DaVinci Gourmet Blue Raspberry Syrup Review: Is It Worth Ordering?
A classic American soda-fountain syrup with a bright blue-raspberry flavor that doesn't map to any real fruit — it's basically "candy in liquid form." A bottle costs around $5 in the US, and importing it only makes sense if you're making homemade sparkling water, kids' party drinks, or running a small café and want the same flavor American coffee shops use.
Remember that bright blue drink that always showed up at kids' birthday parties in American movies? That's this. DaVinci Gourmet Classic Blue Raspberry isn't about any specific fruit — it's about a feeling: "summer, soda, pop music from the speaker." And that's honest, because blue raspberry doesn't exist in nature — manufacturers simply invented a flavor that's now associated with that color across the entire American food industry.
Let's start with the important part: if you're expecting something like the raspberry syrup sold in your local supermarket, forget it. This is a different flavor chemistry entirely: sweet, a bit like hard candy, with a note that reminds you simultaneously of bubblegum and blue Fanta. Some people love it instantly, others find it too artificial. I'd put it this way: it's a mood flavor, not a fruit flavor, and you need to approach it on those terms.
What people actually buy this for
In the US, this syrup is a workhorse of soda-fountain cafés and bars. For people outside that format at home, it's usually for three things. First — homemade sparkling water: add a couple of spoonfuls to a soda maker or just plain mineral water, and you've got a colorful lemonade in a minute, no artificial dyes from a sachet. Second — cocktails, not necessarily alcoholic: a classic Shirley Temple with a blue tint is always a hit at kids' parties, visually it's an easy win. Third — running your own small café or bakery that wants to replicate an American menu exactly: if your lineup includes a "Blue Raspberry Italian Soda," this is the actual ingredient, and swapping in something local means a different flavor in the cup.
Compared to what's available locally — Monin and Torani syrups are sold too, and they both have their own blue lineups. But the difference is really in nuances of sweetness and thickness rather than principle. DaVinci is traditionally a bit thinner and less "syrupy" on the tongue than Monin, so it works better for soda — it doesn't leave that sticky aftertaste. If you already work with Monin and everything's dialed in around it, there's no reason to switch suppliers for one item. But if you're just starting out and deciding where to begin, DaVinci is a perfectly solid choice, and often cheaper too.
What's annoying about it
The 25.4-ounce bottle (a bit over 750ml) is the standard restaurant format, and the pump dispenser cap is sold separately — it doesn't come in the box. If you plan to use it at home without a pump, you'll either have to eyeball the pour or buy the pump separately — worth knowing upfront, since without it, measuring out an exact amount for a single glass of lemonade is a bit awkward.
The second thing is the color. It's intense enough that contact with white clothing or a light countertop leaves stains that don't come out on the first wash. Pour carefully around kids at a party, or keep a damp cloth handy.
And third, not about the product itself but the logistics: syrup is heavy (a glass bottle full of liquid), so shipping from the US will always be a noticeable line item relative to the product's own price. Buying a single bottle just to try it is a so-so idea economically — it makes far more sense to order several flavors at once to spread out the shipping cost.
Verdict
The bottle itself costs around $5 at the US warehouse — the syrup isn't expensive on its own, the question is always shipping. For the full cost with shipping and import duty to your own country, check the landed price on dede.sh. I'd recommend DaVinci Gourmet Blue Raspberry to anyone already ordering something from the US who can toss a bottle into the same package, or to café owners who specifically want an American flavor lineup. For a one-off experiment at home, try something similar at a local store first, or look at Monin, which shows up more often in local retail, and decide afterward whether shipping it across the ocean is worth it.
I wouldn't recommend this syrup to anyone looking for a "natural" product — this is openly artificial flavoring and coloring, and it doesn't hide that fact. If clean flavor origins matter to you, this isn't your bottle.
FAQ
No, and that's normal. Blue Raspberry is an American flavor construct that was never tied to any actual berry. Think of it as its own flavor brand, not as "raspberry, just blue."
For soda, DaVinci is a bit lighter and less sticky, so I personally prefer it in carbonated drinks. Monin is thicker and wins for baking and creams, where you need a dense texture. If you're only making drinks, go with DaVinci.
750ml works out to roughly 30-40 servings of lemonade, depending on how intense you want the color and flavor. For a family gathering of 15-20 people, it'll cover you with room to spare.
Not strictly, but it's convenient. Without one, you'll have to pour from the open bottle by eye or with a measuring spoon, which is a bit awkward for a thick syrup and prone to leaving stains on the counter.
