With The Orange Peel, smoothies of summer have come to Springville
A honeydew, kiwi, pear, and lychee smoothie; a Brazilian smoothie and an avocado and vanilla smoothie are available at The Orange Peel, a juice and smoothie shop located in Springville.
The Orange Peel's smoothies come sealed tight with plastic film that you poke through with a straw.
The Orange Peel, a popular juice and smoothie shop, now has a Springville location. It includes a drive-thru.
The Orange Peel's wall art says it all.
A honeydew, kiwi, pear, and lychee smoothie; a Brazilian smoothie and an avocado and vanilla smoothie are available at The Orange Peel, a juice and smoothie shop located in Springville. Visit heraldextra.com/ticket to read a review.
I fell victim to the boba craze about two years ago. You can find them in nearly every other drink shop in the area now. Bubble Tea/Boba Smoothies or “pearl teas” — which are usually not even tea-based, at least in Utah — are smoothies and drinks with chewy tapioca balls thrown in the bottom of the cup. While it might seem unnatural at first, my drinks seem lacking without boba now — almost like ordering chocolate chip cookies without any chocolate.
I’ll further admit my smoothie devotion was magnified after traveling to Taiwan and partaking of fresh fruit juice and smoothies on a daily basis. They go far beyond adding the tapioca pearls and will even include coconut bits and passion fruit seeds, among other things. The offerings in the U.S. just don’t compare.
But, smoothies and summertime are as ubiquitous a pairing as Utah and ice cream or chips and salsa. They go together … and that’s the way it should be.
Those who have traveled the state may have seen The Orange Peel in Saint George or Sandy. The Springville juice bar and smoothie shop is a colorful place operating in what seems like perpetual summer — a.k.a. heaven?
As far as the smoothies go, there’s a few different taste bud trips one can take depending on how nutritious and healthy you’re feeling. Route No. 1: Bubble Tea Smoothies. One of the most popular at this shop is the Avocado Vanilla Almond Bubble Tea. While avocado might seem like an irregular choice, this beverage is creamy, sweet and fantastic. You can sub out sugar for sugarless sweeteners or honey — I personally go with honey. We also tried a Thai Coconut Pina Colada with Fresh Strawberries. This happens to also be a Bubble Tea favorite at the location, including ours among the many we ordered.
(One fun thing about the drinks at The Orange Peel that is reminiscent of beverages prepared in Asia: Instead of flat or domed lids, all cups are sealed tight with a plastic film you poke through with a straw.)
Route No. 2: Fresh Fruit (non-dairy) Smoothies. From the Tropical options, we sampled the Brazilian which is a blend of passion fruit with strawberries and peaches. For those that like more exotic flavors, Roses Are Red might pique your interest. This rich, red drink is made up of strawberries, raspberries and rose petal infusion. The floral tones were unmistakable.
Route No. 3: Cold Pressed Organic Juices. For you healthy heavyweights, these options will fill your daily fix. 100 percent raw juice, these picks pack a nutritious punch. The Green Ghandi is exactly that — a blend of mostly green veggies including spinach, kale, parsley, celery and green apple. It’s not overly sweet since its lone fruit is tart apple, so ends up being a little more savory.
The menu at The Orange Peel is honestly expansive. If there’s a fruit or combo you want, it probably already exists. Ninety-five percent of their menu is beverages. They offer some pre-packaged snacks like chips and cookies and also have soft pretzels with a surprisingly tasty honey mustard dipping sauce — for you fellow honey mustard connoisseurs.
A bonus for your taste buds on this road trip: the drive thru, letting you “peel in and peel out.” It’s a convenience that just doesn’t exist at many other juice and smoothie shops in the area, but is helpful when you’re on the go to work, from the gym or running life’s endless errands.
THE ORANGE PEEL
Hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday.
Where: 1850 W. 500 South, Springville
Prices: $3-$7
Info: (801) 491-1029 or theorangepeel.biz