This blackberry and apple green smoothie is a great way to start the day, and has an added extra helping of spinach for that healthy boost. Vegetarian, Vegan, Paleo Friendly. Freeze into ice lolly moulds for a refreshing and healthy popsicle.
Do you think of blackberries as an autumn fruit? So do I, but in fact farmed blackberries are in season in the UK from May through to November. Despite its name the blackberry is not actually a true berry, but rather an aggregate fruit made up of a number of small drupelets.
Farmed blackberries are rather different from the hedgerow varieties and on a sunny day last month I headed off to family owned Clock House Farm in Kent to learn more Driscoll’s Victoria Sweet blackberries
Driscolls Victoria sweet blackberries are completely unlike the smaller versions of the fruit found in many hedgerows. Large, sweet and with a rounded flavour, they have a rich, almost wine-like flavour.
They’re grow on farms throughout the UK; the young plants are kept in cold storage, then planted in greenhouses or in the field, at staggered dates to ensure a constant supply.
Each fruit is handpicked (as you can see above) to ensure peak ripeness and flavour. The farmers are dedicated to making sure the fruit passes Driscoll’s exacting quality control standards. This type of blackberry is thornless, so picking is not the prickly experience you will know from when foraging in the hedgerow.
In the greenhouse the plants are around 3 meters tall and the fruit from the top of them is harvested from these rather whizzy electric carts that run on rails between the rows of blackberries. Read more about the farm at the end of the post.
But back to the recipe – blackberry and apple is a classic combination; more usually used in pies and crumbles, which works very well in a glass. I added a pinch of spice to hint at a classic crumble, you barely know it is there, but it adds another subtle layer of flavour which you would miss if it were absent.
You really cannot taste the spinach in this at all, and it is a bonus way to eat some extra vegetables first thing in the morning.
I use a power blender for my smoothies with about half the fruit being frozen. If your blender is not as high powered then chill your ingredients overnight.
Blackberry and apple pie green smoothie in a glass, with an added (and undetectable) portion of green veg. Vegan and Paleo Friendly.
Freeze into ice lolly moulds for a refreshing and healthy popsicle.
- 1 apples (chopped, core discarded)
- 70 g grapes (I used black)
- 120 g blackberries
- 1 banana
- 1 large handful spinach
- 10 g oats
- 5 tbs linseed or flax seeds (ground)
- pinch ground all spice
- pinch ground cinnamon
- Enough water to blend
- 1 tsp mixed seeds
- 1 sprig fresh mint
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Place all the ingredients into your blender and whizz until smooth adding more water if necessary.
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Enjoy immediately.
- Use gluten free oats to make this blackberry and apple smoothie gluten free
- You can use frozen bananas, grapes and/or blackberries, if your bender is not powerful enough chill all the ingredients overnight in the fridge before making
- Remove the oats to make it Whole 30
- This recipe is 12 Weight Watchers Smart Points
- Freeze into ice lolly moulds for a refreshing and healthy popsicle
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The vast greenhouse that the blackberries grow in.
Driscolls farmers are committed to being as green as they can, they use biomass generators for heat, and natural pollination from bees. The plants are fed and watered by high tech completer systems, using just enough for optimum growth.
Later in the season production is moved to the fields where the blackberries are grown in pots, under cover. Accommodation is provided in static mobile homes for the army of pickers.
Recipe for Blackberry & Apple Green Smoothie commissioned by Driscoll’s® Victoria Sweet Blackberries. All opinions are our own.
Driscolls strawberries growing on raised beds at Clockhouse Farm – far easier to harvest than the rows growing in the fields when I picked as a student.
For another use for blackberries, make my Mini Fruit Tart Canapés with Creme Patissiere
Gill Bland
After ODing on spinach recently I seem to have developed a slight intolerance to it – I wonder if this would solve that. May have to give it a go. I was also surprised to see blackberries recently. I suppose it shows how ignorant I have become to the real seasons of fruit and veg.
Helen
Farm grown fruit does knock the seasons out a little.
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry
I am still not brave enough to add greens to a smoothie but I am working on it. Cant wait for blackberries to make an appearance in my corner of the world.
Helen
Go for it! Just add a handful of spinach.
Molly Louise
I’ve got a vitamix arriving tomorrow, and going blackberrying on Saturday, so will most definitely be trying out your delicious recipe!
Helen
Oh do let me know. I am obsessed by my Vitamix!
Gloria
I love the blackberries you can buy in the supermarket, so big and juicy. This is a delicious way of making a healthy smoothie, love the way you sneak the spinach in.
Helen
They are lovely plump berries aren’t they.
Kelly Watson
It’s great to know that the blackberries are grown on British soil, all very interesting. Reminds me of university days, I’d always get a summer job fruit picking. Loved it.
Helen
I imagine it was a fun way to spend the summer.
Dan
Another great smoothie recipe. Although I really need to get myself a better blender, mine never come out right.
Helen
A power blender will always do the job better.
Zara Douglas
This sounds delicious Helen. I love blackberries, such a lovely flavour, never too sweet.
Helen
Delicious and not overly sweet.
Amy
I use blackberries a lot, we have them with our overnight oats and fruit salads. Great idea to make a smoothie with them. The added spices are something I’d never thought of.
Helen
A little added flavour is a nice addition.
Demeter
With life getting so busy, I love having smoothies in my daily routine. This one sounds amazing…love the flavor combination!
Helen
Smoothies are such a good way of getting a good dose of your five a day in.
Claudia Lamascolo
what gorgeous scenery and those berries are huge WOW I would love to try this healthy smoothie sure looks delicious!
Helen
The berries are just gorgeous aren’t they.
Julia
Now with the high temperatures in Europe, I’ve seen blackberries ready to be picked in many gardens and it’s not even the end of July! Had no idea they can grow already in May though.
Helen
The ones which grow in May are in a heated glasshouse.
Jill
I love the idea of freezing a smoothie for popsicles. For some reason I have never thought of that! :) This recipe sounds delicious.
Helen
Fruity popsicles are so good in this heat.
Danielle
I love fresh blackberries and this looks like an awesome way to use them!
Helen
Full of their lovely flavour.
Fee
Blackberry and apple are such a delicious combination. They go perfectly together. This sounds like a really good smoothie.
Helen
Blackberry and apple do go very well together.
Olivia
I love the colour of your smoothie! Blackberries are one of my favourite berries, not too sweet.
Helen
Really good flavour, and so good not to be overly sweet.