We Tried That: Smoothie King Refreshers Offer a Kick of Caffeine in 4 Flavors
Refreshers are the first beverages from Smoothie King that are served over ice.
Published May 28 2024, 12:57 p.m. ET
During the warmer months, some people look forward to ice cream and even snow cones. Others, however, use the heat as the perfect opportunity to indulge in ice cold smoothies, and for many, Smoothie King is their go-to chain for just that. But now, the chain is rolling out Smoothie King Refreshers as the restaurant's first ever drink served over ice, and we tried them to see if they're a new potential staple for a cold refreshing drink.
It is in the name, after all. And the SK Refreshers come in four different flavors — Pineapple Mango, Strawberry Guava, and a lemonade version of each of those. The drinks also offer Vitamin A and E antioxidants. Though perhaps more importantly for some, SK Refreshers also have the added punch of caffeine, and that can be a major selling point.
We tried Smoothie King Refreshers.
In order to really get a feeling for the flavors offered in the SK Refreshers line, we tried all four drinks. And if you're looking for something that's a little tame on the sweetness, then you'll want the Strawberry Guava, since it still has strong strawberry flavors but without any added sweetness that might be overpowering.
On the flip side, the Pineapple Mango is a little light on the pineapple and almost tastes watered down. Again, if you're into drinks that you prefer to be less sweet, this could be the one for you, but it wasn't our fave by far.
That brings us to the lemonade versions of the SK Refreshers. The lemonade version of the Pineapple Mango is just tart enough, with tropical notes and a strong flavor that isn't too sour or even too sweet.
The lemonade version of the Strawberry Guava also offers that tartness associated with lemonade, but mostly, it has a bit more sweetness and flavor than the standard Strawberry Guava SK Refresher. So if you want to know which flavors we prefer, we highly recommend opting for either of the lemonade options.
How much caffeine is in a Refresher from Smoothie King?
SK Refreshers come in three different sizes: 20, 32, and 44 ounces. Each one contains a different amount of caffeine, but the 20-ounce cups of SK Refreshers have 63 mg of caffeine. That's a solid pick-me-up in the middle of the day or even at the end of the day on your commute home from work. Right now, you can get a 20-oz SK Refresher at locations nationwide starting at $4.49.
Smoothie King also has a promotion involving free access to hotel pools.
There's just something about the summer months that makes you want to find a hotel with a pool and get access to said pool for the duration of your stay. No? Just us? Well, either way, Smoothie King is offering select customers the chance to enjoy hotel pools without paying for a night's stay, and it's all pegged to the SK Refreshers.
According to the press release: "Smoothie King is offering a free $50 ResortPass credit to select guests with the purchase of a SK Refresher. Simply upload a valid SK Refresher receipt from Smoothie King to SKStayRefreshed.com to be entered for a chance to redeem a voucher to book a hotel day-pass for pool access without paying a nightly room fee."
No, it doesn't guarantee you a hotel day-pass this summer. But it gives you a chance to win access to a pool without paying for more than a Smoothie King Refresher. Just remember not to toss that receipt as soon as you get it.
