Smoothie, Fresh or Milkshake? Blend It Like a Russian

Would you like a fresh?  Up until two months ago, I had no idea that “fresh” can be a noun and a very popular one at that. It means freshly squeezed juice and is pronounced “fresh” – without a Russian translation. You can buy it at just about any coffee shop usually in orange, apple, and carrot, or a combination. Some places will offer their own recipes for what’s considered here a healthy, or even healing, pick-me-up featuring grapefruit, celery, beets and even garlic.

A smoothie is basically a blended concoction of fruits and veggies that you're likely to have more fun drinking than eating. The main difference is that here it’s often blended without ice, so you’re chugging a room-temperature soup-like thing that is supposed to be good for you. Expect the usual suspects like spinach and broccoli, but also cucumbers, dried fruit, yogurt and red onions.

If you’re ordering a milk shake and expecting a thick mixture of ice cream and fruit, think again. A Russian version of a milkshake is exactly that – full-fat milk “shaken” with a little bit of ice cream and fruit. It’s not necessarily cold and can be quite creative: one milkshake menu featured, for example, “Guatemala Ted" with coffee, banana, and milk. But the true taste of a Russian milk shake is not complicated. It’s just sweet and frothy, made with the cheapest vanilla ice cream, and full of delicious bubbles. For many of us, it’s the taste of our childhood.