Kuro by Riot: We Try Every Flavour in the Tokyo-Inspired Nic Salt Range

If you have spent any time browsing nic salts over the last few years, you will know the market runs on repetition; this is where Kuro comes in. Strawberry ice. Blue raspberry. Mixed berries. Mango ice. It is a comfortable, reliable formula, and most of the time it works — but it also means one bottle can taste suspiciously like the last five you tried. That is exactly the gap Riot Labs set out to close with Kuro, a new nic salts collection built around Japanese flavour culture rather than the usual fruit-and-ice playbook.

At The Vape Experts, we get through a lot of new releases, and it takes something genuinely different to make us sit up. Kuro managed it. We picked up the full eight-flavour lineup to see whether the concept holds up once the vapour clears, or whether it is style over substance.

What Is the Kuro Range by Riot?

Kuro is Riot Labs’ answer to vaper fatigue. Rather than another round of the same recycled profiles, the range leans into late-night Tokyo — think konbini snack aisles, matcha cafés, and cocktail bars — and translates that into e-liquid. The branding follows through too, with graffiti-style artwork and neon colourways that make the bottles instantly recognisable on the shelf.

Crucially, the flavours back up the concept. Instead of single-note fruit vapes, Kuro is built around layered profiles: a fruit base, paired with a herbal, floral or spiced accent, often finished with a cooling effect. It is a more considered approach than most nic salt ranges attempt, and it means the flavour actually shifts as you vape — from the inhale, through to a distinct exhale note.

Kuro Nic Salts: The Format

Every flavour in the Kuro range is available as a 10ml nic salt, formulated in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg strengths. That spread covers most pod and MTL setups, whether you are a light vaper who only needs an occasional 5mg top-up or someone who relies on a stronger 20mg hit for a proper throat hit and fast nicotine absorption. Riot has also released the same flavours as 100ml shortfills for sub-ohm and direct-to-lung devices, so the whole collection is accessible whichever style of vaping you prefer — nobody is left choosing between format and flavour.

Now, onto the flavours themselves. We worked through all eight.

Akiba Grape

Profile: Kyoho grape, blackcurrant, ice

Akiba Grape is the flavour to reach for if you have ever been let down by a grape vape tasting like purple soda. This one leans into the real thing — a Kyoho grape note that comes across as dark, juicy and slightly musky, closer to the actual fruit than the candy version most brands go for. Blackcurrant sits just behind it on the exhale, adding a tart edge that stops things tipping into overly sweet territory. The ice element is present but restrained, working as a light backdrop rather than an overpowering chill. It is one of the more accessible flavours in the range and a strong pick for anyone who wants an easy all-day vape.

Momo Fuji

Profile: White peach, Fuji apple, shiso, crushed ice

Peach is a notoriously difficult flavour to get right in e-liquid form — it so often ends up tasting artificial, closer to a peach ring sweet than actual fruit. Momo Fuji avoids that trap entirely. The white peach is soft and authentic, backed by a crisp Fuji apple note that keeps things fresh rather than sickly. What sets this one apart is the shiso leaf, a Japanese herb with a flavour somewhere between basil and mint. It gives the exhale a green, herbal lift that most fruit vapes never attempt, and it is what pushes Momo Fuji from “nice fruit vape” into genuinely premium territory. If you only try one flavour from the range, this is a strong contender.

Kakigori Blood

Profile: Blood orange, shaved ice, sweet syrup

Named after Japan’s classic shaved-ice dessert, Kakigori Blood is built for citrus fans. Blood orange is a tricky flavour to nail in e-liquid — brands frequently overshoot into bitter peel territory. Riot has balanced the bright, zesty top notes of the orange against a sugary syrup base that smooths out the harshness, and the shaved-ice cooling effect gives the whole thing a slushie-like character. If you have found other orange vapes weak or one-dimensional, this is a noticeably bolder take.

Sakura Nights

Profile: Dark cherry, sakura, crushed ice

Cherry vapes have a reputation for tasting like cough syrup, and it is a fair criticism most of the time. Sakura Nights sidesteps that completely. The inhale delivers a rich, dark cherry, which is then softened by delicate sakura (cherry blossom) florals rather than anything soapy or synthetic. The floral note rounds off the sharper edges of the cherry and adds a subtle sweetness, while a moderate ice effect keeps things refreshing without dominating. It has an atmospheric, late-evening character that suits its name well.

