Price: $11.99 – 6 single-serving variety pack
Serving Size: Single-serving packets of powder to mix with 16oz of cold water
Flavors: Lemon-lime, raspberry-lemonade, and orange-mango
How obtained: Company sample
Availability: Online
RBR advertiser: No
A few months back, Drink Tiiga reached out and asked if we’d like to review the company’s hydration drink made from an African superfruit called baobab. According to the company, baobab has been used for energy, immunity, and gut health for thousands of years in African culture. However, this is the first I’ve heard of the plant.
I checked out their website and liked that it had no caffeine, all-natural ingredients, and touted no gut issues. The Tiiga rep sent me a sample package with single-serving packets of their three flavors, lemon-lime, raspberry-lemonade, and orange-mango. You mix one Tiiga powder pack into 16 ounces of cold water. For a stronger taste, use less water or dilute it for a milder taste. Since I’m not a big fan of heavy flavor in my water bottle, I opted to dilute the mixture.
Being wintertime, the longest ride I could test the Tiiga mix was two hours on the trainer. I hadn’t eaten breakfast and just hopped on the bike. The raspberry-lemonade flavor kept me going the whole ride, plus I finished a post-ride strength and yoga session. I didn’t experience any gut distress, and I felt pretty good.
What the Heck is Baobob?
One of the unique properties of the Baobob fruit is that it is utilized in its natural state. The fruit is harvested in the dry season when the pulp has dried up into a powder. The powder is then sieved and ground finely to produce a light powder, thus requiring minimal processing allowing Tiiga to retain as many nutrients from the fruit as possible.
Tiiga By the Numbers
Primarily made from raw fruit (50%), Tiiga contains essential electrolytes, 3 grams of natural fiber, and antioxidants to support the immune system. In addition, it has 3 grams of added sugar (2.5 g pure cane sugar)and 35 total calories. It also has a 100% daily value of B Vitamins 3, 6, 12, and 90% daily vitamin C (twice that of an orange). According to the company’s website, sugar(Glucose) is essential for helping the small intestine to absorb the electrolytes more effectively. Lastly, it contains ribose to increase energy reserves and B vitamins to give a natural energy boost.
The baobob fruit also contains both prebiotics and fiber. Prebiotics help nourish the good bacteria in the digestive tract. The mix is comprised of over 50% of soluble and insoluble fiber; the boabob fruit is an efficient way to support good gut health.
Bottom Line
The baobab fruit stabilizes blood sugar levels, so I didn’t experience any peaks or valleys. All three flavors of Tiiga were tasty and hydrating without any adverse gut issues. I diluted the packets since I don’t like a lot of flavor in my water bottle. Due to it being winter, I only tested Tiiga outdoors on cold rides (road and singletrack) and the trainer. I’ll be curious to test it out on a hot, humid Chicago summer day.
Sheri Rosenbaum regularly contributes articles and reviews products for RBR. She’s an avid recreational roadie who lives in the Chicago area and a major advocate for women’s cycling, serving on the board of directors and volunteering with the Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club. Click to read Sheri’s full bio or visit her web site sunflowersandpedals.com.
Very interesting, I just ordered some!
Let’s keep real: there is no evidence of any differences between one sugar drink and another. Dr. Mirkin is clear: best to use them only while excercising, or there are blood sugar consequences. Mix sugar and water, or orange juice and water, or this fancy new fruit, all the same. Try this or something else new only if it helps you drink more on the bike!
I guess everyone reacts differently, but I tried Tiiga for about a month. Could not get through a ride without experiencing severe G/I distress! Fortunately, January was very cold so all my rides were on the trainer and not far from an appropriate facility. My gut just could not get used to it. I had to throw what was left out….