raspberry has become a popular flavor for kids.

You can find blue raspberry juices with natural flavors. But if you look at the list of ingredients, you will find it probably does not contain any raspberry juice. It more likely contains less expensive juices such as apple and orange.

Blue raspberry snacks are everywhere this summer. They are colorful and fun to eat, but they are unreal and not especially healthy. Eating a blue raspberry snack will bring a smile to your face, but it will turn your tongue blue.

Go ahead and enjoy a blue raspberry snack, but don’t forget to eat some real raspberries, too.

For more information about gardening, contact your local NDSU Extension agent.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – June 16, 2026

Source: Tom Kalb, 701-877-2585, tom.kalb@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-4435, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu