Genius Coconut Smoothies: Cacao Coconut Smoothie (2014)

Genius Juice’s Cacao flavored raw Coconut Smoothie was our favorite flavor of their lineup. It not only has the best flavor, but we feel as though the addition of a chocolate flavor will be more marketable than even the brand's straight coconut smoothie. Inside the bottle, the liquid is extremely viscous and rich with coconut (from both coconut water and coconut meat) and banana flavor. From there, you’ll encounter some slight grit and chew to it (presumably from the added chia, flax, and cacao nibs), which helps give the product some substance and mouthfeel. The cacao flavor hits you at the tail end, adding just a touch of indulgent flavor to the mix. All in all, this is a very nice tasting product that definitely brings something unique to the HPP juice category (especially since this one is a smoothie). The product is available in both 8 and 16 oz. packages, but we honestly have a somewhat tough time with the larger size. The 8 oz. package, on the other hand, feels like the perfect portion at 190 calories. From a branding perspective, we really like the “Genius Juice” name, which has an implied functionality without being overly serious. The label looks nice, but, at least on the 8 oz. bottle, gets a bit busy. We could honestly live without the mention of it being “for the brain & body” (we’re not sure it helps the purchase) and wish the company would instead focus on flavor or nutritional content (such as fiber and protein). Still, these are relatively minor points and this is still one of the more enjoyable coconut-based products that we’ve ever sampled. The only other thing that we’d like to see is USDA Organic certification. Overall, a very well-executed and innovative product that’s the best flavor of the lineup.