I bet you really want to know why bananas overpower smoothies.
I’m sure you love a morning (or afternoon or evening) smoothie just as much as I do.
It’s a great way to get a substantial hit of your five-a-day all in one go.
And who doesn’t love adding a banana to a smoothie?
However, regardless of what other ingredients you add, your smoothie always tastes…
Hmm, well, bananaish.
I shall now explain why this happens and what you can do about it.
The main reason that bananas overpower smoothies is due to the organic compound isoamyl acetate. The compound is naturally produced in ripening fruit and has an extremely strong odor, often described as similar to banana or pear. You can sweeten your smoothie with fruits like berries or apples to mask the banana taste. Then again, a squeeze of lemon or lime or a dash of apple cider vinegar will provide acid to counteract the sweetness of bananas. There are also plenty of ingredients other than bananas that you can use in your smoothie.
1. What Is Isoamyl Acetate?
Well, that organic compound isoamyl acetate certainly has a lot to answer for.
However, it is isoamyl acetate’s extremely strong odor that is overpowering your morning smoothie.
It is a compound that is naturally produced in ripening fruit and has an odor very similar to banana or pear.
Isoamyl acetate is actually widely used to flavor a variety of foods.
Oddly enough, there is a tiny amount produced in a bee sting.
This will also explain why the compound also happens to attract bees.
So, if ever you find yourself being chased by a bee while holding a banana, now you know why.
However, isoamyl acetate and its uses don’t end there.
Oh no!
It is often added to a variety of everyday items to improve their smell.
This can range from perfumes, aftershaves, and even shoe polish.
Who would have thought that the “essence of banana odor” had so many uses?
2. Should You Go Extra Sweet or Extra Sour in Your Smoothie?
There are a few ways you can mask the taste of bananas in your smoothie, depending on your preference.
So, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be looking for the sweet option.
The best way that I have found is to add sweet fruits, such as berries or apples.
In fact, I have a preference for frozen berries, and I always have a bag or two in the freezer.
That being said, it may take more than just a handful of berries to mask the banana taste.
This is something that you’ll need to be wary of if you’re watching your weight or your intake of sugar.
As “healthy” as fruits are purported to be, they do contain a lot of fructose.
It’s not unheard of to pack on the pounds just by digesting an excess of fruit.
If you’re looking to go the other route, then you can add a dash of acid to counteract the sweetness of bananas.
A simple squeeze of lemon or lime or a dash of apple cider vinegar should do the trick.
Just make sure you don’t go overboard, as this will completely change the flavor.
3. What Can Replace Bananas in Smoothies?
Finally, if you just can’t hack the overpowering banana taste in your smoothie, it may be time to find a suitable alternative.
Unfortunately, you’re never going to find a like-for-like replacement.
Plus, if you’re looking at a particularly sweet fruit, then you could have the same problems all over again.
Mango is a great alternative in terms of taste and sweetness, but you will still always taste “just mango.”
Realistically, you should look to replace the consistency that bananas provide to your smoothie.
Bananas ensure that your smoothie has the desired thickness.
You can then just add a dash of honey for the sweet taste.
Some alternatives to bananas include:
- Oatmeal
- Zucchini
- Avocado
- Chia Seeds
- Silken Tofu
- Yogurt
Now, I know some of these sound absolutely disgusting, but you won’t even notice them once you add other ingredients.
In fact, I regularly add spinach to my sweet smoothie just for the nutritional benefits.
And not once have I ever actually “tasted” spinach.
Seven Smoothies NO BANANAS
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the main reason that bananas overpower smoothies is due to the presence of isoamyl acetate.
This organic compound does have a very strong odor, so bananas will be prone to overpowering anything they come into contact with.
You can attempt to mask the banana taste with a variety of ingredients based on your preference for a sweeter or more acidic-tasting smoothie.
Then again, you can simply replace bananas with other ingredients in order to accomplish the same smoothie consistency.
If you find you are getting somewhat addicted to your fruit smoothies, find out why you crave bananas.