Smoothie King is a popular smoothie chain that offers a variety of blended fruit drinks and healthy snacks. One item that customers often wonder about is whether Smoothie King has acai bowls on the menu. Acai bowls have become a popular breakfast and snack item over the last several years, so it’s understandable that smoothie fans would wonder if they can get an acai bowl from Smoothie King.
The short answer is yes, Smoothie King does offer acai bowls, but with some caveats. Acai bowls are not a regular menu item that you’ll find at every Smoothie King location. However, many Smoothie King stores do have the ability to make fresh acai bowls, using their smoothie ingredients.
What is an Acai Bowl?
First, let’s make sure we all understand what an acai bowl is. Acai bowls start with a base of acai berry puree. The acai berry is a purple superfood that grows on palm trees in Central and South America. Acai packs a nutritional punch, with antioxidants, healthy fats, fiber, and other vitamins and minerals.
The acai puree forms the base of the acai bowl. It has a soft, creamy texture reminiscent of sorbet. The puree is then topped with a variety of fresh, tasty toppings like granola, fruit, coconut flakes, chia seeds, nut butters, and more. When you dig into an acai bowl, you get a combination of flavors and textures in each bite.
Acai bowls provide a balanced meal that includes healthy fats, fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. The blend of toppings adds lots of flavor and variety. It’s a very refreshing and nutritious breakfast or snack option.
Availability of Acai Bowls at Smoothie King
So can you walk into any Smoothie King and order an acai bowl off the menu? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Smoothie King does not list acai bowls as one of their regular menu offerings nationwide. The menu focuses more on smoothies, juices, and supplements.
However, many individual Smoothie King locations do have the ability to make fresh acai bowls per customer request. That’s because they have acai berry puree on hand, which is the essential starting point for any acai bowl.
The reason Smoothie King doesn’t widely advertise acai bowls is that not every location carries all the various toppings and ingredients to make complete, customized acai bowls. But if you ask, they may be able to improvise and make you a basic acai bowl with their available ingredients.
Best Way to Order an Acai Bowl from Smoothie King
Because acai bowls are not a normal menu item, the best way to order one from Smoothie King is to call your local store in advance. Ask them if they have acai puree in stock and can make you an acai bowl.
They may ask you what toppings and ingredients you would like in your bowl. Not all stores will have every topping imaginable, but they can likely source some common ingredients like bananas, strawberries, granola, coconut flakes, chia seeds, etc. If you give them advance notice, they can prepare ingredients especially for your acai bowl.
Smoothie King’s Acai Puree
The key is that most Smoothie King locations do keep acai puree in stock. This organic acai puree comes frozen in individual serving sizes. Employees can thaw the puree and use it as the base for your fresh acai bowl creation.
Smoothie King’s acai puree contains only two ingredients – organic acai puree and organic guarana powder. Guarana is a natural caffeine source. So Smoothie King’s acai offers the antioxidant power of acai berries plus an extra energy kick. It’s thicker than many acai purees with a rich, smoothie-like texture.
Build Your Own Acai Bowl Ingredients
If you choose to build your own acai bowl at Smoothie King, here are some common acai bowl ingredients they likely have on hand:
- Bananas – for extra creaminess
- Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries
- Pineapple, mango, mixed berries – tropical flavors
- Granola – for crunch
- Coconut flakes
- Chia seeds
- Almonds, walnuts, pecans
- Nut butters like peanut butter or almond butter
- Honey, agave, maple syrup – natural sweeteners
- Cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa powder – spices and flavors
- Protein powders like whey or plant protein
With an array of ingredients like these, the Smoothie King staff can whip up a tasty acai bowl suited to your preferences. The ingredients won’t be quite as extensive as a specialty acai bowl shop, but you can still customize a bowl to your liking.
Nutrition Info for Smoothie King Acai Bowls
How does the nutrition info stack up on acai bowls from Smoothie King? Here is a nutritional estimate, using their acai puree as the base and sample toppings:
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 450 |
| Total Fat | 15g |
| Saturated Fat | 10g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 65mg |
| Carbohydrates | 75g |
| Fiber | 10g |
| Sugars | 35g |
| Protein | 15g |
These nutrition stats are based on:
- 1 packet (4 oz.) Smoothie King Acai Puree
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup granola
As you can see, a typical acai bowl from Smoothie King delivers a hefty dose of antioxidants, fiber, healthy fats, carbs, and protein. The combination provides sustained energy and balances blood sugar compared to a simple fruit smoothie.
