Our kiwi quencher tropical smoothie recipe contains kiwi fruits, strawberries, and orange juice. While this may seem like an odd combination, it results in a delicious drink that is high in vitamins and minerals.
Is Kiwi Quencher Tropical Smoothie Healthy?
Yes, this kiwi quencher tropical smoothie recipe is healthy. Here’s why:
- Kiwi contains a plethora of nutrients, packing a healthy punch while remaining low in calories. It is high in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that boosts the immune system. It may also contain properties that lower blood pressure, therefore reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease.
- In addition to kiwi, this smoothie also has strawberry. This fruit is rich in polyphenols, which are antioxidant compounds that may help to improve heart health, lower the risk of diabtes, and raise immunity.
- For a burst of antioxidants, we also included some freshly-squeezed orange juice. This ingredient may also have other amazing health benefits, such as preventing kidney stones, improving heart health, and decreasing inflammation.
Ingredients for This Smoothie
Today’s kiwi quencher tropical smoothie recipe contains:
- Kiwis: Ripe kiwis are best for this recipe as they are soft and sweet.
- Strawberries: Ripe strawberries have a similar flavor profile to kiwis as they are sweet and also slightly tart. Combining the two makes a satisfyingly sweet and delicious smoothie.
- Orange juice: We use freshly pressed orange juice. You can, however, substitute it for freshly squeezed or unsweetened bottled orange juice.
- Yogurt: Yogurt adds richness to the smoothie, transforming it into a delectable dessert drink.
- Milk: Milk aids in the blending of the ice. If you are unable to consume milk, use nut milk instead.
- Mints: For garnish, we used fresh spearmint leaves.
- And ice.
How To Prepare Kiwi
- Rinse the kiwi fruits under running water to remove any dirt.
- Peel the kiwis with a sharp paring knife to remove the skin.
- Cut them in half or quarters so that they blend completely into the smoothie later.
There’s no need to cut kiwis into small chunks and whatnot as they will go straight into the blender later.
How To Tell If Kiwi Is Bad
When refrigerated, ripe kiwi fruits should last somewhere between one and two weeks. If you’re not sure whether they’re safe to eat, here are a few tips to check:
- Check the skin and flesh for mold: Take the kiwi in your hand and inspect it thoroughly for brown or green mold patches. The mold may appear fuzzy on the fruit's skin or pulp, with white flecks.
- Check the kiwi for mushy patches: Prior to cutting into the fruit, inspect it for any wet or mushy areas. This may be an indication of a spoiled kiwi.
- Sniff the kiwi for a hint of acidity: Spoiled kiwis have an unappealing, slightly acidic aroma. Sniff the kiwi's skin and pulp to determine whether it has an unpleasant odor. If that is the case, it is highly likely that it has spoiled.
- Squeeze the kiwi to determine whether it is firm or mushy: Gently squeeze the kiwi with your fingers. If it is extremely hard to the touch, it was probably purchased unripe and will require additional time to ripen. When pressed, if a kiwi feels extremely soft, it may be rotten.
How Long Does It Last
The majority of our other smoothies will keep for up to two days in the refrigerator. Unfortunately, we couldn't say the same about this kiwi quencher tropical smoothie.
The reason for this is that this smoothie contains freshly pressed orange juice.
Oranges, once juiced, will become bitter over time due to their high limonin content.
Limonin is a substance found in citrus and a few other plants that imparts a bitter flavor to the plants' fruits. This is something you may have noticed in orange, lemon, or lime juice.
In other words, the longer this smoothie sits, the less pleasant it becomes. That being said, if you use bottled orange juice for this recipe, your smoothie may not suffer the same fate.
In addition, this smoothie also contains dairy ingredients, which tend to go bad rather quickly.
We recommend consuming this kiwi quencher smoothie as soon as you can. If there are any leftovers, place them in the refrigerator immediately and drink them within the next 24 hours.
More Kiwi Smoothie Ideas!
- Kiwi banana smoothie
- Apple kiwi kale smoothie
- Strawberry kiwi smoothie
- Pineapple kiwi smoothie
- Kiwi smoothie
Kiwi Quencher Tropical Smoothie Recipe
Today's kiwi quencher tropical smoothie recipe requires only 8 ingredients, the majority of which are probably already in your refrigerator. Let's get started.
- prep TIME 10 mins
- total TIME 10 mins
- COURSE Beverage
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 148 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 12 oz kiwis (peeled and cut in half)
- 6 oz strawberries (stems removed)
- 1/4 cup orange juice (we used freshly juiced)
- 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tbsp honey (optional)
- 2 cups ice
- 8 mint leaves
INSTRUCTIONS
In a blender, combine 2 cups ice, 12 oz kiwis, 6 oz strawberries, 1/4 cup orange juice, 2 tbsp Greek yogurt, 1 cup whole milk, honey (no more than 2 tbsp).
Blend in 20 - 30 seconds at high speed until completely smooth.
Divide the smoothie into glasses.
Top with 2 mint leaves on each glass, and serve.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary Consultant
Luna Regina
Writer, Author