HEC: Smoothies Evaluation

Smoothies Evaluation

Ingredients and nutrients:

• Milk - Calcium, protein, iodine, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B2 and B12 as well as zinc.
• Mango - Fibre, vitamin A and C, folate, B6, iron, little calcium, zinc and vitamin E.
• Banana - Vitamin B6 and B12, magnesium, potassium, fibre and protein.
• Weetbix - Wholegrain, iron, vitamin B1,B2,B3 and fibre. 

The main focus of the practical lesson that was completed this week was not the making itself; instead the evaluation and testing of other products. Each group were given a choice into picking a recipe that they would like to create. Several recipes were laid, all are in the making of smoothie. The recipe that we have chosen in all the variety of choices was the Tango Mango, containing mango, banana and weetbix. Mise en Place was done and quite quickly it was blended. The mango was from a can and so the juices were drained. The banana was peeled and cut into much smaller pieces to quicken the process and lessen the risk of having big chunks. The weetbix was crushed simply by hand. All of the ingredients were placed inside and blended into a nice smooth texture. We figured that it was too thick and so we added some of the mango juice just balance it out.  After doing so we were to serve and move around with a small cup to taste the other smoothies.

The evaluation:

Tango Mango: It wasn't completely smooth, it was thicker than a 'normal' smoothie, the weetbix wasn't helpful. It had a blend of mango and banana has a very fruity taste, having a whisp of sourness. It wasn't the best, it had a less than mediocre taste, what's more, it had an unpleasant after taste of the chalkiness of the banana.

Banana and mango: Though called banana and mango as I was informed it had quite a number of berries. It was quite gritty given the seeds, even so, the mixture itself without it would've been thin. The sourness was quite overpowering, no real flavour aside can be tasted. The "natural" taste of the berries, mango and banana were overshadowed.

Frozen fruit yoghurt: Simply the majority of the taste comes from the yoghurt. The other ingredients are that the fruits did give a slight hint of flavour. I would have preferred if it had bigger chunks of fruits. his would have enhanced and balance out the flavour and texture.

Super Berry: How this was concocted made it very unpleasant, repulsing even. If one to imagine eating a hand full of sand would describe the texture that I have felt during the consumption. It was the most sour mixture surpassing that of the 'Banana and Mango'. So much so that it was almost bitter. I cannot think of a way can be improved except for trying another recipe.

Chocolate Banana: This was one of the recipes that was actually pleasing. It had a sweet blend of banana and chocolate. It had a nice texture for a smoothie, neither too thin nor thick. Surprisingly it didn't have the chalkiness of the banana which was present in the 'Tango Mango'.

Banana Icecream: The mixture almost resembled ice cream, at least texture-wise. It was creamy and did not possess much sourness. It was quite sweet, which I liked and it went in quite smoothly as well. Yet, much as what happened in the 'Tango Mango' it had the chalky after taste, lowering the likeness that I had for the recipe.

For every one of these recipes, there is one thing in common that I did not like. Solely that is the temperature. With many types of dishes, one of the most important factors is the temperature that they are served in. Having the right temperature, it can make the dish shine. If not it can make the experience underwhelming and bad. If indeed these were implemented with the right temperature, it could have improved my views on them. Though smoothies can indeed be "warm" per se, I still feel as if the certain recipes that I have tasted would've been better being colder.