New smoothie mix review

A practical review of supermarket frozen berry and banana smoothie blends testing taste value and sourcing details.

Smoothie mixes evaluated for taste and transparency

In a blender test, the reviewer focused on supermarket own-brand berry and banana smoothie mixes, blending with water on a standard smoothie setting. They assessed banana-to-berry ratios, texture, sweetness and acidity, noting that blends with more berries tend to offer better overall flavor while bananas add creaminess. The Sainsbury’s berry banana smoothie mix emerged as the best overall option, with about 70% strawberry content and a bright, clean base. Morrisons strawberry & banana smoothie mix stood out as the best bargain, offering solid strawberry flavor and good value with 70% strawberry content. Other blends delivered varied results: Love Struck Berry-Go-Round is the only independent brand in the test and leans on a deep berry profile without banana, while Love Struck Red, White & Blueberry and Lidl Freshona strawberry & banana mixes showed solid performance with different balance between fruit quality and sweetness.

The reviewer also highlights how some blends rely on packaging choices to manage cost and how color and texture change with composition. The test notes that none of the supermarket brands were organic and raises concerns about sourcing transparency, especially for strawberries which researchers say are heavily sprayed in reality. The Love Struck line carries a farm-to-cup transparency claim but offers few sourcing details, and some packaging uses inner bags that create waste even when the outer box is recyclable. These findings invite shoppers to weigh flavor and price against ethics and environmental impact.

The test shows taste and value often align, but ethics and transparency lag behind on the shelf. Shoppers can find strong flavor and good value in budget lines, yet the lack of organic options and opaque sourcing push buyers to decide between taste and trust. Brands that emphasize sustainability or certification may still fall short on packaging waste or clear ingredient sourcing. This moment underscores a broader tension in everyday staples: how to balance enjoyment with environmental and health considerations in a crowded market.

Highlights

Taste and conscience will continue to shape the choice set for shoppers.