I've started mucking about with fruit and stuff in the blender. I've been trying to make Fruit Smoothies but they always seem to taste bitter, I think it's due to the strawberries. What am I doing wrong?

Am I supposed to add juice or something to sweeten it? Surely not sugar?

Anyone have any decent mixtures? (avoided asking for 'recipes' :P)

Bro,One of my favourite is 1 banana, apple juice and mixed berries with some spirulina powder. mmmmmmmmm.

If youve got a juicer as well you can juice some apples and things then add some water to get a nice base to add in your smoothies

are you removing the stalks :)

you could try with honey or adding a non sour fruit (banana, watermelon, honeydoo melons, some type of apples etc.)

Yes, I did remove the stalks, Chris but I think strawberries aren't as sweet as most other fruits, maybe that's the problem right enough.

Yesterday, I bought a couple of tins of fruit cocktail and just threw them in LOL. Tasted quite nice but obviously they come in some kinda watery syrup so maybe not too healthy.

Im pretty sure you can get canned fruit salad in juice as opposed to syrup and thats a lot healthier for you.

I think it all comes down to a whole lot of experimentation, some apples are too sour and some are to floury. some berries are too sour too like those strawberries you were talking about. Theirs some pretty cool mixes around on the net too. If you concoct a good one, can you share it on here ;)

any joy?

I usually go with the same base of a tub of natural yoghurt, half a melon (galia or cantaloupe are best) and a couple of bananas. Then I chuck in whatever I want to flavour it with - usually tinned fruit as it's so much easier, but get it in juice rather than syrup. The tinned starwberries work fine, but raspberries are even better; peaches & apricots make a nice one, as do mixed berries (you can get bags of frozen ones which are good) - really you can use anything from apples to plums to kiwi fruit, depending on how long you want to faff about in the kitchen. The only thing I avoid is pineapple, as it seems to react with the yoghurt and leave a bitter taste. Happy blending!

I tried a tin of fruit cocktail with some fresh orange-juice (Tropicana) and it was the pooch's privates!

Gail, you suggest adding yoghurt, I was thinkin of fresh cream just coz it was there but I'm iffy about milk with fruit. Doesn't it sometimes curdle?

Also, maybe a daft question but do you defrost the frozen fruit or just blend it? That sounds quite nice, like a Frappe-type-thing. :)

Been living off fruit smooties for a year now in south america but they add sugar to everything, but some fruits that are sweet are mangos, no need for sugar with these and sugar bananas, which are really small ones and sweet. They also use milk to make them sweeter.

A good one is any juice your fruit then a yakult, but try and keep away from the citrus ones as they have so much vitamin c you end up pissing heaps for the next couple hours!!!!!

"pooch privates" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Best base for a smoothie are bannanas and apple juice. If you pick up any smoothie carton in a shop, the ingredients will start with bannanas and apple juice. Don't know why though! Then throw in your fruit and blitz!

Why not try making milkshakes? Some ice cream, milk and fruit.

Fresh cream would work fine, but not as healthy as the natural yoghurt! Citrus fruits are more likely to curdle I think, but I've never had a problem with anything else. Like Beanie Baby said, apple juice is a good starter - it depends how thick you like them; the yoghurt adds a bit more substance! I think I defrosted the frozen fruits when I used them. I guess a lot of it is down to taste - I haven't got a sweet tooth atall, so I don't mind a bit of bite, but if you prefer it sweet, stick to stuff like mangoes, peaches etc. Or add some honey rather than sugar.

2 tins of strawberries and a tub of double-cream. Tried it last night, it's amazing :)

Stevia is a sweetener that is pretty safe. some people like the taste, some don't. Not exactly good for you but its not really bad for you other than the brain thinking its getting something sweet. I use it if I have espresso.


I'm not sure which is worse, juice or cream.

Raw cream, for most would be good for you IMO

You can get some sugars (natural extracts from good quality sources) that are natural, though not good, much better than processed sugar or honey.

I like them with yogurt.. (in canada you can find non-homogenized yogurts - prob can in US too.. not sure about other places)

What is double cream??

It's just a kinda think, creamier one than usual. You can get it from asda, tinned strawberries are 35p. So it makes about two and a half pints and costs about £1.50.

Compare that with the wee cup you get from a juice-bar for about three quid.

So you gotta be winning

(hi, long time no see everyone, hope everyone is well)

Smoothies are cool..though i knw juicing is also just as good (juice without the pulp that is!