Best Tropical Smoothie

Tropical Smoothie is creamy, naturally sweet, refreshing, and full of vitamins! The perfect breakfast on the go, healthy treat, or post-workout snack. I feel like homemade smoothies instantly make me feel more energized and refreshed. They are also very nutritious and are great for children. If you have a kid who does not like to eat their fruits and veggies this will be the perfect way to sneak some in and help them get all of their nutrients.

As many of you know, I was born in Moldova, a country in Eastern Europe that is completely landlocked. Add to this that we have been part of the Soviet Union for a very long time, and you know what that means? I hadn’t seen tropical fruits until I was probably 7 years old.

In that part of the world, the bananas that now you see everywhere, used to be a VERY rare fruit. So were oranges. I remember, that finally after I tasted one, it felt like I had the most exotic fruit on earth. For a long time, we would only get to buy them for very special occasions, like Christmas and New Year.

With years, I was so happy to have access to tropical fruits, that I appreciated them more. Even now, they feel like something special, and every time I get to have have, my inner child is very happy.

When I moved to New York, I had Jamba Juice for the first time, and I was blown away by their options, and their prices too. That’s when I started to make my smoothies at home, because one, they are way cheaper, and two I can make them healthier and tastier.

This tropical smoothie is a family favorite. Me and my husband love it as a quick breakfast on the go or after a workout. The kids are obsessed with it too, and it’s their favorite after-school snack.

I love making smoothies so much, my Pineapple Smoothie and Best Spinach Smoothie are tasty and healthy options for any time of the day!

The tropical smoothie is very easy to make and bursting with flavor of sweet and citrusy fruits, a delight to your taste buds. Sometimes, I just put my ingredients in my blender bottle overnight and just have it blend in the morning. This is a good way to save some time and effort when you are in a rush.

A bit of planning goes a long way! I enjoy serving my smoothie in little mason jars and decorating it with some mint and a little tropical umbrella for when I’m feeling a little extra.

Ingredients

Tropical fruits

• Banana – I know people have a love-have relationship with bananas in smoothies, but in this recipe, I think it’s perfect. However, if you are a banana hater, just skip it.
• Mango – fresh mango is delicious, but not available everywhere and is also way more expensive than frozen. I recommend using sweet frozen mango chunks, especially since the frozen fruit will taste more refreshing. Another option is to use canned mango, just make sure not the one in syrup. The benefit of using canned mango is the color, it will be more of an intense orange.
• Pineapple – I love fresh pineapple, but slicing it, especially when I am in a hurry, is not an option. That’s why I recommend using frozen pineapple chunks. Another option is to use canned pineapple.
• Lime – this is the ace under my sleeve, this is the so-called “secret ingredient”! I add some lime zest and juice, to balance the flavors. The flavor is subtle, but so good, making the smoothie uniquely refreshing.

Liquids

• Pineapple juice – I use unsweetened pineapple juice because I like my smoothie on the sweeter side. Also, I don’t like a bland drink, which usually is the result of mixing fruits with water. 
• Orange juice – Again, I use the unsweetened version and if you can get your hand off freshly squeezed, that will taste amazing!
• Coconut milk – I like my smoothie thick and creamy, so while I drink something healthy, it tastes scrumptious. The creaminess of the coconut milk balances the flavor and contributes to that “island feel” of the tropical smoothie.

Dairy & Spices:

• Yogurt – I like to add creamy vanilla Greek yogurt, it adds more protein, and makes the smoothie more filling.
• Vanilla – while many think that it’s an ingredient that can be skipped, I usually encourage adding it. A little goes a long way, just like the lime, it adds a subtle aroma, that works in unison with all the other flavors.

How do you make a tropical smoothie?

Making a smoothie is incredibly easy. First, add the fruits to the blender. From my experience, I recommend that you add the harder, frozen fruit chunks first. Add the fresh, softer fruit on top.

After that, add the yogurt and the vanilla extract, if using protein powder, also add it now. Finally, pour the liquids on top, and blend at high speed until smooth.