Ryu Berry

Profile: Dragon fruit, lychee, blackcurrant

For vapers who have exhausted every blue raspberry bottle on the market and want something genuinely different, Ryu Berry is the answer. Blackcurrant provides a familiar, juicy foundation, but the dragon fruit and lychee combination is what makes this one stand out — exotic, slightly floral, and a little unpredictable depending on your device’s power setting. It is one of the more adventurous flavours in the lineup and rewards experimentation with wattage.

Tokyo Mule

Profile: Zesty lime, spicy ginger, crushed ice

Essentially a Moscow Mule reimagined as a vape, Tokyo Mule is the most intense bottle in the collection. Lime is sharp and upfront, but the real character comes from a genuine ginger kick on the exhale — warming, slightly spicy, and reminiscent of a proper ginger beer rather than a vague spice note. Combined with the crushed ice element, it creates a hot-and-cold sensation that is unusual in e-liquid form. It is not necessarily an all-day vape for everyone, but as a palate cleanser between other flavours, it is excellent.

Umeshu Plum

Profile: Japanese plum, brown sugar, green apple

Umeshu Plum may be the most distinctly Japanese flavour in the range, taking its cue from plum liqueur. A crisp green apple top note gives way to a deep, slightly funky Japanese plum body, finished with a caramelised brown sugar note on the exhale. It is dark, layered, and a genuine departure from typical European fruit profiles — worth seeking out if you want something with more character than the usual plum or apple vapes on the market.

Matcha Latte

Profile: Sweet matcha, condensed milk, vanilla

The wildcard of the collection, and arguably its boldest statement. Dessert vapes can easily tip into overly heavy or sickly territory, but Matcha Latte gets the balance right. The earthy, slightly bitter matcha note is genuinely recognisable — closer to a proper green tea than a vague sweetened approximation — and it is cushioned by rich condensed milk and a smooth vanilla base. The result is comforting rather than cloying, and it makes a strong alternative to heavier custard or pastry-style vapes if you fancy a break from fruit altogether.

Our Verdict on Kuro by Riot

It is unusual to see an established brand like Riot Labs take this much of a risk with a flavour lineup, but Kuro pays off. The concept — Japanese-inspired flavours instead of recycled fruit profiles — could easily have been style without substance. Instead, every bottle in the range delivers genuine layering: a clear transition from inhale to exhale, rather than a single flat note repeated throughout.

There is no obvious weak link across the eight flavours, whether you gravitate towards the crisp, herbal balance of Momo Fuji or the creamy comfort of Matcha Latte. For vapers who feel like they have tried every strawberry ice and mixed berry on the market, Kuro is a genuinely different direction — and one that is easy to recommend.

Pros

• Distinctive, well-layered flavour profiles with a real inhale-to-exhale transition
• No recycled or generic flavours anywhere in the range
• Available in both pod-friendly 10ml nic salts and 100ml shortfills
• Strong, well-judged use of herbal and floral notes (shiso, sakura, matcha)
• Wide nicotine strength options (5mg, 10mg, 20mg) for different setups

Cons

• A few flavours (Matcha Latte, Umeshu Plum) lean sweet and may not suit vapers who prefer sharper, less dessert-like profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

What nicotine strengths does the Kuro range come in? Kuro nic salts are available in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg strengths, suited to pod systems and MTL devices. The same flavours are also available as 100ml 0mg shortfills for sub-ohm and direct-to-lung setups.

What flavours are in the Kuro by Riot range? The full range includes Akiba Grape (Kyoho grape and blackcurrant), Momo Fuji (white peach, apple and shiso), Kakigori Blood (blood orange and shaved ice), Sakura Nights (dark cherry and cherry blossom), Ryu Berry (dragon fruit and lychee), Tokyo Mule (lime and ginger), Umeshu Plum (Japanese plum and brown sugar), and Matcha Latte (matcha, condensed milk and vanilla).

Is Kuro by Riot suitable for beginners? Newer vapers may prefer starting with a more familiar profile like Akiba Grape or Kakigori Blood, since some of the range’s herbal and floral notes (shiso, sakura, matcha) are more unconventional and better suited to vapers looking to branch out.

Where can I buy Kuro by Riot nic salts? The full Kuro range, including all eight flavours across 5mg, 10mg and 20mg strengths, is available from The Vape Experts.

If the usual fruit-and-ice bottles have started to blur into one, Kuro is worth a detour. Browse the full range at The Vape Experts and see which flavour suits your setup.