Banana or Blueberry?

Dear Lowdown:

How do you make a good fruit smoothie?

Sheena Artajo (Chicago)


Ms. Artajo:

A “good” fruit smoothie is really quite painless to prepare, but I am not going to teach you how to make a “good” fruit smoothie. Why only aim for “good”? Instead, I will enlighten you as to how to prepare a luscious, savory, tantalizing, mouthwatering smoothie. It takes more than simply throwing together some fruit and yogurt and hoping for the best. If you are merely looking for a good-tasting frothy drink, go have a milkshake. However, if you want a delicious and nutritious smoothie, there are many ways to flatter your taste buds and your body. Not only will this drink taste exquisite, but your spirit will be lifted as well. Three simple elements constitute a powerfully wonderful smoothie: fruits, a thickener, and a liquid.

If you want to practice this ancient art of smoothie making, we must first consider the history of the smoothie in order to fully understand its significance. A primeval type of smoothie was first produced in India some 4,000 years ago by combining yogurt, fruit, spice, salt, and honey to create a drink called lassis (“Smoothies and Their Origin”). Mogul emperors also drank a refreshing beverage similar to lassis, except it is called sharbat (“Smoothies and Their Origin”). “Mogul” can mean influential, so these emperors must have known the soulful, influential benefits of these similar smoothie drinks. The smoothie was first introduced to America in the 1930s as puréed fruit drinks from Brazil, but smoothies did not become popular until the 1960s (“Smoothies and Their Origin”). I won’t even discuss how pitiful it is that smoothies took so long to become popular. Smoothies were then commercialized in the 1970s, when vegetarianism and health food stores became popular (“Smoothies and Their Origin”). From there, we have what we now know and love as smoothies. Smoothies must have had some impact on one’s soul in order for people the world over to still be drinking them today.

The primary ingredient that all smoothies must have is, of course, fruit. This fruit can be a solid or a liquid, organic or filled with chemicals, frozen or room-temperature, and sliced or diced. The fruit component is a free-for-all. You can add as much as you like or none at all. Just remember, fruit is a part of the natural world. By adding fruit to your delightful smoothie, you are becoming one with the cosmos. Experimentation is key when trying to make a magnificently delicious smoothie; texture and flavor play a role as well. Some fruits commonly used are blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, pineapples, and bananas. You can try different ingredients too, even going for something as exotic as a papaya or a mango. Just be sure that all of the fruit is puréed before you take it out of the blender, unless you want globs of banana flowing into your mouth while you’re trying to drink and enjoy your beverage. This can severely dampen your overall enjoyment of the smoothie, unless, of course, you enjoy chunkier smoothies. In general, to make one serving, you will want about one fourth of a cup of fruit in order for the taste to be spot on and the vitamins to be in good supply (Lynn).

Even though fruit might be the most basic element of a smoothie, the thickener is also a main component. While the thickener is a valuable component to the taste of your smoothie, you can also view the thickener as character and pizzazz added to your soulful smoothie. There are multiple options for a thickener, including yogurt or ice. Vanilla or plain yogurt usually does the trick, but you can always experiment with other flavors for a tangy twist. Ice is an excellent option for a thickener if you have more fresh fruit than frozen. The hard part about this step is adding the right amount, not too much and not too little. When making a smoothie for only one serving, about half a cup of thickener is ideal (Lynn). The thickener helps give the smoothie its texture and creaminess, but too much can leave the smoothie dull-tasting. The type and amount of thickener you add to a smoothie is quite reflective of you as an individual. Therefore, make sure you include the perfect amount and type of thickener so your smoothie is as rich, refreshing, and as full of pizzazz as your personality.

The final basic component of the perfect smoothie is a liquid. Juices or milks are always the best bet to make your smoothie smooth. Add in grape juice, orange juice, apple juice, soy milk, skim milk, or even whole milk. The juices are often great sources of antioxidants and can count as another whole serving of fruit. Soy milk is also a great option because of the protein, calcium, and isoflavones (“How to Make a Smoothie”). If you are not partial to the taste of soy milk, the flavor of the fruits will overpower it anyway. The liquid addition to your smoothie is quite a unique one, and you are incorporating parts of your persona into the drink. Remember that supreme smoothies consist of one part fruit, one part liquid, and two parts thickener, so for one smoothie you will want about one fourth a cup of your-choice liquid (Murray). The liquid has a major impact on the color of the smoothie, so be wise when combining multiple types. A good way to prepare for adding liquid to your smoothie is to review your colors. Yes, we are going all the way back to pre-school. Orange and white (orange juice and milk) will make a lovely yellow color, but orange and purple (orange juice and grape juice) will actually make brown, and who wants a brown smoothie?

If the food you eat throughout the day isn’t already loaded with chemical edibles, you may opt to add a type of powder to your smoothie. There are many types of powders available in the smoothie-making world, including supplements for protein, vitamins, or fiber, and you may need this artificial addition because of dietary or health reasons. As a warning, some artificial supplements may distract from the purity of the experience and therefore contaminate the soul. You should not have your spirit reflect an imitation or fabrication. Once all of your innovative ingredients have been added to the blender, make sure you mix your smoothie until all of the contents have been fully crushed and liquefied. Be aware of loose tops and the loud, petrifying noises of blenders, or else the smoothie-making process will not be enjoyable. Once your creation seems to be lump-free, enjoy! If, however, your soul does not have the energy to make one of these revitalizing smoothies, a trip to Jamba Juice is suitable as well.

Sincerely,

Caroline D’Andrea










Works Cited

Gallagher, Stephanie. “How to Make a Smoothie.” About.com. The New York Times
Company, 2010. Web. 15 Nov. 2010.

“How to Make a Smoothie.” PerfectSmoothie.com. PerfectSmoothie.com, 2009. Web.
15 Nov. 2010.

Lynn, Emmy. “Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe.” BellaOnline. Minerva Webworks LLC,
2010. Web. 15 Nov. 2010.

Murray, Jennifer. “How to Make a Fruit Smoothie.” Suite101.com. Jennifer Murray, 21 Nov.
2008. Web. 15 Nov 2010.

“Smoothies and Their Origin.” Filling Low Calorie Foods. N.p, 18 Apr. 2010. Web. 15 Nov.
2010.