Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a popular fast casual restaurant chain known for its smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, and more. One of the ingredients found in some Tropical Smoothie menu items is turbinado sugar. Turbinado is a type of raw cane sugar that has a light brown color and coarse, large crystals. It has a sweet, molasses-like flavor that some prefer over regular white sugar.
At Tropical Smoothie, turbinado sugar can be added to customize certain menu items like smoothies and coffee drinks. It provides a rich, sweet taste and satisfying crunch or texture. Understanding what turbinado is and its uses at Tropical Smoothie can help customers better customize their orders.
What is Turbinado Sugar?
Turbinado sugar is a less-refined form of cane sugar that retains more of the original molasses from the sugar cane. It is made by crushing sugar cane to extract the juice, then boiling it down to form syrup. The syrup is spun in a centrifuge to remove most of the molasses, but not all of it. After crystallizing and drying, the result is large golden brown sugar crystals that have a delicate molasses flavor.
Some key characteristics of turbinado sugar include:
- Light brown color
- Coarse, large crystals
- Sweet taste with molasses undertones
- Crunchy texture
- Raw sugar that retains some natural minerals
It has some similarities to brown sugar, but is lighter in color since it has less molasses content. Turbinado is often described as a healthier alternative to white sugar since it is less processed and refined. However, it has a nearly identical calorie and carbohydrate profile as regular white table sugar. But it does provide small amounts of minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
Names and Origins
Turbinado sugar is known by several other names including:
- Raw sugar
- Demerara sugar
- Evaporated cane juice
The word “turbinado” comes from the Spanish word “turbinar” which means “to spin.” This refers to the process of spinning the sugar cane extract in a turbine or centrifuge to separate and crystallize the sugar.
While turbinado can come from many locations, a lot of the turbinado sugar production happens in Mauritius. The island nation off the coast of Africa has a long history of sugar production. Other regions like Hawaii and the Caribbean also produce significant amounts of turbinado sugar.
Turbinado Uses at Tropical Smoothie
Tropical Smoothie Cafe allows customers to customize their drinks and food items with different ingredients like protein powders, supplements, and sweeteners. Turbinado sugar is one sweetener option available for customizing various menu items:
Smoothies
Adding turbinado to smoothies provides extra sweetness plus a signature molasses flavor and pleasant crunch. It can customize any of Tropical Smoothie’s fruit-based, green, or yogurt smoothies. The texture and taste of turbinado pairs especially well with thicker, fruit-laden smoothies.
Coffee Drinks
Turbinado makes an excellent sweetener for hot and iced coffees from Tropical Smoothie. It brings a warmth and richness that complements the natural coffee flavor. The crunch from the sugar crystals also adds nice texture. Using turbinado inplace of regular sugar can provide a uniquely flavored cup of Tropical Smoothie cafe.
Teas
The cafe’s selection of iced and hot teas can also be sweetened with turbinado sugar. Its molasses notes enhance certain flavors like black tea, chamomile, and chai tea. Just like with coffee, the turbinado provides a distinctive sweetness and texture.
Oatmeal and Yogurt Bowls
Turbinado makes a great mix-in and topping for yogurt bowls and oatmeal from Tropical Smoothie. It brings extra crunchy sweetness and flavor that contrasts nicely with the creamy yogurt or oats. Sprinkling it on at the end adds nice texture and customization to the bowl.
Nutrition Info for Turbinado
From a basic nutritional standpoint, turbinado sugar is very similar to regular white cane sugar. It has around:
- 16 calories per teaspoon
- 4 grams of carbohydrates per teaspoon
- 4 grams of sugar per teaspoon
So turbinado has the same amount of calories and carbohydrates as white sugar. It does contain trace amounts of some minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. But not significant enough amounts to make a big nutritional difference.
It scores a moderate 55 on the glycemic index scale, whereas white sugar has a higher score of 65. This means turbinado may impact blood sugar levels slightly less drastically. But overall, turbinado should be considered very similar to any other added sugar in its nutritional value.
Sugar Content Examples
Here are some examples of how much sugar could be in Tropical Smoothie menu items customized with turbinado:
| Menu Item | Turbinado Added | Total Sugar (Grams) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 oz. Strawberry Smoothie | 2 tsp | 38g |
| 20 oz. Cafe Mocha Iced Coffee | 1 tbsp | 27g |
| Large Pineapple Kale Vitamin Charger | 1.5 tbsp | 43g |
As you can see, adding turbinado can quickly increase the total sugar content. Moderating portion sizes is important when adding any sugar.
Price of Turbinado at Tropical Smoothie
Tropical Smoothie allows customers to customize their order with supplements and mix-ins for an added cost. Their current price for adding turbinado sugar is:
- $0.75 per portion
A “portion” may mean different amounts for different menu items. Usually it is around 1-2 teaspoons, but can vary. Other places may sell turbinado sugar by the pound or in bulk containers as well.
How to Order with Turbinado at Tropical Smoothie
You can customize your Tropical Smoothie order using the following steps:
- Choose any menu item like a smoothie, coffee, tea, or bowl
- When ordering, ask for turbinado sugar to be added
- Specify how many “portions” you want added
- Pay $0.75 per portion added
- The staff will add the requested amount of turbinado sugar
- Stir your finished drink or bowl to distribute the sweet crunchy sugar!
Their app and online ordering may also provide the option to add turbinado sugar to certain items. Overall it is an easy, tasty way to customize your Tropical Smoothie order!
Benefits of Adding Turbinado
Here are some of the main benefits of adding turbinado sugar to Tropical Smoothie menu items:
- Unique molasses flavor – Provides a rich, brown sugar-like taste
- Pleasant crunch – The large grains give a nice texture
- Customization – Allows you to tailor item sweetness and taste
- Mineral content – Contains traces of minerals like potassium and magnesium
Turbinado can elevate an ordinary smoothie, coffee, or bowl into something more distinct and flavorful. The crunch and taste profile pair especially well with certain ingredients like fruit smoothies and coffee drinks. Adding this special sugar is worth trying for Tropical Smoothie fans looking to change up their usual order.
Potential Drawbacks of Turbinado
A few drawbacks to keep in mind when adding turbinado sugar:
- Added cost – Carries an extra charge per portion added
- Added sugar – Increases the total sugar and calorie content
- Texture – Crunch not for everyone, especially in hot drinks
- Strong flavor – Molasses taste could overpower some ingredients
The extra sugar and calories should be considered by anyone watching their intake. And some may not find the coarse, crunchy texture appealing in certain items. But for most the advantages seem to outweigh any downsides of customizing with turbinado at Tropical Smoothie.
Alternatives to Turbinado
Tropical Smoothie offers various customization options beyond just turbinado sugar. Other sweeteners you could substitute or use include:
- White sugar – Regular refined cane sugar, less flavor impact
- Brown sugar – Darker and more molasses-heavy
- Honey – Liquid sweetener with floral notes
- Stevia – Zero-calorie sweetener from plant extract
- Monk fruit – Low-calorie sweetener from monk fruit extract
The cafe also allows adding flavor boosts, supplements, and other mix-ins to customize your drink or bowl. So lots of options beyond turbinado for specialty orders.
Conclusion
Turbinado sugar is a crunchy, molasses-flavored raw cane sugar that can elevate certain Tropical Smoothie menu items. Its rich taste and texture enhance smoothies, coffee drinks, teas, and bowls for a more customized, sweet experience. While it does add extra sugar, the unique flavor and enjoyment it brings are worthwhile for many Tropical Smoothie customers. So next time you visit, consider trying turbinado sugar in your order for something new and delicious.
