Smoothie

Smoothies (English: smooth = " fine, uniform, creamy ") is a native of the U.S. term for so-called whole-fruit drinks. They are sold as finished products. In contrast to conventional fruit juices whole fruit is processed down to the shell and kernels for smoothies. Basis of the smoothies is thus the fruit pulp or fruit puree, which is mixed according to the recipe with juices to obtain a creamy and creamy consistency.

Smoothies are available in many different variations. Many smoothies consist only of fruit, so of flesh and strength juices. The banana often forms a basic ingredient. There are also smoothies with yogurt, milk, ice cream or food supplements ( so-called booster), such as proteins, minerals and vitamins, which are particularly popular in the United States.

Market leader as a manufacturer of smoothies is in the U.S., the company Jamba, with a market share of around 20 percent, followed by Freshens (6 percent), and Smoothie King (5 percent). The data refer to 2008.

Term use

The word smoothie first appeared in 1904 in a U.S. dictionary, but with a completely different meaning. Back then, such a person was called, which was either very eloquent or had particularly good manners. Some time later, the concept of manufacturers was used as a name for completely different products from different industries. In 1969, the name Cream Smoothie is proprietary to the soft drinks a manufacturer. For the name of a fruit drink smoothie was first used in the mid-1970s, as a California Smoothie by California Smoothie Company of Paramus. The name for a whole-fruit drink, the term was popularized only in the 1980s.

History

Originally smoothies come from the U.S.. The beginnings of smoothies go back to the juice bars that existed there since the 1920s. The first juice bar chain was founded in 1929 by Julius Freed under the name Orange Julius; it consisted of about 100 bars in the United States. Previously opened Freed 1926 a juice bar in Los Angeles and invented a mixed drink orange juice, which contained, in addition, freshly squeezed juice, water, egg white, vanilla extract, sugar and ice and had a creamy consistency. In the 1960s, freshly squeezed fruit juice has become a trendy drink with supporters of health-conscious diet, especially for vegetarians. At that time the so-called health - food restaurants smoothies from fruit juice, fruit puree and ice on in their offer. Pioneers found themselves particularly in California.

Stephen Kuhnau is considered a pioneer of the smoothie market. Opened in 1973 Kuhnau a health -food store in New Orleans and began, energy drinks and supplements for sale. Kuhnau was suffering in his own words from food allergies and diabetes mellitus. He began to mix fresh fruit and various food additives to alleviate its symptoms. His health improved allegedly characterized. In 1987 he founded together with his wife Cindy franchising companies Smoothie King. 1990 saw the Jamba Juice Company in California. " Although Kuhnau Smoothie King has founded [ ... ], he has not invented the smoothie, a designation for a non-alcoholic fruit juice mixed drink. It was born in the counterculture of the health food stores in Southern California in the 1950s [ ... ]. "

Kuhnau itself confirms this: " I did not invent the word smoothie. The first time I used the word in the late 1960s is one in connection with fruits and drinks based on fruit juice manufactured by hippies. '" He spoke of its fruit -based drinks first not as smoothies, but as" energy drinks ".

Initially it was found only in smoothies juice bars where they were freshly prepared. Meanwhile, they are available in many countries as a finished product in catering and retail. The trend has also been picked up in Europe. A group of former classmates founded in London in 1999, the company innocent, which ( in part to juice -based) specializing in natural smoothies without the use of concentrates, preservatives or other food additives. Initially sold the Friends 20 bottles a day, now it is every day more than 285,000 bottles, which are sold well in Ireland, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The company sees itself as a market leader in Europe. Followers who know smoothies from the U.S., however, continue to claim that it can not constitute smoothies in ready-to- drink, after all "real" smoothies in the blender were beaten creamy.

Food contact aspect

Neither in Germany nor in the U.S. there is a food regulatory definition which drinks may be called a smoothie and which are not. Basically, all ingredients must be used, which are food permitted by law. The consumer must not be deceived. Fruits that appear on the label of a smoothie (on the front) in word or picture to a " majority " constitute part of the product.

Health risks

Despite the generally deemed to be healthy effect warn scientists and dentists against negative consequences, especially due to the high sugar and acid content, which primarily damages the teeth when consumed regularly.