Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a popular smoothie and food chain with over 900 locations across the United States. Their menu features made-to-order smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, bowls, and more. The “Beach Bum” is one of their signature smoothies, made with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, orange juice, and Tropical Smoothie’s own Island Green Tea blend.
Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to some common questions about the Beach Bum smoothie at Tropical Smoothie Cafe:
- Main ingredients: Strawberries, bananas, pineapple, orange juice, Island Green Tea
- Calories: 210 calories (16 oz size)
- Price: $4.99 – $6.49 depending on size
- Customization options: Can customize with different fruits, juices, supplements, etc.
- Why it’s called “Beach Bum”: Evokes feelings of relaxing on a tropical beach
Smoothie Ingredients
The primary ingredients that make up Tropical Smoothie’s Beach Bum smoothie include:
- Strawberries – A generous portion of sweet, juicy strawberries give the smoothie a vibrant red color and provides vitamin C, manganese, and beneficial plant compounds.
- Bananas – Bananas add creaminess and natural sweetness to the smoothie. They are packed with potassium, vitamin B6, and fiber.
- Pineapple – Pineapple chunks add a tropical flair. Pineapples contain vitamin C, manganese, and bromelain which helps reduce inflammation.
- Orange Juice – Freshly squeezed orange juice provides a citrusy tang and dose of vitamin C. It adds to the fruity flavor.
- Island Green Tea – Tropical Smoothie’s signature Island Green Tea blend adds a boost of antioxidants like EGCG as well as a calming herbal flavor.
In addition to these core ingredients, customers can customize their Beach Bum smoothie by adding or substituting different fruits, vegetables, juices, supplements, and more to meet their personal preferences. The strawberries, bananas, pineapple, and orange juice combined create a light, refreshing tropical fruit flavor. The Island Green Tea blend integrates more subtle herbal notes.
Nutrition Information
The Beach Bum is a relatively nutritious smoothie option. Here is the nutrition information for a 16 oz Beach Bum smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe:
| Nutrition Facts | 16 oz |
|---|---|
| Calories | 210 |
| Total Fat | 1g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 20mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 51g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5g |
| Sugars | 38g |
| Protein | 3g |
As you can see, the Beach Bum is high in nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and manganese from all the fresh fruit. It provides a significant amount of dietary fiber. It’s also relatively low in calories for a 16 oz smoothie at just 210 calories. There are 38g of natural sugars, primarily from the fruit and orange juice. Overall, it makes for a nutritious blended drink that fits into a balanced diet.
Price
The Beach Bum smoothie ranges in price depending on the size ordered. Here are the typical prices:
- Small (12 oz): $4.99
- Regular (16 oz): $5.99
- Large (20 oz): $6.49
Tropical Smoothie Cafe frequently runs specials where you can get smoothies at a discounted price. They offer rewards through their Tropical Rewards program where you earn points with purchases to redeem later for free menu items.
The pricing is fairly average compared to other smoothie chains like Jamba Juice and Smoothie King. Given the high-quality ingredients like whole fruits and juices, the Beach Bum offers good value at this price point.
Customization
One great option at Tropical Smoothie Cafe is that you can fully customize your smoothies. The Beach Bum comes with a standard recipe, but you can modify it to match your personal preferences.
Some popular customizations for the Beach Bum include:
- Add spinach, kale, or other greens to pack in more nutrients
- Include whey, plant, or vegan protein powder for extra protein
- Substitute ingredients like mango, peach, or raspberry instead of certain fruits
- Add chia seeds, flaxseeds, nut butters or oats for thickness and fiber
- Use almond milk or dairy-free alternatives instead of orange juice
- Blend in immunity-boosting supplements like vitamin C, zinc, or echinacea
- Adjust sweetness preference with honey, stevia, agave, or xylitol
The possibilities are endless for how you can change up the Beach Bum to match your dietary needs and flavor preferences. This customization really sets Tropical Smoothie Cafe apart from other chains.
Purpose of the Name
Tropical Smoothie likely named this drink the “Beach Bum” to evoke feelings of relaxing on a sunny tropical beach. The name reminds you of a carefree, island vibe.
