Snack Review: Smooze! Fruit Ice
I was a sucker for the romance of these when I saw them at my nemesis, Whole Foods. Made of little else besides coconut milk and fruit juice, they are “freshly packed at our farm located on the Equator in East Sumatra, Indonesia,” says the box. And so politically correct: “Our focus on environmental and ethical best practices ensures self sufficiency and sustainability.”
All that, and a delicious snack too? Is it possible? They say that they have “a constant supply of fresh, ripe fruits packed in optimal conditions within hours of picking.” It can’t get better than that, right? And only fifty calories each!
Anyway, they had me at “coconut milk.” It’s one of my weaknesses. There was no way I could avoid trying these.
I couldn’t decide what flavor, though. Hello, snack-makers! Please note: a variety pack is ALWAYS a good idea. Unfortunately, one was not offered in this case, so I had to make a choice. I am a huge fan of mango, as I often mention. But because, as a result, I am very opinionated about mango, I thought maybe that would be an unfair trial. Maybe passion fruit would be a better idea.
Good try. I bought the passion fruit flavor. But then I had to go back to the store and get mango also. The things I do for you, dear readers. I hope you appreciate it.
The first thing I discovered is that there are some definite technical difficulties with these cute little packages:
You’re supposed to be able to cut the top off and squeeze the ice out. But the ice just didn’t move no matter how I squeezed it, so I had to stick a knife in and cut down the two sides as well. It’s hard to appreciate a snack that makes me feel I’m at risk of ending up in the emergency room with a stab wound, you know? Fortunately, I eventually figured out that if I ran the package under the tap before I opened it, the outside of the ice would melt a little and then I could squeeze it up as intended.
Another issue is that although there are some emulsifier and stabilizer ingredients, the texture is sometimes inconsistent, like the coconut has sunk to the bottom while the freeze-at-home package was freezing, so that some bites are smoother and some are icier. This doesn’t bother me that much, but when you get a very coconut-milky bite it can have a kind of greasy mouthfeel that isn’t all that appealing.
As for the flavor, the passion fruit was just eh. Not a very strong fruit flavor and kind of sour or acidic in a way that was not really an asset. The mango is better. Rather muted by the coconut milk, probably by the fattiness of it. But OK. For both flavors, you can tell that these aren’t made in America because they are not very sweet. I haven’t gotten a chance to test them on any children (is there some reason they all run away when I approach them on the street?) but it is my guess that kids, American kids anyway, would likely not care for these, despite the fact that little squeeze-up ices seem like a treat for kids. The flavors and texture are too unusual.
My verdict is a decisive “I don’t know.” I wanted to love these so badly. I bet I will eventually eat all of both boxes. But would I buy them again? Not for a long time, anyway, because now I have two boxes that started out with ten ices each. I would definitely be more likely to buy them again if they come up with a variety pack so I could try the other flavors too, but otherwise, I just don’t know. They are a good idea, but they need work, on both the individual package and the contents. The text on the box sure does its job, though.
23 Comments
well read hostess on September 9th, 2008
I love these things, and Whole Foods has stopped carrying them! The “frozen foods” dude at Whole Foods told me that they only carried them for the summer! Yikes! I don’t know where to find them now. Anyone??
Crigg on September 13th, 2008
I bought mine in an asian supermarket, which makes sense because they are made in indonesia 
Linda on September 13th, 2008
I will have to defrost a couple of the mango and try them as a drink
next time I get Indian takeout, that sounds like a good idea.
carol on September 22nd, 2008
got the coconut and pineapple……..like a gift from GOD, now I know
what He does with his spare time…..However I got them in Omaha and
that is 6 hrs from where I live…..may try online order.
Wilhemenia on September 25th, 2008
In california, you can find them at an Asian market called Marukai in Torrance, Ca. I so agree with this review… although my 2 year old love it. Yes, it was very hard to open and my 2 year old had a hard time squeezing the juice up… then it would melt and oooze out over the sides instead. They need to rethink the design.
Linda A on September 26th, 2008
I was surprised that Whole Foods quit carrying them as well. They had been a best seller! Goofy. I’ll try the Asian markets here in Tampa. Thanks for the tip!
Franci on October 14th, 2008
My kids love those and they are a good alternative to ice cream.