The calories and carbs add up quickly with all the fruit and toppings. But the fiber content helps slow digestion, and the fat and protein promote satiety. Overall, it’s a significant improvement over less healthy breakfast choices!
Price of Acai Bowls at Smoothie King
How much can you expect to pay if you order an acai bowl at Smoothie King? Pricing will vary by location, but will likely be in the $6 to $12 range. Here are some factors that affect the acai bowl price:
- Base price for the acai puree packet – likely $3 to $5
- Extra charge for each additional fruit or topping
- Higher price for premium toppings like chia seeds, nuts, or nut butters
- Taxes on top of the base price
Given these factors, most Smoothie King acai bowls end up costing around $8 to $10, depending on size and toppings. That’s fairly comparable to other shops specializing in acai bowls.
One way to lower the price is to stick with basics like banana and berries for mix-ins. You can also ask them to go light on premium toppings like nuts or nut butters. And choosing a small or regular bowl instead of large lowers the base price.
Smoothie King Acai Bowls vs. Other Chains
How do the acai bowls at Smoothie King stack up against other major smoothie and bowl chains? Here’s a quick comparison:
Jamba Juice
Jamba Juice offers pre-made acai bowls in two flavors – Acai Primo Bowl and Orange Acai Bowl. Customization is limited. Jamba also uses acai powder instead of pure acai puree, which lacks some nutritional benefits found in puree. Pricing starts around $7.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Tropical Smoothie Cafe recently added an Amazon Acai Bowl to their menu. It comes pre-made with set ingredients and minimal customization. The bowl costs around $8 and is made with puree. Availability varies by location.
Freshii
Freshii sells an Açaí Bowl with granola, strawberries, and banana. Customization options are somewhat limited compared to making your own bowl. Price is around $9. Puree quality may vary by location.
Overall, Smoothie King matches or beats these other chains for acai bowl quality and customization. You can craft a bowl using high-quality acai puree and fresh, nutritional toppings tailored to your taste.
Smoothie King Acai Bowls: The Verdict
In summary, here’s what you need to know about getting an acai bowl from Smoothie King:
- Acai bowls are not a regular menu item, but many locations can make them.
- Call ahead to ask if they have acai puree in stock.
- Staff can blend the puree with your choice of fresh fruit and healthy toppings to build a custom bowl.
- Ingredients won’t be as plentiful as a dedicated bowl shop but can still make tasty bowls.
- Smoothie King uses high-quality organic acai puree for the base.
- Pricing is reasonable, around $8 to $10 based on toppings.
- Great way to quickly get an energizing and nutritious acai bowl!
So although they don’t advertise it on their menus, Smoothie King can be a great option for acai bowl lovers looking for their fix on the go. The ability to customize with high-quality ingredients makes it stand out from other national smoothie chains. Next time you’re near a Smoothie King at breakfast or snack time, consider calling ahead to order a freshly blended acai bowl.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Smoothie King use real acai in their bowls?
Yes, Smoothie King uses real, pure acai puree as the base for their acai bowls. The puree is organic and comes frozen in individual serving packs to provide quality and convenience.
Are Smoothie King acai bowls healthy?
Smoothie King acai bowls contain many healthy ingredients. The antioxidant-rich acai puree, fresh fruits, granola, nuts, seeds, and nut butters provide ample vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and healthy fats for a nutritious meal.
Can you order an acai bowl through Smoothie King delivery?
Unfortunately, since acai bowls are not a regular menu item, you likely cannot order delivery. Your best bet is to call ahead to your local store and pick up the acai bowl yourself.
Does Smoothie King sell acai pouches or powder?
Smoothie King locations only have the prepared acai puree packs, not the plain frozen pulp or acai powder. But the puree provides the full benefits of real acai berries in a convenient form.
Can you add protein powder to a Smoothie King acai bowl?
Yes, you can request to add a scoop of protein powder as one of your acai bowl toppings when customizing your bowl. Whey, plant, or other protein powders can provide extra nutrition.
