My Honest Frozen Garden Review

I'm a smoothie lover who gets bored easily. That means I'm always looking for a new recipe. I've mixed various frozen fruits in the blender, I've exhausted Smoothie King's menu (OK, maybe I just added different fruits to the peanut butter varieties) and I've experimented with smoothie kit delivery services. Unsurprisingly, Frozen Garden was the next on the list.

Frozen Garden is an online store that sells pre-made smoothie kits, plus overnight oats, garden bowls and "fusions": frozen cubes of fruit and herbs that turn water into a flavorful beverage. I've never ordered from Frozen Garden before, so I decided to stick to the main event before branching out.

Each kit has all the frozen fruit, herbs and vegetables that you need. Simply pour the ingredients into your blender, add liquid and blend it all together.

However, these aren't your generic strawberry-and-banana smoothies. Frozen Garden's recipes are fairly ambitious. At the time of purchase, their recipes included Rollin' Oats (banana, blueberry, apple, spinach, oat, date, chia seed and cinnamon) and Purple Passion (banana, blueberry, apple, avocado, lemon zest and basil), among other varieties.

Basically, Frozen Garden takes risks. I'm not sure if they paid off, but I respect the commitment to trying something different.

Before we get started, I want to mention a couple of things: 1. I added whole milk to every recipe and nothing else, and 2. This is not a paid promotion. My opinions are 100% honest and unfiltered.

Grab your blender, and let's roll!

1. Berry Choco-Latte Green Smoothie

Veggie lovers might enjoy the Berry Choco-Latte Green Smoothie, where the kale takes center stage, but I just couldn't get past the bitterness. The berries add tartness that the smoothie didn't really need, and I couldn't taste the chocolate or espresso.

I'm all for using smoothies to sneak more vegetables into your diet, but this resembled liquid kale with a sea salt aftertaste. Berries, chocolate, coffee, vegetables and salt are an odd mishmash of ingredients that don't blend well. I think this recipe needed more sweetness to mask the bitter overtones.

2. Chocolate Dream Smoothie

The name "Chocolate Dream Smoothie" suggests a light, sweet beverage that tastes like chocolate milk. In fact, this smoothie had so many flavors that I'm not sure what it was trying to be. Cinnamon was the dominating flavor, followed by spinach with a sharp pear aftertaste.

This recipe wasn't necessarily bad, but I didn't know what to make of it. The bag contains bananas, cherries, spinach, pears, dates, cashews, cacao and cinnamon. Spicy, earthy and fruity all in one--it's what you'd get when you're trying to clean out your freezer.

3. Frosé Keto Smoothie

If you enjoy lime margaritas, you might go for the Frosé Keto Smoothie. I liked the smoothie's bright pink shade, and strawberry, avocado, cauliflower, lemon zest and vanilla sound like a good combination, but the citrus was so strong that the drink was almost minty. I tried to focus on the strawberries, but I couldn't shake the sensation that I was drinking peppermint.

Still, this probably tastes good on a hot day when you want to lounge and imagine you're on a Caribbean vacation. Maybe add a lemon wedge to the rim to complete the "tropical drink" effect.

4. Purple Passion Fruit Smoothie

Fruit, berries and avocado: Purple Passion Fruit Smoothie had a good base, and the violet hue complemented the blueberries. However, the basil in this smoothie reminded me of pizza, which seemed wildly out of place. I appreciated the avocado's creaminess, but I couldn't taste the banana or lemon zest, and the strong basil flavor was like liquid lasagna.

Herbs have their place in smoothies, but I wouldn't choose one that usually accompanies hot, savory foods. To me, that's like throwing cheese or sausage in the blender. I got used to the taste after several sips, but I wouldn't buy it again.

5. Rollin' Oats Green Smoothie

Like previous varieties, Rollin' Oats Green Smoothie has a bit of everything. Cinnamon hits your tongue first, then blueberry with a strong fruity aftertaste. Oats make the drink heartier and earthier, and you can't taste the spinach, which was nice after the bitterness of the Berry Choco-Latte Green Smoothie.

It's hard to get a grasp on the flavor palette, but this unusual combination is a little more cohesive. It's like a refined version of the Chocolate Dream Smoothie, minus the cacao. If you need more fiber in your diet, this drink might be your solution.

6. Chocolate Peanut Butter Delite

Chocolate Peanut Butter Delite's smaller portion surprised me at first, but then I realized that Delites are probably intended for smoothie bowls, not full beverages. Anyway, this recipe doesn't quite taste like chocolate peanut butter pudding. The banana flavor shines while the cocoa is subtle, capturing the flavor of a banana coated in peanut butter.

The avocado made this recipe extra creamy. I enjoyed the texture, but the recipe was a little bland. A stronger cocoa flavor might've livened it up. Still, it's a decent option for a healthy-ish dessert.

7. Blueberry Muffin Delite

Despite the name, Blueberry Muffin Delite tastes nothing like a blueberry muffin. Surprisingly, apple was the dominant flavor, giving the smoothie a sharp, refreshing tang. The chickpeas were essentially flavorless, creating a blank canvas for the apple and berries.

I've had smoothies that convincingly tasted like muffin batter or a deconstructed peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but this was more like a mishmash of different fruits. You'll enjoy it if you appreciate the crisp, juicy bite of fresh apples.

8. Banana Bread Delite

Banana Bread Delite was my favorite because it's exactly what you'd expect. This variety looks and tastes just like a bowl of banana pudding. It's rich and creamy but not too sweet, and the walnuts add a welcome earthiness.

While it's high in sugar, it also has a decent amount of fiber, so try swapping out ice cream for one of these treats. You could easily dress it up with sliced bananas, crushed walnuts or a sprinkle of cinnamon.

What's the Verdict?

Frozen Garden is an acquired taste. Their smoothie kits are pretty adventurous, and if you're up for the challenge, you might find your new favorite beverage--or wish you'd chosen one of their tamer varieties.

I recommend Delites for beginners because they're a little cheaper and have more "ordinary" flavors. The full beverages tend to be more eclectic. Either way, you're undoubtedly getting more fruit, herbs and vegetables in your diet, and maybe that's more important than the vibes.

Have you tried Frozen Garden's products? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.