Since the aggressive heat of California won’t quit, grabbing a cold, refreshing, fruity drink is tempting. The Bark compared the strawberry-banana smoothies at four different locations across Marin County: Jamba Juice in Greenbrae, Planet Juice in San Rafael, Nekter Juice Bar in Strawberry, and World Wraps in Corte Madera. The smoothie shops were ranked based on taste, texture, affordability, and atmosphere. 

Jamba Juice (4.5 stars)

Jamba Juice, located in Bon Air Center in Greenbrae, has definitely perfected its formula for making smoothies. Their strawberry-banana smoothie is sweet and thick, with the perfect ratio of ice cream to juice. This smoothie could definitely be considered by some to be excessively sweet, as one can often taste the two added scoops of ice cream. Jamba Juice has a buzzing atmosphere and the workers are surprisingly enthusiastic. The smoothies are moderately priced at a cost of $4.89 for a 16 oz. cup. 

Planet Juice (2 stars)

Planet Juice is located in Montecito Plaza in San Rafael and has strawberry-banana smoothies that are extremely sweet and rich. The smoothie is very similar to the flavor of sherbet and gives off an unnatural taste, similar to the artificial fruit flavor of a Skittle. This smoothie is only enjoyable if someone is craving a very sweet beverage. Planet Juice’s atmosphere is reminiscent of a small, cozy, beach restaurant, and it offers an assortment of foods as well. However, the large amount of candy, soda, and toys around the restaurant gives it a tacky ambience. Planet Juice’s cheapest smoothie is priced at $3.95 for a 16 oz cup.

Nekter Juice Bar (5 stars)

Nekter Juice Bar, located in Tiburon’s Strawberry Shopping Center, definitely produces the highest quality strawberry-banana smoothie of the bunch. Though the smoothies are the most expensive out of the four locations, priced at $5.50 for a 16 oz. cup, they are by far the most delicious. The smoothies have a rich taste without being overly sweet, and the authentic taste reassures buyers that it was made with fresh ingredients. The smoothie’s texture was a little on the thick side, but that didn’t take away from the flavor. Furthermore, Nekter’s atmosphere screams Marin County with a large variety of organic and healthy options, along with many desserts such as the Acai Bowl.

World Wraps (3.5 stars)

World Wraps, located at Town Center in Corte Madera, is a convenient place for Redwood students to grab a smoothie. Even though World Wraps claims their smoothies are “bursting with flavor,” they are, in fact, far from it. The watery consistency gives them a bland flavor, and though refreshing on a hot day, the smoothies are too liquidy and not sweet enough. World Wraps is designed to be a place to get a quick bite to eat, making the atmosphere feel busy and active. The smoothies are priced inexpensively at $3.99 for a 16 oz. cup.