Last week, we did a Starbucks secret menu taste test. This week, we’re continuing our Secret Menu Series with Jamba Juice, home to one of the most popular secret menus on the Internet.
Jamba Juice’s extensive secret menu includes unofficial drinks created by Jamba Juice fans in different parts of the world. “Fans,” our Jamba Juice guy stressed. “Not employees?” we pressed. “Fans,” he said again.
Yes, the guy we ordered from was pretty tight-lipped, claiming he has yet to taste the secret drinks. He was nice though and seemingly amused by our eagerness to order the underground drinks. “Are you going to try them all?” he asked us.
Some Jamba Juice employees are more willing to talk than others. I remember one guy telling me that they had a better recipe for Pink Starburst than the one I provided.
Your favorite Jamba Juice branch may not recommend any secret drinks but if you know the name of the drink or in some cases, the recipe, they will gladly make it for you. We tried eight of them.
Pink Star
The recipe: 6 oz lemonade + 6 oz soymilk + 1 scoop pineapple sherbet + 1 scoop raspberry sherbet + 1 scoop lime sherbet + 1 scoop orange sherbet + strawberries
What it’s supposed to taste like: Pink Starburst candies— my favorite Starburst flavor.
What it tastes like: Exactly like Pink Starburst candies.
The verdict: This was the first secret menu drink I tried and it kind of blew my mind. This was my favorite until I tried White Gummy and Skittles.
The cost: P155
Red Gummy
The recipe: 6 oz mixed berry juice + 2 oz soy milk + 1 scoop of lime sherbet + 1 scoop of orange sherbet + 1 scoop of pineapple sherbet + 1 scoop of raspberry sherbet + 1 scoop of strawberries
What it’s supposed to taste like: Red gummy bears
What it tastes like: Like red yummy gummy bears.
The verdict: We really liked this one. It was both sweet and refreshing, a great choice for both kids and adults.
The cost: P155
Tip: Don’t do what our friend Giff did. He added whey to his Red Gummy order, ruining the taste.
White Gummy
The recipe: 6 oz peach juice + 2 oz soy milk + 1 scoop of lime sherbet + 1 scoop of orange sherbet + 1 scoop of pineapple sherbet + 1 scoop of raspberry sherbet + 1 scoop of mangoes
What it’s supposed to taste like: White gummy bears
What it tastes like: White gummy bears.
The verdict: This drink is more sour than the Red Gummy and we like that we can taste the pineapples. Delicious. This one gets two thumbs-up—and a lot of people share our opinion. White Gummy is one of the most popular drinks on the secret menu.
The cost: P155
Tip: Try the other Gummy drinks too—they also have green, blue and pink and chocolate-covered gummy variants.
Bubblegum Blast
The recipe: 6 oz low-calorie dairy base + 7 oz soymilk + 2 scoops of frozen yogurt + 2 scoops of strawberries + 1 scoop of pineapple sherbet
What it’s supposed to taste like: Bubble gum
What it tastes like: Not like bubble gum. It tasted okay even though it was a little bland but it was lacking the bubble gum taste I was expecting.
The verdict: I can only blame myself. This drink doesn’t even appear on a lot of Jamba Juice secret recipe websites. I just jumped the gun because I love bubblegum-flavored ice cream and I thought I’d love this. Skip this one. It wasn’t bad but there are a lot of better choices both on the official and the secret menus.
Skittles
The recipe: 1 cup peach lemonade + 1 scoop lime sherbet + 2 scoops frozen yogurt + 2 scoops frozen strawberries
What it’s supposed to taste like: Skittles!
What it tastes like: Skittles! Like a handful of Skittles—if your hand had more green Skittles in them. We love that lime taste.
The verdict: Love this. In fact, I think I’ve found what will become my regular drink at Jamba Juice. In the US, controversy has surrounded Skittles since they changed the flavor of the green Skittles in the Original packs from lime to green apple earlier this year. People have ranted, protested and started petitions to change it back to lime (I’m with them). But at least in the world of Jamba Juice, that perfect Skittles rainbow still includes our beloved lime.
Butterfinger
The recipe: 2 oz carrot juice + 8 oz chocolate base + 2 scoops of peanut butter + 2 scoops frozen yogurt
What it’s supposed to taste like: Butterfinger—the chocolate bar with the orange-colored crisp and flaky peanut buttery center.
What it tastes like: Like someone blended a Butterfinger and put it in a cup. It’s kind of freaky.
The verdict: Don’t be put off by its color (or its lack of orangeness). This tastes exactly like the chocolate bar. Delicious and very sweet. If you like Butterfinger, you’ll like this one.
Chocolate-covered Strawberries
The recipe: Chocolate Moo’d Smoothie + 1 scoop frozen yogurt + 1 scoop strawberries
What it’s supposed to taste like: Chocolate-covered strawberries
What it tastes like: A little like chocolate-covered strawberries
The verdict: We love chocolate-covered strawberries, even willingly overpaying for them in gourmet chocolate shops, so we had high hopes for this one. But we wish this smoothie version of our beloved sweet treat had a more intense strawberry taste.
Thank You Jesus
The recipe: 6 oz lemonade + 6 oz soymilk + 3 scoops strawberries + 1 scoop pineapple sherbet + 1 scoop lime sherbet
What it’s supposed to taste like: We’re not really sure. Maybe a smoothie so good it will make you say “Thank you Jesus”?
What it tastes like: A refreshing tart and tangy smoothie.
The verdict: It’s pretty heavenly—if you’re into sour drinks.
Tip: This is different from Hello Jesus, the Jamba Juice secret drink which contains a mix of peach juice, soy milk, lime sherbet, orange sherbet and strawberries.