We’re big fans of frozen fruit in our household. My daughter eats it straight from the bag like sweets from a candy jar, while I love the silky texture of sorbet made simply from fruit and water (add banana or avocado for creaminess), with a one-to-one ratio of frozen fruit to liquid making a perfect scoopable treat.
For this smoothie blend tasting, I focused mostly on supermarket own-brand berry and banana mixes, and blitzed them with just water on my blender’s smoothie setting (Love Struck is the only independent brand in the test).
I assessed banana-to-berry ratios, and the condition and taste of the fruit, looking at sweetness, acidity and smoothness. Blackberry and raspberry blends tend to have a slightly hairy texture, which I try to ignore, but offer more complexity and depth, while high-banana-content blends are sweeter, creamier and more texturally satisfying.
The mixes with a higher berry content seemed to be better value, not least because bananas are a cheap filler. Sadly, no supermarket brands were organic, which I find concerning, especially for strawberries, which, according to the Pesticide Action Network UK are among the most heavily sprayed crops. Unlike in the fresh produce aisle, few brands offer sourcing transparency, either.
The best frozen fruit smoothie mixes
Best overall:
Sainsbury’s berry banana smoothie mix
★★★★☆
This has a strawberry-dominant aroma with a bright, fruity flavour that’s led by sweet, ripe berries. A generous 70% strawberry content, giving this great flavour balance and making blending easier. A classic, clean smoothie base.
Best bargain:
Morrisons strawberry & banana smoothie mix
★★★★☆
There is a fragrant strawberry aroma and a lovely, clean strawberry flavour with just enough banana to round it out. The 70% strawberry content is sliced (better for blending in a low-powered blender) and in good condition. A great value mix and not too sweet.
And the rest:
Love Struck Berry-Go-Round
★★★★☆
A striking, deep berry red blend is on offer, with a subtly sweet, complex flavour because of the mix of strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. This is the only product tested without banana. The fruit quality is excellent. There’s a claim of “farm-to-cup transparency”, but no sourcing details are provided; it’s B Corp certified and has a strong impact report available online, though.
Love Struck Red, White & Blueberry
★★★★☆
Bright magenta when blended, with a harmonious, berry-forward flavour that’s not overly sweet. A thoughtful blend of strawberry, grape, banana and blueberry. Fruit quality is excellent. Individually wrapped portions create unnecessary packaging waste, though – the outer box is recyclable, but the inner bags must be recycled in-store.
Lidl Freshona strawberry & banana smoothie mix
★★★☆☆
This had a plastic aroma in the bag, but it whizzed up to a vibrant, candyfloss pink. Sweet with a subtle savoury edge and tang of acidity from the strawberries. Strawberries were in perfect condition, although perhaps a little under-ripe, while the bananas were slightly smushed but not overripe. A solid performer and good value.
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Asda summer fruits & banana smoothie mix
★★★☆☆
A fresh berry aroma and, once blended, a striking magenta colour. The flavour was harmonious with slight banana notes and prominent strawberry and deeper berry undertones. Mostly berries, all in good condition. Bananas were quite ripe and a bit crushed, but that adds natural sweetness. A solid blend and decent value.
Tesco berry smoothie mix
★★★☆☆
Banana-y aroma with a rich, forest-fruit purple colour when blended. The cherries and redcurrants give it a lovely, complex flavour with gentle sweetness and balanced acidity. Some fruit was slightly bashed, but overall ripe and visually appealing. A nice, varied mix.
M&S strawberry & banana smoothie mix
★★★☆☆
A nice red blend with a gentle, sweet-savoury flavour. Made with 70% strawberries, which were large, richly coloured and in great condition, and blended seamlessly. Mid-tier pricing, but premium feel overall with a natural flavour profile and solid performance.
Tesco strawberry & banana smoothie mix
★★★☆☆
Light pink once blended and not too sweet considering the 50:50 strawberry and banana mix. The berries were in good condition, while the bananas were slightly smushed but not overripe. A no-frills blend, although marginally pricier than some of the others.
Sainsbury’s very berry smoothie mix
★★★☆☆
A deep purple colour with a lovely, rich berry flavour that’s not too sweet. A broad mix of berries and banana, though the fruit was quite bashed up and mostly in small bits. A robust choice.