I noticed right away upon seeing the cute little containers that they
would need running under a tap to loosen for the squeezing. *shrug*
BizCat on February 28th, 2009
My kids who are 6 and 3 LOVE the Smooze. They are great for travel because they come unfrozen, so you can travel with them and then freeze when you get to the destination. My kids like these better than ice cream. I have no probem getting them to move up, you do have to squeeze hard from the bottom.
The only issue I have is we are running low and do not have a Whole Foods within two hours, does anyone know wher to purchase these? We bought 25 of each box in September and now we are running low… yikes!
Rhonda on May 18th, 2009
They’re back at Whole Foods again (at least in my area…)
The pineapple-coconut ones make great pina colada mixers. Just cut them out of the containers and blend with a little rum!
ajohnson on June 18th, 2009
Shake up the box pretty good before you put them in the freezer. It will make the texture consistent for the whole thing, no more chunks of ice or just coconut milk.
KB on June 24th, 2009
I just discovered these at Whole Foods and I am addicted, The mango ones are so great! I find that they are easy to push up if you just wait a couple minutes after you open them. Yum!
am on July 6th, 2009
read that somewhere they exist in chocolate and coconut. These are the most refreshing delicious snacks…and great on calories. Does anyone know where I can buy them wholesale? Thanks,
julie on July 10th, 2009
where in tulsa oklahoma can I buy this for my kids
signed aunt gigi
missy on July 25th, 2009
I’m eating my first one and really like it. I got a flavor noone has mentioned - Pink Guava and I really like that its not overly sweet. Now that I have had the first one, I realize that shaking the box before freezing might have been good, although its fun to have a little difference in each bite. I have seen this packaging technique for years… as a little kid in summer camp, they used to give us ices in packages like this. I find it easy and neat.
Boone on August 2nd, 2009
LOVE these! Bought them on impulse from the huge display Whole Foods had at the checkout lines. I tried the pink guava and the passion fruit. Pink guava is a little too tart for my taste, and I wouldn’t buy again, but the passion fruit flavor is fantastic. I’ll be going back for several more boxes, and look forward to trying the other flavors, as well.
photon on August 5th, 2009
The guava ones are fantastic; not too tart, and if you let them sit for a second or two they become soft enough to easily squeeze out of the tube.
jas on August 7th, 2009
im eating one right now 
Cornwell125 on August 27th, 2009
As someone who grew up eating Mangoes …and miss them terrbile as i am away from home……….
Just love the mango one ……just had one infact ….
Great dessert without the guilt………
8 yrs old daughter loves them too ….
Christina on October 2nd, 2009
you guys can get them at K & S market if you’re in TN. I like the pink guava. I wish it was more creamy than icy… I agree the passion fruit isn’t that great.
Bre on October 17th, 2009
I found the pink guava ones at Whole Foods a couple of months ago and have become absolutely hooked. As in, addicted. As in, I have made special trips to Whole Foods, mid-shopping cycle, JUST because I ran out of these and had a craving. I’m a vegetarian, and typically an uber-healthy eater, so I decided I should probably get help for my problem until I looked at the nutritional information. You can’t beat 70 calories and only 9 grams of sugar! The passion fruit ones taste less sweet to me, so they’re not my favorite, but they’re still good. Haven’t yet tried the pineapple or mango. They’re less sweet than traditional popsicles, but for me, it’s the perfect amount of sweetness mixed with the creaminess of the coconut juice. I let it sit for about a minute after cutting open and can squeeze it up easily. I have found out that it’s definitely important to shake the box before freezing. If separation occurs, I like the icy bites but the coconut milk bites are way too creamy for me on their own. Shaking before freezing prevents this. It does take a full 15 hours for them to freeze, so some patience is required. I highly recommend this healthy, creamy, sweet, delicious frozen snack!
Jedi Nanny: Teething. « Red Sonika. on November 7th, 2009
[...] pop ended in more screaming, I stumbled upon my best idea perhaps ever: I gave Thing 2 an unopened Smooze Popsicle. (Link to a review of the Smooze which describes its actual food properties in a way consistent [...]
meeshiiee on November 16th, 2009
omgoshhh i love thesee =D
They’re so nicee =)
I had the mango oness, and for me they weren’t separated at all. I also found them quite easy to sqeeze out, lol. I don’t know how it’s that hard.
But I love themm =D I reckon that it’s good its not too sweet, because it would wreck the taste =)
Crigg on September 8th, 2008
mmmm I love the mango one! They also taste good as an ice cold drink. Loving Snackerrific btw!
