What sets them apart, which one suits which moment, and how to build your own out of four building blocks.
The way in. Berries, banana, a little liquid — nothing more is needed, and it tastes good practically every time. If you have never blended a smoothie, start here. Frozen berries are not a makeshift: they are the trick. They make the smoothie cold and thick without watering it down with ice.
Sharper, fresher, less sweet. Spinach tastes far milder in a smoothie than you would expect — mostly it colours. Start with two thirds fruit and one third green, and shift the ratio over time. A squeeze of lemon keeps the colour fresh; without it green turns brownish after a few minutes.
Creamy and considerably more filling. The protein does not have to come out of a tub: Greek yoghurt, quark, nut butter or oats do the job just as well and taste of something. If you do use a powder, add it at the end and blend only briefly — blending it too long makes it foamy.
What sets these apart from an ordinary smoothie is how long they keep you going. Oats, flaxseed or nut butter make it last until lunchtime — without them you are hungry again after an hour. Let the oats soak in the milk for five minutes first, and it turns creamy instead of gritty.
Sweet, chocolatey, no beating about the bush. The sweetness comes from dates or very ripe bananas rather than sugar — that is plenty. Cocoa belongs in the blender with a pinch of salt; it sounds odd and makes the difference. If you like it thicker, use the banana frozen and eat it with a spoon.
The same smoothie, only thicker and with a spoon. The whole difference is the amount of liquid: about half of what would go into a glass. Too thin cannot be rescued, too thick can — so pour in too little and top up. The toppings go on shortly before eating, otherwise the granola turns soggy.
Less a question of taste than of occasion — that usually gets closer to it.
After exercise
Creamy, cold and drunk in two minutes.
In between
Quick to blend, with no big clear-up afterwards.
Light in the evening
Green and sharp, when it should not be heavy any more.
As a dessert
Chocolatey enough to replace ice cream.
Almost every good smoothie follows the same formula. Once you have it in your head you no longer need a recipe — just a look in the fridge.
Two handfuls of fruit or vegetables. At least one portion frozen.
Berries · mango · banana · spinach150 to 250 ml. Less for a bowl, more for a glass.
Oat milk · almond milk · coconut water · waterOne or two tablespoons. That is what turns juice into a smoothie.
Yoghurt · nut butter · avocado · oatsA teaspoon is enough. This is what makes it different from yesterday.
Cinnamon · ginger · cocoa · mint · limeMix it. Love it. Live it.
Your smoothie. Your ingredients. Your moment.