Are you as obsessed with your morning (or afternoon, or evening) smoothie as we are? If your on-the-go beverage of choice is a fruit-filled cup of yumminess—packing a powerhouse of nutrients into your day as readily as it packs incredible flavor—chances are you, like us, are a huge fan of Jamba. From a summery strawberry peach beverage to a post-workout peanut butter banana protein shake, this smoothie shop has served up millions of fruity concoctions since it opened in the early 1990s.
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Does Jamba have vegan options?
In the last 10 years, as the mainstream has started to embrace plant-based lifestyles with a vengeance, this forward-thinking chain has followed suit. Its vegan options have expanded rapidly, with non-dairy milks and snack items hitting its menus, and plant-based eaters are lining up for more.
In 2019, the company became the first major smoothie chain to add Oatly oat milk to its offerings.
“We’ve been talking with our guests and through research have seen first-hand the growing demand for more milk-alternatives,” Jamba President Geoff Henry said in a statement at the time. “Oatly is a natural partner for us in our effort to create more plant-based options and meet this demand. Our partnership will not only create an elevated experience for guests, but also help inform new markets of the benefits of oat milk.”
That same year, the smoothie giant dropped “juice” from its name and added more vegan options to its menu with smoothie bowls featuring oat milk and pea protein. But the chain didn’t stop at just milk-alternatives and smoothies.
In 2021, Jamba added its first plant-based meat option at more than 700 locations nationwide with its Impossible Handwich made with a plant-based Impossible Sausage patty and served with dairy cheese (that can be omitted) on a toasted sprouted grain bun. That same year, Jamba introduced iced coffee and matcha beverages with dairy-free add-ins. And, unlike most chains which offer plant-based options for a limited time only, these items are still available today.
How to order vegan at Jamba
Whether you need a quick breakfast smoothie on your way to work or are looking for healthy, post-workout fuel, here’s how to order vegan at Jamba.
Jamba
1 Smoothies
Good news! Almost all of the smoothies at Jamba Juice are, or can be made, vegan. The menu even designates a plant-based section to simplify your ordering. The following smoothies are all vegan as-is, no modifications required.
- Fruit-based smoothies: These blends are 100-percent fruit-based. Choose from Mega Mango, Peach Perfection, Pomegranate Paradise, or Strawberry Whirl to quench your thirst.
- Watermelon Breeze: This seasonal offering features a watermelon-grape juice blend, strawberries, pineapples, and oat milk frozen dessert for added creaminess. Jamba offers two varieties of this drink, one of which contains dairy. Be sure to ask for the dairy-free Watermelon Breeze when ordering.
- Apple N’ Greens: This fruity, tart veggie-blend is a mixture of apple-pear-strawberry juice, kale, mangos, bananas, and peaches.
- Greens ‘N Ginger: A simple blend of tart lemonade, peaches, kale, mangos, and ginger.
- Smooth Talkin’ Mango: This tropical-flavored blend is a simple mix of oatmilk, mangos, pineapples, and organic agave.
- Vanilla Blue Sky: This electric-blue hued smoothie combines unsweetened almondmilk, vanilla coconutmilk, bananas, pineapples, and an antioxidant-rich blue spirulina boost.
The rest of Jamba’s smoothie items are made with dairy-based sherbet or yogurt. Luckily, the vegan-friendly chain will substitute these ingredients with non-dairy milk, bananas, or its oat milk frozen dessert upon request where possible. The Peanut Butter Moo’d and PB Chocolate Love, however, cannot be made vegan as Jamba’s chocolate base contains dairy.
2 Smoothie boosts
Jamba offers many different superfood and protein boosts to ensure you can really pack in essential vitamins and nutrients. Add any of these plant-based options to the above smoothies to take your drink to the next level.
- Blue Spirulina
- Kale
- Ginger
- Peanut Butter
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Matcha Green Tea
- 3G Energy
- Daily Vitamin Zinc Boost
- Soy Protein
- Coconut Whip
Other plant-based add-in options include: frozen oatmilk dessert and frozen fruit and vegetables.
Jamba
3Bowls
If you’re looking for something a little more filling than a smoothie, Jamba’s smoothie bowls are a great option. These menu items pack all the flavor and nutrition of a smoothie plus a variety of toppings for added sustenance. Jamba bowls are made with a drizzle of honey, so be sure to omit this ingredient or ask for an agave drizzle instead.
- Açaí Primo: Açaí-grape juice, vanilla soy milk, blueberries, strawberries, and bananas create the thick base of this nutrient-packed bowl, topped with organic granola, fresh bananas, blueberries, and strawberries (simply request to have the drizzle of honey left off to make it completely vegan).
- Açaí Tropical: Get transported straight to a tropical locale when you taste this refreshing blend of açaí-grape juice, vanilla soy milk, pineapple, bananas, and blueberries topped off with pineapple, organic granola, and coconut flakes (again, simply request to have the drizzle of honey left off to make it totally vegan).
- Vanilla Blue Sky Bowl: The popular smoothie is also available as a bowl with a smoothie base of bananas, pineapples, unsweetened almond milk, vanilla coconut milk, and blue spirulina. It comes topped with fresh strawberries, organic granola, blueberries, and coconut flakes.
- Dragon Fruit Delight: Made with a base of pineapple juice, organic dragon fruit, pineapples, bananas, mangos, and strawberries, this bowl is finished off with crunchy granola, coconut flakes, bananas, strawberries, and blueberries. Request an agave drizzle in place of the usual honey.
- Cocowhip Strawberry Banana Granola Bowl: As the name implies, this isn’t a smoothie bowl. Instead, coconut whip, bananas, strawberries, and granola are combined for a sweet treat.
Jamba
4Fresh juices & shots
Every juice and shot under this menu is fully vegan, containing just fresh-pressed vegetables, fruits, and roots.
- Purely Carrot
- Cucumber Orange Cooler
- Great Greens
- Orange Carrot Twist
- Orange Supreme
- Veggie Vitality
- Purely Orange
- Ginger Lemon Cayenne Shot
- Ginger Orange Cayenne Shot
- Wheatgrass Shot
Jamba
5 Eats
While Jamba Juice may not be as well known for its food options, you’d be surprised at how many plant-based offerings are available.
- Impossible Handwich: This breakfast-style sandwich made with a plant-based Impossible Sausage patty and served with dairy cheese (that can be omitted) comes on a toasted sprouted grain bun. Simply ask to leave off the cheese.
- Sweet Pretzel: This soft, doughy, lightly-sweetened carb-filled treat is 100-percent vegan! Request it slightly warmed for an irresistible snack.
- Steel-Cut Oatmeal: These extra creamy oats are cooked in soy milk for an added punch of plant-based protein that will give you a boost of energy to get through your day. Be sure to order your oatmeal without honey and request toppings like fresh blueberries, juicy strawberries, or crunchy coconut to really elevate your meal. Skip the brown sugar crumble as it contains butter.
You can also frequently find 88 Acres bars and Off the Eaten Path chips for quick grab-and-go options.
Jamba
6 Iced beverages
The smoothie giant also serves up caffeinated beverages like matcha and cold brew that have the option of coming topped with a house-made, plant-based sweet cloud-like coconut whip foam.
- Gotcha Matcha (with or without sweet cloud whip)
- Bold ‘n Cold Brew (with or without sweet cloud whip)
For more plant-based guides, read:
Sarah McLaughlin (@sarahmclaughlin) is the New Products Editor at VegNews and is always on the search for the newest innovations in plant-based food.
