Huntley Cafe Offers Smoothie Tastings

Tropical Smoothie Café has about 35 kinds of smoothie flavors ranging from simple concoctions like strawberry and banana to Sunrise Sunset, a combination of strawberries, pineapple, mango and orange.

Sunrise Sunset is one of Huntley Police Chief John Perkin’s favorite.

He popped into the Route 47 café this week to try a new smoothie, one with green tea.

Owners Mike and Terry Ward hope other customers start trying new flavors and have come up with a fun way to help them branch out.

Tropical Smoothie Café is offering a Smoothie Tasting where customers can try six 3-ounce smoothies for $3 on Saturday, May 5.

The Wards got the idea after going to a wine tasting event, Manager Bryant Coffey said. Tropical Smoothie employees find that customers pick one flavor and never try anything new.

Saturday’s tasting is also an opportunity for customers who’ve never tried a smoothie to discover the tasty treat.

Coffey finds people don’t understand the difference between a smoothie, a milk shake and a slushy. A milk shake is sweeter and contains ice cream while a slushy has concentrated juice, he said. A smoothie has fruit, ice and yogurt, he said.

Smoothies are healthier than a milk shake or slushy and are often low calorie drinks, Coffey said. Tropical Smoothie makes them even healthier by using ingredients like whey, soy or adding turbinado sugar (unprocessed sugar) or vitamin supplements, he said.

“I like the whey a little better” than the soy, Coffey said.

Tropical Smoothie employee Bri Scaccianoce likes soy added to her smoothies.

The Smoothie Tasting is from 2 to 5 p.m. It will be held the first Saturday of every month. Flavors will change monthly.