Smoothie

↔ Varies by recipe

A smoothie is a thick, creamy drink made by blending fruit with a liquid base such as milk, yogurt, juice or water, often with ice. Its modern form emerged in California in the late 1960s, and today it is a common sight in cafés and home kitchens.

History

The idea took shape on the west coast of the United States, where health food stores began selling smoothies once the electric blender became widely available. It coincided with the rise of gyms, diet and natural drinks, and a growing interest in personal care, and smoothies were presented as an alternative to soft drinks and artificial beverages.

The term 'smoothie' was already used in recipes and trademarks by the mid-1980s. According to the story told by the company, Steve Kuhnau, who had worked as a bartender, began experimenting with these blends in the 1960s. Being lactose intolerant, he looked for combinations of juices, vegetables, protein powder and vitamins he could enjoy. His business, Smoothie King, spread across the United States and paved the way for other chains, such as Jamba Juice. Fast food chains later added sweeter ingredients, such as chocolate, and in the 2000s many people began making smoothies at home as a way to add fruit and vegetables to their daily diet.

Culture

The smoothie has become part of the routine of athletes, of people looking for quick breakfasts and of those who want more fruit in their diet. It can be sweet or savoury and allows countless combinations. There are several families: green smoothies, with spinach, kale or celery, whose bitterness is softened by fruit; protein smoothies, made with milk or water and protein powder; and yogurt smoothies, in which Greek yogurt gives a creamy texture. The base is always blended fruit and a liquid, but there is no single recipe.

India has a close tradition in the lassi, a yogurt drink blended with crushed ice, sugar or salt and sometimes mango, and the sharbat, a fruit drink popular across West and South Asia that sometimes includes yogurt or honey. In southern India, pineapple drinks made with crushed ice and sugar are common. In 2009 Spain's consumer organisation OCU warned that a commercial smoothie is not equivalent to a serving of fresh fruit, as it contains less fibre and folic acid and its processing reduces nutrients.

Trivia

A creamier slush. In the United States the smoothie was traditionally served with crushed ice, resembling a natural slush but creamier. This is the origin of its name.

Packaging and vitamins. According to the sources consulted, packaged smoothies are usually concentrated with heat, a process that reduces their vitamin content. This is why checking the ingredient list is recommended.