Food

Beverage menus get a refresh in May

As the weather gets warmer, operators are offering new drinkable options to satisfy consumers’ dual desires for health and sweet indulgence.
Photo courtesy of Jamba

With state restrictions loosening up and consumers starting to venture out from quarantine, chains are launching new beverages and returning old favorites that are in step with the season. These are some of the latest.

Three better-for-you smoothies debuted at Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies. The trio of Superfood Smoothies includes Bold & Gold, a blend of mango, pineapple and bananas with a turmeric boost; Berry Sumac, a mixture of raspberry juice, strawberries, pineapple, banana, flax seeds and sumac; and Avocado Dream, a combination of avocado, spinach, walnuts, pineapple, banana and fresh lime.   

Better known for the food side of its menu, White Castle also has a beverage selection that attracts fans. The chain is bringing back its seasonal lineup, which includes the Strawberry Banana Smoothie—a blend of fruit and low-fat yogurt—and the Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie, a combo of lemonade, fruit and low-fat yogurt.

Wetzel’s Pretzels brought back its Cherry Boba Frozen Lemonade. The chilly refresher features the chain’s signature frozen lemonade poured over cherry-flavored popping pearls and topped with cherry fruit puree.

The Tie-Dye Shake is a new LTO from Carvel Ice Cream. The colorful limited-time shake has a base of the chain’s cake mix ice cream, which give the beverage its tie-dyed look.

Jamba added two new smoothies to its roster. The chain introduced the Electric Berry Lemonade Smoothie, made with lemonade, strawberries, mixed berry juice blend, fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt, raspberry sherbet, peaches and blue spirulina, and the Orange Carrot Karma Smoothie with orange juice, carrot juice, mangoes and bananas.

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