DESTIN Fla. Tropical Smoothie Café said it is adding a line of green tea and coffee smoothies in 35 of its 275 stores with hopes of rolling out those that test successfully systemwide in the first quarter of 2009.
The green tea smoothies are made with a powdered, concentrated green tea and nonfat yogurt. One of the green tea smoothies also has peaches and pomegranate, another has pineapple and lime, a third has cranberry and orange, and a fourth has kiwi and orange.
The coffee smoothies all begin with cappuccino flavor, brewed coffee and nonfat yogurt. One variety has sliced almonds added, another has cinnamon and a third has Ghirardelli caramel and white chocolate. A fourth flavor, already on the menu as a dessert offering called Mocha Madness, features regular Ghirardelli chocolate. Sales of that smoothie have spiked in the stores where it has been promoted as part of the new coffee smoothie line, said Barbara Valentino, vice president of marketing and communications for Destin-based Tropical Smoothie.
All of the smoothies are served in 24-ounce cups for $4.99. Tropical Smoothie said it promoting the new line with 11-by-17-inch counter cards.