Reader Food Panel: Food tasters split on smoothies

No blender required. … but strangely, you’ll need a microwave for Chiquita’s new fruit smoothies.

The blended fruit and yogurt smoothies can be found in the freezer section at many grocery stores. Open the lid and pop it into the microwave for 60 seconds. Then, use a spoon to stir until smooth.

We whipped up the strawberry-banana and pineapple-orange flavors for The Spokesman-Review reader food panel at a recent meeting. Some complained that they would have liked a more intense flavor, but others credited Chiquita for using only fruit, fruit juices and yogurt to sweeten the drinks rather than sugar or corn syrup.

Each smoothie contains the equivalent of 3/4 cup of fresh fruit, according to Chiquita.

“Two qualities we almost never see at the food panel – subtle sweetness and subtle flavor,” said Tina Johnson, of the strawberry-banana smoothies. “This is delicious and even has real strawberries.”

Donald Clegg added: “Decent berry flavor, not too sweet… Not a great idea in December, but otherwise not bad at all.”

The panel gave the strawberry-banana smoothie a three-and-a-half-star rating, which falls between fair and good on the panel’s five-star rating scale. The pineapple-orange smoothie scored three stars.

Half of the panel tasters thought the flavor was too weak and the other half loved it.

“A punch of flavor – strong, pineapple tangy taste,” said Jenny Whittaker.

But Larry Inman said it had almost no flavor at all. “Tastes like it was made for infant food. Not offensive, just not good.”

The smoothies also are sold in mango-banana and passion-berry flavors.

Chiquita Fruit Smoothie, strawberry banana

Price: $3.29 for 2 (11-ounce) cups

Nutrition per serving: 250 calories, .5 grams fat (no saturated fat, 2 percent fat calories), 3 grams protein, 59 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 90 milligrams sodium.

Taste: “ “ “ 1/2

Value: “ “

Comments: “Flavor is very faint, takes like a weak yogurt slushy.” – Larry Inman

“Pinkish, thick mixture with red berry-like chunks. Lacks flavor. I don’t taste the banana.” – Jenny Whittaker

“Tart and tangy with a subtle strawberry flavor. It would be a nice treat on a warm summer day.” – Skip Hubbard

Chiquita Fruit Smoothie, pineapple orange

Price: $3.29 for 2 (11-ounce) cups

Nutrition per serving: 180 calories, .5 grams fat (no saturated fat, less than 2 percent fat calories), 3 grams protein, 41 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 3 grams dietary fiber, 55 milligrams sodium.

Taste: “ “ “

Value: “ “

Comments: “Again, not overpowering or cloying. This seems very fresh and natural. The only downside was the fruit bits were too hard.” – Tina Johnson

“Absolutely no hint of flavor,” – Vicki Deschaine

“Kind of grainy consistency but tastes pretty good. Tart orange and pineapple fruits go great together.” – Skip Hubbard

“Very bland, tastes low-fat, but needs more flavor. The pineapple chunks are so hard they seem like leftover pineapple cores.” – Nancy Robinson