It’s easy to get the same thing every time you go to Jamba Juice. Why take a risk when all you want is some fruity hydration? Every week we will take the risk and review a different, less common smoothie flavor. So take the plunge and try something new.

Matcha Green Tea Blast

According to Jamba Juice’s promotional materials, “the power of Matcha, with antioxidants, theophylline and caffeine, makes this a blast.” This smoothie is part of their new line of “Totally Tea Smoothies.” I ordered it without additional boosts to get the purest estimation of its flavor and texture.

The drink’s color is a mysterious green somewhere between seaweed and the mucus associated with a sinus infection. The granular appearance suggests the drink’s texture: creaminess punctuated by crunchy ice crystals. The aroma is dominated by dairy, resembling vanilla ice cream (though the drink is actually made with nonfat frozen yogurt). The same presence of dairy envelopes the front of the palate on the first sip.

It’s followed by strong citrus notes and hints of ripe fruits, including pineapple and banana. The drink finishes with a whiff of the eponymous green tea. Overall, it closely resembles the green tea ice cream offered in some Japanese restaurants.

As for the psychological effects of matcha green tea, at first they proved disappointing. I felt nothing out of the ordinary as I biked down Santa Teresa away from Jamba Juice. Just then, I heard a screech of tires and everything went black.

I can’t vouch for what happened after that, but when I came to, a guy said it appeared that I had “stopped the car with my mind.” Also, I had achieved Nirvana. So let me just say this: Harry Potter dies in book seven, riding a unicycle stopped being cool and quirky about a year ago and watching a season of 24 isn’t worth 24 hours of your life. I could tell you more, but wouldn’t it be easier to try the drink yourself?