National Smoothie Day

October is recognized as World Smoothie Month, but the United States celebrates its own National Smoothie Day on June 21. A delicious and healthy drink gets twice the recognition!

History

National Smoothie Day honors the evolution of this drink, which began with the invention of the first electric blender in 1922. By 1926, the Orange Julius company had opened, selling fresh juice cocktails, considered the first versions of smoothies. In the 1930s, smoothies started appearing in health food stores across California, Oregon, and Washington.

In 1964, the Orange Julius orange smoothie was named the official drink of the World’s Fair in New York. Later, in 1973, Steven and Cindy Kuhnau opened a smoothie bar in Kenner, Louisiana, which grew into Smoothie King. In 1990, Kirk Perron launched Jamba Juice in San Luis Obispo, California, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe followed in 1997 in Destin, Florida. By 2004, green smoothies featuring vegetables and green fruits became a healthy eating trend. Given their refreshing nature, smoothies are especially popular in the summer, making June 21—the first day of summer in the U.S.—the perfect date for National Smoothie Day.

Interesting Facts

– The origin of the term “smoothie” is unclear. According to Steven Kuhnau, hippies coined the term in the late 1960s.
– Jamba Juice began as a student project by Kirk Perron at Cal Poly.

How to Take Part

Celebrate this delightful holiday with creativity:

1. Host a smoothie party with friends and share your favorite recipes.
2. Experiment by creating your own unique smoothie recipe using unusual ingredients.
3. Play a game of smoothie sommelier—mix a drink while the sommelier waits in another room, then challenge them to identify all the ingredients by taste.

When is National Smoothie Day in 2025?

National Smoothie Day is observed annually on June 21.

Observations