Other than owning a good juicer and a well-stocked fridge, another important thing to remember when it comes to mixing up a smoothie is to mix a bunch of fruits with different properties.



Over at Serious Eats, Carolyn Cape explains that the best tasting smoothies are usually a mix of fruits that provide sweet, tart, lots of juice, and earthy flavors. Ingredients which are herbaceous or spicy can also be tossed in for that extra flavor kick. Below are her recommendations:

• Sweet: apples, pears, grapes, melons, pineapples, oranges, kiwis, mangoes, berries, grapes
• Tart: lemons, limes
• Roots: beets, carrots, turnips, parsnips
• Greens: Kale, spinach, lettuce, chard, arugula, mustard greens, beet greens, dandelion, sorrel, broccoli
• Herbs: Basil, parsley, cilantro, mint
• High-yield: Cucumbers, celery, fennel, tomatoes, melons
• Spicy: Ginger, hot peppers (use judiciously)

By using this formula, you can created all sorts of variations to kick up your smoothies. Be sure to experiment mixing and matching various ingredients to find some complex juices that will suit your taste buds while maximizing your juice output.

image via Sigurdas