Smoothies are made using natural ingredients, e.g. fruits and juices, yogurt, honey, green tea, some even contain chocolate or peanut butter. Many smoothies are made using ice or frozen fruit/juice. Similar to milkshakes in that their consistency is thicker than slushie drinks; yet unlike milkshakes, smoothies are usually non-dairy – though some recipes do contain yogurt.

Smoothies are sweet, contain fresh fruit and are nutritional.  Because of this, they appeal to a wide range of people, many age groups, as well as the health-conscious.

To gain a thick and creamy texture, many smoothie recipes call for bananas as an ingredient.  This is also true of yogurt and honey. Smoothies can also be made using cola or even alcohol to make a cocktail.