Despite my best intentions, I often struggle to incorporate smoothies into my daily routine. 

Initially, I start off strong, spending time peeling, chopping, and prepping. But within a week or so, I usually find myself losing momentum, either because I forget, don't have all the right ingredients, don’t have time to clean up, or simply get too busy to make time for it.

This is why I was initially skeptical when I came across kencko. The idea of a small packet of freeze-dried fruits and vegetables containing the same nutrients as whole fruits and vegetables seemed too good to be true. Even if it lived up to the nutrient profile of its whole-food counterpart, will it even taste the same?

But I was intrigued enough to give it a try.

Skepticism

My initial skepticism was fueled by three factors… 

I wasn’t sure how the process would impact the taste and texture of the smoothie, and my biggest concern was that the flavor and consistency of the smoothie might be compromised, making it undrinkable.

Plus I had concerns about the quality of the ingredients used in freeze-dried smoothies. Are there additives, sweeteners, and fillers? Even if there were no additives, I was also concerned if the freeze-drying process would somehow affect the nutritional value of the smoothie.

Finally, I was hesitant because of the cost. I knew from past experiences trying smoothie delivery services that they usually cost more than buying all the ingredients yourself and making it. As a result, I assumed that kencko would also cost more than making everything myself.

Taste & Texture

When I received my first kencko box, I was excited to finally try these freeze-dried smoothies but unsure if the smoothies would live up to the hype.

In my initial box I received a mix of flavors, including yellows, greens, and crimsons. Having a sweet tooth, I opted to try the yellows first. Since I wanted to get a sense of the taste and texture, I mixed with water. 

I could immediately taste the sweetness of the pineapple, mango, and apple. The flavor was bright and refreshing, with a great balance of tanginess and sweetness. I was impressed by how the freeze-drying process seemed to lock in the flavors of the fruits.

But there was something that was just slightly off. Using water made for a lighter smoothie than I’m used to drinking. For my next one, I decided to follow kencko’s advice and mix it with a base milk. I chose almond.

That was the key! 

Incorporating milk into the mix boosted the flavor profile, giving it a tropical taste akin to a fruity pina colada, and improved the consistency to my liking.

As I continued trying the different smoothies in my box, I learned more about what works best to bring out the flavor and texture. For example, if you’re someone that likes thicker smoothies like me, test out using oat milk as a base.

If I don’t have any milks on hand, what I’ll do is pour a kencko packet into my blender and pop in whatever fruits and veggies I have laying around along with about 1 cup of water. This not only allows me to use up any produce I have but it also adds an extra boost of texture and nutrients to the smoothie. I’ve found that kencko smoothies act as a great base for experimenting with different fruit and vegetable combinations. 

Ingredients

While I was surprised and impressed with the taste and texture of the smoothies, it still left me wondering about the quality of the ingredients.

Astonishingly, I discovered that each packet contained only whole fruits and vegetables, with no additional sweeteners, fillers, or artificial ingredients. To be honest, I had to double-check to make sure I wasn't missing anything because I was amazed that such rich and flavorful smoothies could be made with just freeze-dried fruits and vegetables.

What about the freeze-drying process? Doesn’t that somehow reduce the nutritional profile of the smoothie?

Apparently not!

 Studies have shown that even though freeze-dried fruits and vegetables may contain slightly lower levels of certain vitamins, they still retain high amounts of antioxidants and fiber. The consensus among researchers is that the loss of nutrients during freeze-drying is negligible.

Cost

My usual smoothies consist of a banana, some leafy greens like kale and spinach, blueberries, strawberries, and any other seasonal fruits I have on hand. All in, it usually costs me around $2 to $4 per smoothie to make everything at home (not including any added protein or a milk base like almond or oat milk). 

Depending on your subscription, the cost of kencko's smoothies (around $2.50 to $3 per serving) was competitive with the cost of making my own smoothies at home.

The real cost savings for me is time.

Preparing my own smoothies at home can take anywhere from 10-20 minutes, between buying everything, washing and cutting the fruits and vegetables, blending them, and cleaning up afterwards. Adding that up can lead to about an hour or two per week just making smoothies.

The flexibility of kencko’s smoothies allows me to save time. 

Final Thoughts

After giving kencko's smoothies a shot, I was astonished by the taste and nutritional value they provided. The fact that they were made using only freeze-dried whole fruits and vegetables with no added sugars or artificial ingredients is quite shocking.

As I delved deeper into the ingredients and the cost of the smoothies, my initial skepticism started to fade. The cost of kencko's smoothies was fairly competitive with the cost of making my own smoothies at home, and the convenience they offered was the cherry on top for me. 

I highly recommend giving kencko a shot if you're looking for a super convenient way to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet.

If you’d like to read more about my experience using kencko, including an unboxing and taste test, you can read my full review of kencko here.