Taste Test: Macao Imperial Tea x Heinz Is the Most Unhinged Collab We've Seen Yet

(SPOT.ph) When milk tea brand Macao Imperial Tea posted a mysterious photo of a red tomato, followed by a split image of their signature milk tea cup and, err, Heinz, this naturally sparked mixed reactions. There were comments ranging from "Whose pregnancy craving is this?" to simply "Just why?" With April 1st lurking in the corner at the time of the post, many assumed it was a prank—even we did. You know we always have trust issues, especially around said time of the year.

As it turns out, the collaboration between the milk tea brand and the global condiment brand is as real as pineapple on pizza. So for this SPOT.ph Taste Test, we decided to try this weird and intriguing collaboration, exploring the three drinks in the series: Peach Raspberry, Sparkling Mango Tomato, and Mayo Mousse. 

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Taste Test: Macao Imperial Tea launches new drinks in collaboration with Heinz Tomato Ketchup

On March 26, Macao Imperial Tea announced its surprising (understatement) collaboration with Heinz. It's an unlikely partnership for many obvious reasons. The most glaring? No one really thinks of combining milk tea with ketchup or tomatoes, unless, as the comments say, this is someone's peculiar pregnancy craving blasted out in all of social media for everyone else to try.

But unusual as it is, the way the drinks are created for this team-up isn't as extreme or strange as one's imagination might conjure. Take for example, the Peach Raspberry, which is described as this sweet peach and tart raspberry combination "with a surprising kick of apple cider vinegar" for more tanginess.

Then there’s the Mayo Mousse, which—deep breath, everyone!—is not actually milk tea with a spoonful of mayonnaise plopped on top. This is milk tea with a salty creamy topping—think Macao's Imperial Tea's Cheesecake "made extra rich with a hint of mayonnaise," at least according to its GrabFood description.

As for the actual tomato content? Only one drink has it: the Sparkling Mango Tomato. It’s a fizzy tea that blends sweet mango and savory tomato for a sweet-and-tangy combo that on paper might just work.

But what really makes us ask “Am I actually drinking ketchup?” is the packaging. All three drinks in this collab are served in custom Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottles. Yes, same unmistakable shape, same twisty white cap.

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What do the Macao Imperial Tea x Heinz Tomato Ketchup drinks taste like?

Out of the three drinks, the one we can legit refer to as "an acquired taste" is the Peach Raspberry. While the idea sounds refreshing from its description, the apple cider vinegar comes in strong—aggressive, even—drowning out the fruitiness of the peach and raspberry. It’s the kind of drink that’s much easier to appreciate when it’s colder than ice-cold, and served with some salty snacks on the side.

As for the Sparkling Mango Tomato, it's exactly what it claims to be: a tropical tomato juice. The mango adds a bit of sweetness to the drink, which has a slightly thicker consistency, akin to tomato juice. If you’re someone who genuinely enjoys tomato-based drinks—think tomato punch or a Virgin Mary—this might be right up your alley. For everyone else, there's the Mayo Mousse.

Surprisingly, as far as the three drinks from this collaboration goes, the Mayo Mousse is your safest bet—as in it's the most approachable. It tastes like Okinawa milk tea with its caramel-like sweetness and creamy texture, and that controversial "hint of mayonnaise" is barely noticeable, especially once you give the whole thing a stir.

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Should you buy Macao Imperial Tea x Heinz Tomato Ketchup drinks?

So is the Macao Imperial Tea x Heinz collaboration worth trying? Honestly, between a "No" and a very much convinced "Yes," we're somewhere in the weirded out and oddly fascinated middle. It’s not exactly the unhinged ketchup-tea nightmare we thought it would be. If you're curious but cautious, the Sparkling Mango Tomato is a great choice between the adventurous option (Peach Raspberry) and staying in your comfort zone (Mayo Mousse).

But, hey, if you're someone who's a sucker for cute packaging (we're guilty of this, too) but have not warmed to the idea of exploring these flavors at all, then maybe you can just buy an actual bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup, empty it and clean it up, then pour in your favorite drink. 

See list of Macao Imperial Tea branches. For more information, check out Macao Imperial Tea Philippines' Facebook page.

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