Tropical Smoothie Cafe Just Dropped Its First-Ever Halloween Smoothie (& It’s An Odd One)

Halloween is usually all about candy, pumpkins, and convincing ourselves that eating chocolate for breakfast is perfectly acceptable because it’s October. Smoothies don’t tend to get much attention. Until now, anyway.

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Tropical Smoothie Cafe has released its first-ever Halloween smoothie, and it’s bright orange, topped with purple popping boba, and made with Fanta. Well, Fanta Orange-flavored syrup, but still.

Part of a new collaboration with Fanta, it’s called the Fanta Phantom Smoothie, and there are quite a few things about this drink that have caught my attention. Particularly the cinnamon. Mango, banana, and orange? I can see those working together. But cinnamon wasn’t on my Halloween smoothie bingo card.

What’s in the Fanta Phantom Smoothie?

The Fanta Phantom Smoothie combines Fanta Orange-flavored syrup with mango, banana, nonfat yogurt, and cinnamon, then tops everything off with purple vanilla-flavored popping boba.

I’ve never considered putting Fanta and bananas together, and the more I think about it, the weirder it sounds. But orange and mango are already a great combination, banana would add sweetness, and the yogurt should make everything nice and creamy. And since they’re using Fanta Orange-flavored syrup rather than the actual soda, there’s no carbonation involved, either.

And then there’s the cinnamon.

I love cinnamon. Give me that sprinkled on top of my cappuccino any day. I just don’t usually associate it with tropical fruit and orange soda. But I can see how it might work here, adding a little warmth to an otherwise very summery combination. I’m curious whether you can actually taste it over everything else.

The purple popping boba is vanilla-flavored, which sounds like a surprisingly good match. Orange and vanilla work well together, and I like the idea of getting little bursts of vanilla alongside all that fruit. I suspect I’d spend a fair amount of time trying to get the last few pearls out of the cup.

There’s a Reason You Can See Everything

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is serving the Fanta Phantom in its first-ever clear smoothie cup, so you can see the orange drink and purple popping boba together.

And why not? They’ve gone to the trouble of making a smoothie look like Halloween, and they’re not about to hide it behind an opaque cup.

If you like the idea of purple popping boba but aren’t convinced about Fanta in your smoothie, you can add the vanilla-flavored pearls to any smoothie on the menu for a limited time.

I’d be tempted to try them in something strawberry-based. Or pineapple. I’m sure there are some combinations that would be questionable, but that’s a decision you can make for yourself.

When Can You Get the Fanta Phantom Smoothie?

The Fanta Phantom Smoothie launched October 7th and is available now at participating Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations for a limited time. You can order it in-store, online, or through the app.

It’s also Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s first smoothie collaboration with Coca-Cola, which owns Fanta. Quite a few firsts for one very orange drink.

I’m glad someone’s giving smoothies a turn at Halloween. We’ve got plenty of pumpkin spice drinks already, and while I have nothing against those, something with mango, orange, cinnamon, and purple popping boba sounds like a fun change.

Of all the things in this smoothie, I never expected cinnamon to be the ingredient that got me thinking. Especially when there are also purple balls that burst in your mouth.