Pour the smoothie into glasses and serve immediately.

Expert tip

The secret to a good smoothie is the flavor and the texture. Make it too watery, and it feels like you are drinking juice, not a smoothie. The four parts of a smoothie are the fruits/veggies – the liquids – the fat – and the add-ins.

If you have the first three, you are good to go, anything else is optional, but make sure you use enough fruits, because they add flavor and sweetness, be conservative with the liquid, you can always add more. Never skip the fat part, by adding yogurt, or a nut butter, this is what will make the smoothie creamier and thicker.

Sweetness is also very important, a smoothie that is not sweet it tastes either bland. So choose sweet, ripe fruits, naturally sweet juices, and if needed add a bit of honey, agave, or maple syrup.

Recipe variations:

• Milk: I recommend using coconut milk in this smoothie, for the tropical taste and flavor. However, any milk will work.
• Coconut water: If you want to reduce the natural sugar of this recipe, and for the smoothie to not be too sweet, use coconut water instead of juice.
• Vegan: Use vegan yogurt and vegan milk.
• Fruits: Use other fruits in this recipe, you can add kiwi, cantaloupe, and honeydew.
• Greens: For a nutritious boost, add a cup of spinach or kale.
• Protein: Make it high in protein by adding a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
• Fiber: Boost the fiber intake by adding some flax seeds or chia seeds.
• Fat: Add a tablespoon of cashew butter or half of an avocado for healthy fats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make a dairy-free tropical smoothie?

The only milk used in this recipe is coconut milk. Replace yogurt with coconut milk yogurt, almond milk yogurt, soy milk yogurt, or hemp yogurt. I recommend Almond or Coconut milk. The coconut will amplify the taste of the already added coconut milk, while the almond milk yogurt will give it more of a nutty flavor.

What fruits to use in a tropical smoothie?

The best fruits to use are always the frozen ones because they are usually frozen at their ripest stage and tend to be sweeter and more flavorful. Also, frozen fruits, especially the tropical ones, are cheaper than the fresh alternative. I like to use pineapple, banana, mango, and lime in my smoothies, with a mix of tropical juices. If you decide to use fresh fruits, make sure they are ripe and sweet.

How to make a tropical smoothie high in protein?

Adding protein powder to smoothies is a great way to increase protein intake, especially if you are a vegetarian or vegan, or need extra protein in your diet. I recommend using vanilla protein so that it doesn’t take away from the flavor of the actual smoothie. Another way is by adding some more Greek yogurt and add some oats, or flax seeds for fiber.

Can a smoothie be a meal replacement?

A smoothie that is made with a mix of fruits/veggies, fats, and protein, can serve as a meal replacement. To make sure you are covering all the bases, add a scoop of protein powder to your smoothie. Also, a tablespoon of cashew butter would add more fat to balance the natural sugar from the fruits and keep you fuller for longer. To boost the fiber, add a teaspoon of flaxseeds or chia seeds. If you decide to add chia seeds, consume the smoothie immediately, otherwise it will acquire a jelly texture.

How to store:

• Refrigerate: Pour the tropical smoothie into an individual mason jar and close with a lid. Preferably consume the smoothie immediately, but if you have leftovers store them for 24 hours in the fridge. When you want to serve them, shake well as they tend to separate.
• Freeze: You can freeze the leftover smoothie using an ice cube tray, and later use the ice cubes into smoothies.

More delicious smoothies:

Recipe tips:

• I recommend using canned coconut milk, because of its thicker texture, it will make your smoothie extra creamy.
• It is very easy to double the recipe, just by doubling all the ingredients.
• Measure the fruits you need to make a smoothie for one or two people and add them to individual Ziploc bags. Having them in the freezer, portioned, just ready to use will reduce time and effort when you make the smoothie.
• Use coconut water instead of juice to reduce the natural sugar in this recipe.
• Preferably, enjoy the smoothie immediately, as it separates when stored.