Fungal Fruit is Delicious (Really) Thanks to East Granby Teens

The term "fungal fruit" doesn't evoke an image of something fit for consumption. 

But six East Granby teens and one business owner have managed to make fungal fruit not only palatable, but delicious.

Sort of.

Fungal Fruit in this instance doesn't refer to moldy apples or rotted grapes, but is instead the latest addition to locally owned Avery's Beverages' popular line of Totally Gross Sodas, the flavors of which do not match their names and appeal mostly to the younger set.

So, Fungal Fruit, which had its official launch party at Tina's Ice Cream in Granby on Aug. 20, is in actuality a more appealing combination of pink passion fruit and lime, joining other nastily sounding brethren such as Swamp Juice (a green-brown drink comprised of six different syrups), Toxic Slime (nuclear blue with orange, blue raspberry and lemon flavors) and Bug Barf (greenish-yellow kiwi and pineapple).

The genesis for Fungal Fruit began several years ago, when Samantha Berger, now 15, held the first of three consecutive birthday parties at Avery's factory in New Britain.

Berger, along with Ashley Bakes, Olivia Seli and Cindy Geer, got behind the name (Seli is credited with coming up with it) during their time in the mixing room, a popular factory destination for scouting events and birthday parties where kids come up with their own drinks by using six different syrups.

The girls enthusiastically pitched the idea to Avery's owner Rob Metz, who solicits names to add to the Totally Gross line from young patrons of the factory. 

Metz said that the only Totally Gross flavor that was not made up by the kids was Kitty Piddle (orange and pineapple), which came about when a Torrington resident complained that cat owners deserved equal time to match Dog Drool (orange and lemon).

Anyway, Metz said that over 90 percent of the names submitted for flavors aren't even considered.

But the four girls, who were later joined by Kitty Butler and Samantha Eaton, didn't just let the matter drop after leaving the factory on that first visit.  

They went back to the factory for two more of Berger's birthday parties, during which they continued to hone in the concept that would become Fungal Fruit.

How dedicated were the girls to make Fungal Fruit a reality? Well, they made up a song about it, though the lyrics were unavailable for mysterious reasons.

"It's cursed," said Bakes, who, along with Berger, were two of the six girls at the launch party at Tina's. "It's bad luck. Every time you sing it, something bad happens."

(Local Editor Note: I did not and will not pursue the side story that a possible coven of young witches have the ability to create havoc through the majesty of song. TDG)

Anyway, when notified of the song, Metz encouraged the girls to make a label (featuring two pieces of blue, moldy fruit), which was mostly designed by Bakes in her school's computer lab.

"We're also making a music video that will be posted on Avery's soda page," Berger said.

Metz said that he spent a year developing Fungal Fruit's flavor, which was originally a strawberry-based drink.

He also credited the girls for the drink's pink color that, according to Berger, goes well with the label's blue fruit.

Without the girls' enthusiasm, Fungal Fruit would not be an Avery's beverage, according to Metz.

"That's what got us hooked," Metz said. "We said, 'Wow, this is really dedicated.' ... They had perseverance to keep at it. It's kind of unusual."

Fungal Fruit received positive reviews at the launch party, which was held at Tina's because it's the only Avery's vendor in Granby.

"It was really good," said Melissa Allen after drinking a sample. "I like all of Avery's soda. This wasn't too fruity."

"It's good," West Suffield resident Cindy Smith said. "I'm trying to place the flavor. It's almost like grapefruit."

Metz, for his part, won the bad, but oh-so-good pun contest by adding that Fungal Fruit's flavor "will grow on you."

Fungal Fruit is available for $2 a bottle at Tina's, which celebrated the launch Saturday by having a free raffle and offering free hotdogs, soda and cones, providing space for Totally Gross samples manned Berger and Bakes.

While Fungal Fruit's name, or even its taste, may not be agreeable, one thing certainly is: at a time when teen behavior is often reported negatively, it's refreshing to see them having pure, clean fun.

"I think it's a good experience for them and their having fun," said Paula Berger, Samantha's mother. "It's kind of unique and creative thing to do."

For more information on Avery's Beverages, visit www.averysoda.com