Some reasons the name “Beach Bum” fits this smoothie well:
- The tropical fruit ingredients remind you of sipping a fruity drink on the beach
- It’s a vacation in a cup that instantly transports you to paradise
- The smoothie helps you relax and decompress like you would on a beach getaway
- It’s a sweet treat you could enjoy while sunbathing and beach bumming
- The Island Green Tea even more closely connects it to the tropics
So while you sip on this smoothie, you can close your eyes and imagine yourself chilling out on a Hawaiian beach without a care in the world. The Beach Bum name aligns perfectly with the drink’s tropical ingredients and beachy vibe.
Popularity
The Beach Bum stands as one of Tropical Smoothie’s most popular signature smoothies ordered year-round. Here are some reasons why the Beach Bum smoothie is so popular with customers:
- It has crowd-pleasing flavors from favorites like strawberries and pineapple
- The tropical fruit combo appeals to many palates
- It’s refreshing and light – perfect for an afternoon or morning treat
- The smoothie is highly Instagrammable with its vibrant colors
- It’s affordable compared to similar restaurant smoothies
- Customers love substituting ingredients to make it their own
The Beach Bum smoothie’s widespread popularity shows in its thousands of positive reviews online. Many customers order it again and again as their go-to choice. While tropical flavors appeal most to the Beach Bum demographic, Tropical Smoothie’s menu has many other options for folks who prefer different ingredients and flavors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common frequently asked questions about the Tropical Smoothie Beach Bum smoothie:
Is the Beach Bum smoothie vegan?
The original recipe contains orange juice, so it is not vegan. However, you can easily customize it and substitute the orange juice with a vegan-friendly ingredient like almond milk, coconut water, or additional fruit juice to make it fully vegan.
Can you add protein powder to the Beach Bum?
Yes, Tropical Smoothie Cafe allows you to add a protein boost to any of their smoothies. Whey protein, plant-based protein, or vegan protein powders like pea protein can be added to the Beach Bum for extra protein.
What fruits can you substitute in the Beach Bum?
Some popular fruit substitutions for the Beach Bum include mango, peach, raspberry, acai, dragon fruit, and coconut. Any fruits that match the tropically fruit flavor profile work well as substitutes.
Can kids or toddlers drink the Beach Bum smoothie?
Yes, the Beach Bum can be enjoyed by kids and toddlers in smaller portion sizes. Parents may want to ask for less sweetness and avoid additions like caffeine from the Island Green Tea blend.
Does the Beach Bum have caffeine?
The Island Green Tea blend used in the original recipe contains a moderate amount of caffeine. Customers can opt to order it without the tea to make a caffeine-free version.
Alternatives
While the Beach Bum smoothie is a favorite, Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers many other smoothies that customers might enjoy. Here are some popular alternatives to consider instead of the Beach Bum:
Jetty Punch
The Jetty Punch smoothie contains strawberries, pineapple, orange juice, and raspberry sherbet. Great for people who want something creamier.
Bahama Mama
This smoothie has strawberries, bananas, pineapple juice, coconut, and sliced almonds. It’s ideal for those wanting more coconut flavors.
Maui Wowi
With strawberries, bananas, pineapple juice, and yogurt, the Maui Wowi appeals to yogurt lovers.
Caribbean Way
This smoothie features bananas, mango, pineapple, coconut milk, and lime juice for those wanting a dairy-free and more exotic option.
Island Green
The Island Green is a classic green smoothie with spinach, kale, mango, pineapple, banana, and almond milk. It’s a lighter, veggie-packed choice.
Tropical Smoothie’s full menu has 30+ smoothie recipes spanning fruit flavors, green smoothies, indulgent shakes, and nutrition-focused blends. The Beach Bum is a single popular choice among many delicious options.
Conclusion
With its bevy of tropical fruit flavors and evocative beach bum name, the Beach Bum smoothie is a beloved menu item at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. The combination of strawberries, banana, pineapple, orange juice, and Island Green Tea makes for a refreshingly fruity drink. Customers love being able to customize their Beach Bum order to their specific tastes and dietary needs.
Next time you visit a Tropical Smoothie Cafe, consider ordering a Beach Bum smoothie. Let it transport you to tropical paradise, even if just for a short smoothie break, with its flavorsome fruit flavors and memories of relaxing beach getaways. Sip, enjoy, and unwind – a Beach Bum smoothie makes every day feel a bit more like a vacation.
