Blackcurrant and apple is a combination most people in the UK have known since primary school, long before vaping was ever a thing, it's the flavour of squash bottles, juice cartons and cordial, the kind of pairing that's so familiar it barely needs introducing. IVG has put that same instantly recognisable combination into the Air Pods range, and what stands out is how faithfully it sticks to that classic juice-carton character rather than trying to reinvent it as something more exotic or overtly "vape-flavoured."
Two flavours, taking turns rather than blending into one
What makes blackcurrant apple work as a pairing, on this pod or in a bottle of squash, is that the two fruits don't really merge into a single new taste, they take turns. Blackcurrant brings a deep, slightly tart, almost winey richness, while apple brings a lighter, crisper sweetness that cuts through it. On the Air Pods, that same relationship holds: you're not getting one blurred "fruit" flavour, you're getting two distinct, familiar notes that hand off to each other across a single draw.
The opening pull
Blackcurrant leads. It's a full, slightly tart note with real depth to it, closer to the fruit itself than to sweets or bubblegum, and it doesn't hold back, this isn't a shy, background blackcurrant, it's the dominant flavour in the opening second or so of every draw. There's a faintly jammy richness to it that's recognisable from squash concentrate rather than fresh berries, which is exactly the reference point most people bring to this flavour anyway.
Mid-vape: apple steps in
As the draw continues, the apple comes through underneath, and it's a crisp, slightly green apple character rather than a sweet red-apple or apple-pie note. It doesn't try to compete with the blackcurrant for dominance; instead it lifts the finish and stops the whole thing tasting too heavy or one-note. Over a full session, the two settle into a rhythm, tart, rich blackcurrant on the way in, crisp apple lightness on the way through, and that rhythm is really the whole appeal of the flavour.
Exhale and aftertaste
The exhale leans towards the apple side, leaving a clean, faintly crisp finish rather than the syrupy aftertaste you sometimes get from heavier blackcurrant flavours on their own. That's arguably the apple doing its job properly, cutting the richness of the blackcurrant so the flavour doesn't sit too heavily after several draws in a row, which is a common complaint with blackcurrant-only vapes that lean too far into cordial-sweet territory.
Who this flavour suits
Blackcurrant Apple tends to suit vapers who grew up on classic British squash and juice flavours and want something that tastes properly nostalgic rather than novel. It's also a solid pick if you like tart, fruity vapes but find pure blackcurrant a bit much on its own over a full pod, the apple gives it enough lift to stop that happening. It's less suited to anyone chasing very sweet, dessert-style vapes, since the tartness here is doing real work rather than being an afterthought.
Occasions it suits
This is a flavour that reads as genuinely all-purpose rather than tied to one mood, much like the drink it's modelled on, there's no reason it wouldn't work first thing in the morning as easily as late evening. Where it particularly earns its place is anywhere you'd naturally reach for a glass of squash or juice: after a workout, on a warm day, or any time you want something that feels refreshing rather than indulgent. Because it's a replacement pod format, it's also a natural pick for anyone who's already running an IVG Air device and wants to keep a couple of different flavours in rotation rather than switching devices entirely.
Compared to other options, and what to rotate it with
Set against a straight Blackcurrant or Blackcurrant Ice, this version reads noticeably lighter and less relentlessly tart, thanks to the apple doing its job in the background, if you've tried a pure blackcurrant vape before and found it a bit much by the second pod, Blackcurrant Apple is the more forgiving version of that same fruit. Compared with an apple-forward flavour on its own, it's got far more depth and richness, since blackcurrant is carrying most of the weight. For variety without losing the "classic juice" theme entirely, something like an Apple Peach or a Blackcurrant Menthol pod gives you a different angle on similar fruit while keeping that familiar orchard-and-hedgerow character running through your rotation.
Practical notes for the best flavour
- New pods can taste slightly muted for the first handful of draws while the coil fully saturates, that's normal, and the fuller blackcurrant-then-apple balance settles in shortly after.
- A touch slower on the draw lets both fruits register separately rather than blurring together, which is really the point of this particular flavour combination.
- Keep spare pods sealed and out of warm environments, such as a car glovebox in summer, heat is especially quick to flatten tart fruit notes like blackcurrant, more so than it affects sweeter or icier flavours.
Blackcurrant Apple FAQ
Is Blackcurrant Apple very tart, or is it more on the sweet side?
It leans tart, particularly on the opening draw where the blackcurrant dominates, but the apple underneath softens the finish so it doesn't stay sharp the whole way through.
Does the apple flavour come through clearly, or is it mostly blackcurrant?
Blackcurrant is the stronger, more upfront note, but apple is clearly present too, coming through mid-draw and on the exhale rather than disappearing into the background entirely.
Are these pods only compatible with the IVG Air device?
They're designed as replacement pods for the IVG Air Pods system specifically, so they're built to work with that device rather than being a universal fit across other pod kits.
