It’s amazing what the right smoothie can do.
This one gives me energy and makes me feel refreshed and revitalized.
Partly because it’s not a super sweet smoothie. I used Montmorency tart cherries, which have a unique sour-sweet taste. The slight tartness wakes up my tastebuds and cuts through the cobwebs in my brain without needing to pour a cup of coffee.
It’s a great smoothie pre- or post-workout, or any time you need a little pick-me-up. It’s vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, and packed with tons of bold flavor.
The tart cherries are rich in vitamin A and for fruits and vegetables, a sour taste is often a cue for more phytonutrient compounds inside. Montmorency tart cherries contain anthocyanins, a ๏ฌavonoid that contributes to the ruby-red color and distinguishing taste.
Tart cherries are available in dried, frozen and juice forms so you can enjoy these superfruits year-round.
The banana is packed with potassium, and coconut water is like nature’s sports drink and naturally balances and replenishes electrolytes.
The cherry flavor is bold yet tempered by the smooth, creamy banana. Bananas are such workhorses in smoothies. I always keep a stash of banana chunks in the freezer so I can toss a few into the blender for smoothies. No need for ice that way, either.
I sweetened it to taste so that it’s sweet-yet-tart like a glass of lemonade should be. It’s refreshing and zingy without having to pucker up.
It’s interesting that expert trend trackers say sour is the new spicy, which will no doubt change the food industry. To learn more about going tart instead, and to ๏ฌnd recipes and serving ideas for tart cherries, visit choosecherries.com
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Cherry Revitalizer Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups Montmorency tart cherries, frozen
- 2 medium/large ripe bananas, previously frozen in chunks is ideal
- 1 cup coconut water, water may be substituted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
- sweetener, to taste (granulated sugar, agave, stevia, zero-calorie sweetener, etc.)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the canister of a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Serve immediately. Extra portions may be frozen in freezer-safe (plastic) glasses for up to 3 months. Allow to soften at room temp before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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A Year’s Supply of Dried Tart Cherries and Tart Cherry Juice
A KitchenAid 7-Quart Mixer
Le Creuset 4.5- Quart Dutch Oven
Anthropolgie Apron
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I was asked to participate in the National Cherry Month #GoTart Campaign as a member of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network. I received free samples of tart cherries mentioned in this post from the Cherry Marketing Institute. I was compensated for my time. Opinions expressed are my own. #GoTart Giveaway
In a cherry pie!
I would love to try them in a pie!
I like Cherry Limeade!
I love dried tart cherries in oatmeal or homemade granola!
Black Cherry juice is good for arthritis also.
I love using tart cherries to make Cherry Cobbler!
Once I saw your recipe for the cherry smoothie I’ve been making them often. Love the tartness of the cherries!
This stuff matches everything so perfectly! Let’s go cherry!
#GoTart
I have not added cherry juice to my Vitamix smoothies yet, but I will now.
When I was an athlete at Cornell University in 2007-2009, they were already having us drink tart cherry juice after workouts. Guess it’s catching on everywhere now! #awesomesnack #works
I love chocolate covered cherries, cherries to flavor my water and cherry cheesecake.
I was just saying to my friend today about how i can’t wait for cherries to be in season again and summertime. This post gets me so excited for the spring and all of this snow to finally melt away here in New England!
I love to make smoothies~
Somebody above wrote cherry margarita and I’m like WHOA! I have to try that :)
I always put cherries in my smoothies, it’s a nice way to add a sweet taste without adding sugar! Love cherries :)
Dried cherries >>> dried cranberries or raisins. Love seeing them in everything from granola to salads.