Monteverde - Sweet Life Collection 5, Mango Mousse & Blueberry Muffin

The introduction is a repeat from previous Sweet Life reviews.
In 2016 Monteverde started to re-imagine / configure their inks and as a part of that they have released a number of collections e.g. noir, emotions, gemstones and this, the Sweet Life collection released early 2019.   The collections are not easy to obtain in my part of the world but Pen and Ink (Queensland) have the sets for AUD$99 plus postage.  
I contacted Monteverde in the USA about some of their other inks, the US people directed me to the Australasian distributor who in turn directed me to Pen and Ink. It would appear Pen and Ink are the only retailers in this part of the world, (and have been fantastic) in the US many retailers stock Monteverde inks.  In the US the sets retail on line from US$90 - $100.
As said there are 10 inks in the collection, I will divide the reviews but make some general comments here and after the last review summarise what I have found / think.  The same pen was used for each ink i.e. a Birmingham Pen Co 6th Avenue pen.

​The inks are named after a collection of popular American desserts, I couldn’t think of anything more American than keylime pie or blue velvet cake, some of the others are fairly international e.g. chocolate pudding and birthday cake.
Each ink comes in a 30ml glass bottle with more interesting labels than some of Monteverdes other inks.  They all contain ITF technology.  ITF stands for ink treatment formula which in Monteverdes words -

“drastically improves ink flow quality, extends cap-off times and lubricates and protects the ink feeding systems from corrosion and clogging”

The inks come in a black magnetic sealing box which is ‘specifically designed for reuse and recycling.  The box is contained within a soft cardboard outer sleeve.  Pictures of the packaging are in my first review.
The colour range is limited with a preponderance of browner shades.

Mango Mousse

I consider this to be more South East Asian as it is that part of the world where one gets more mango-based desserts.  Question is, is this a yellow or an orange ink?  Label looks yellow the ink in the bottle looks orange.
Chromatography was unhelpful as it is a mix of yellow and orange.

On col-o-ring it is a bright orange and on Tomoe a dull yellow – one reason why I swatch on more than one paper.

Col-o-ring

Tomoe

On Midori it is a yellow-orange but veers more towards orange than yellow.  There is a little shading but I don't think it comes anywhere near Noodlers Apache Sunset for interest and shade.  The dry time is quite good though.

On Tomoe the colour still leans more towards the orange end of the spectrum, there is some shading but I make the comment again nowhere near like Noodlers Apache Sunset (see photos below).  Dry time again very good.

Monteverde Mango Mousse

Noodlers Apache Sunset

I can report for this ink no start up problems when I reused the pen.  On cheap paper it is very orange, there is very very slight feathering and quite a bit of show through.

There are some credible dupes for this ink but I realise a swatch that is similar really gives no information about how an ink behaves / what it looks like when you use it to write.  You will note an Apache Sunset swatch show as a duplicate but the inks are very different when writing.  This ink tends to orange with minimal shading, Apache Sunset has lots and lots of variation.
From left to right Vinta – pink sands, Nemosine – Solar storm, Bungbox – Ginza line, Monteverde – Topaz, Noodlers – Apache Sunset and J Herbin Orange Indien

In summary 
Saturation – high
Shading – some
Sheen – no
Shimmer – no
Flow – good
Nib dry-out - none
Nib creep - none
Start-up – ok
Feathering – yes on cheap paper
Drying – good
Cleaning - good
Water resistance – not sold as waterproof but after a lot of initial run off a reasonable amount remains on the paper

Blueberry Muffin

This ink didn't make me think of blueberry muffins – I thought it wasn't blue enough and then I had one and this ink is pretty close to the colour of blueberries though I would call it a burgundy colour.
Chromatography revealed a burgundy ink with just a hint of turquoise.

Col-o-ring

Tomoe

On Midori the ink dried quickly and still reminded me of Mont Blanc inks.  There was little shading but my bias for this colour tone really crept in.  Start up was excellent, dry time excellent and it’s a nice colour.

On Tomoe a similar colour and dry time with minimal shading.

​This has to be my favourite from the whole collection , so much so I have been using the ink all week at work and I can tell you it handles very well even on the cheapest of papers – no feathering and no show through.
Dupes as expected include Mont Blanc inks, from left to right Hypercolours – phosphorus, this ink, Robert oster – hippo purple, Birmingham Pen Co – Mary Lou Williams Piano Girl , Mont Blanc – Le Petit Prince and Planet and Mont Blanc – Saint Exupery Encre du desert

In summary - 
Saturation – high
Shading – minimal
Sheen – no
Shimmer – no
Flow – good
Nib dry-out - none
Nib creep - none
Start-up – good
Feathering – none 
Drying – reasonable 
Cleaning - good
Water resistance – not sold as waterproof and its really not

Conclusion

​1. Inks not easy to obtain in Australasia 
2. Price is good at 33c per ml (NB this is before postage is added though)
3. Colours mmmmm, nothing special or exciting about them, very monochromatic with minimal to no shading or sheen.  They are quite saturated though.
4.  ITF ???? so many problems with flow which I have found with other Monteverde inks, they are so inconsistent in this respect.
5. Cleaning good but the reds (strawberry shortcake and cherry danish) take a little more work than any of the others 
6. Blueberry muffin far and away the best of the collection as far as I am concerned 
7. I wouldn’t recommend the collection to others but if you can get samples and you really want to try them then go for it others may have different experiences to me