Smashing!

Ok folks, it's time for the big dog. No more messing around with coffee and muffins. I've been holding out on this post only because I've been waiting to get a good picture. Unfortunately, I never have enough self restraint to wait to take a picture before finishing off the entire thing. And that's saying something because I have to order one almost every day, for real. I even got a free pumpkin, that's how committed I am.

Oh, you want to know what I'm talking about? You don't already know exactly what's coming next?

JAMBA JUICE PUMPKIN SMASH

I am not even kidding. The first time I saw a sign for the pumpkin smash was in the airport back home. I was tempted to buy it then but running short on time, and I was convinced they would have it at the one back at school (after all, Jamba was created in SLO) but lo! It was not to be so. I could not find the pumpkin smash anywhere, and when I asked the workers looked beyond puzzled by such an idea as a pumpkin smoothie. I was understandably heartbroken. So it was with great joy that I saw the signs in the window advertising the pumpkin smash on campus.

Perhaps one thing I love almost as much as pumpkin is a good smoothie, I'm a little bit of a Jamba nut, and I was psyched beyond belief for this. Thankfully, they did not disappoint. This has become the standard by which I measure all things pumpkin. It is cool and creamy, but with a very fine texture like real pumpkin. And the taste! Don't even get my started. Ok, fine, I'm starting. The spices are exactly like pumpkin pie, cinnamon and nutmeg, everything you could want, but the best part is that it actually tastes like pumpkin. And not fake pumpkin, or how people think pumpkin should taste. It's fresh and vibrant and actually stronger than the spices, but not in an overpowering way, everything is in perfect balance, the cool taste of vanilla ice cream, the fresh, slightly vegetable taste of the pumpkin, and that familiar pumpkin pie flavoring.

There are, however, some negatives, none of them having to do with the smoothie so much as Jamba Juice. First, an original size will set you back a little over $5, even a sixteen is $4 something. In addition, this thing has about all the nutritional value of drinking a piece of pie, I think the smallest has somewhere in the high 300 range. Of course, I would gladly spend an extra half-hour at the gym in order to enjoy this every day, but it's mainly the impact on my wallet the prevents me from buying this on a daily basis. I am truly afraid for the day that this goes out of season, I might cry a little.... On the inside, of course.

But really, buy this drink. If you like pumpkin, pumpkin pie, or are just a fan of delicious flavor. It's a unique texture for those that aren't used to it, but it is not in any way unpleasant or detracting. So do it, now. And let me have some, I'm kind of going broke here.