In March 2022, Instagram and Tik Tok went nuts over the Coconut Cloud smoothie, a collaboration between influencer Marianna Hewitt and Erewhon, LA’s most expensive grocery store chain. This collaboration ran through the month of March and went viral on all social media platforms.
I still remember when Marianna’s skincare brand, Summer Fridays, was released in 2018. The famous Jet Lag Sleeping mask was sold out in nearly every Sephora and I recall seeing girls heading straight to the Summer Fridays shelf. Basically, anything Marianna touches, becomes a viral sensation.
According to local news station KTLA5, the Erewhon Beverly location reported on March 10th that they had sold about 1,000 Coconut Cloud smoothies since its release on March 1st.
Since the smoothie was only going to be available until March 31st, I went to the new Erewhon in Studio City. Once I got there, I made a beeline to the bar and asked for it. The girl who took my order chuckled and said it was very popular.
Update: Because of the smoothie’s huge popularity, the Coconut Cloud smoothie is now a permanent menu item!
So, what are the ingredients?
Blue Majik – This is a spirulina extract that has many anti-inflammatory properties.
Malk almond milk – Plant-based milk made of almond, water, and sea salt.
Avocado
Banana
Almond butter
Vanilla collagen – A powder that contains anti-aging properties and supports joint health.
Vanilla stevia
Pineapple
Coconut cream
Summer Friday’s signature color is baby blue, so it makes sense that the smoothie is that same color.
Ten minutes later, the barista holding two Coconut Cloud smoothies called out my name and gave me mine. I went outside and sat in one of the chairs. Before I took a sip, a girl walked out with the other Coconut Cloud smoothie.
After snapping a few pictures and appreciating the marbled effect at the bottom, I used the straw to swirl the dark blue and make all the flavors blend together, as someone recommended doing on Instagram. The first taste I got was banana, lots of banana. As I kept sipping it, I could taste subtle hints of vanilla, but I did not detect avocado or pineapple. I also liked the touch of coconut cream, which gives the desired effect of a cloud, and paired really well with the rest of the ingredients. The consistency of the smoothie was the perfect combination of thick and creamy. The overall flavor was very fruity.
My honest rating is an 8/10. Was it life-changing? No. Would I get it again? Yes. Aside from the aesthetic, drinking it was a very enjoyable experience, especially on a warm LA day.
Many people find it abhorrent to pay this much for a smoothie. Truth is, if you were to get all the ingredients to make it yourself at home, you’d be shelling out about $60. Vanilla collagen is expensive, and the Malk Almond Milk retails for $7.49. As you read earlier, it’s not just fruits and milk that go into the making of the Coconut Cloud smoothie. Most smoothies and juices at Erewhon have an average price of $15-$17. Is the coconut cloud a meal replacement? I wouldn’t say so, but it will hold you up pretty well for a few hours.
The smoothie looks slightly different depending on the locations. In some of them, the blue marbling color tends to be more dominant than the rest of the smoothie. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but just know that your smoothie might not look identical to a picture you saw on Instagram.
Have you tried it? What do you think?
In late April, after a fueling workout at Sweat Cycle in Toluca Lake, I bit the bullet and went back a second time for the smoothie. This time, as you can see in the picture, the blue color is more predominant.
All I could taste was the blue spirulina mixed with the creamy texture of the coconut cream. I wish the girl who made my smoothie had added less spirulina to let the other ingredients come through. Overall, I preferred the flavor of the first smoothie because the ingredients were more balanced. As you can see, you’re not going to get the same smoothie every time.