As a girl that would consider herself quite a foodie (and no I’m not referring to the local fast food selection!) I was excited as the rest of the group when we received the brief for a new Lassi named ‘Schmoo’ from a local company in Leeds.
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking ‘what is a Lassi?!’ let me tell you what Google said ‘Lassi is a traditional chilled beverage from India which is made with yogurt or buttermilk and an assortment of flavourings.’ I was incredibly intrigued to taste it, would it be yoghurt, or a milkshake or a hybrid ‘friendly bacteria’ drink? The description left me none the wiser, and I awaited our meeting with great anticipation.
As we sat down with Laurence Nair from ‘Schmoo’ I could hardly wait for him to hand over the samples, and it was certainly worth the wait!
The drink came to us in handy sized 250ml bottles that were just the right size for popping in my handbag, yet still big enough to quench my thirst. The first thing I noticed about the drink was the crushed vanilla pods that were an instant giveaway that this product was not cheaply made.
As I unscrewed the cap, the smell of vanilla gently wafted from the bottle, not too overpowering, but just aromatic enough to draw me in instantly. I looked round the table, and saw the rest of the academy were equally as enchanted with this rather unique beverage.
The first taste was one that was incredibly organic, the vanilla pods I had spied earlier had done justice in tasting just as good as they smelt! The texture was one that is hard to describe, it was completely smooth like a fine yoghurt, but with the power to instantly satiate you and quench your thirst. The experience of drinking a ‘Schmoo’ had thrown me into a frame of mind where I felt summer was just around the corner and left me with a feeling of optimism.
Not only did it taste fantastic, but I was impressed by how healthy the ingredients were. Bio yoghurt was listed as the main ingredient, and in the Mango Lassi, there was 28.5% of Alphonso Mango puree. There were no additives, colours or nasty things I couldn’t pronounce lurking in the drink, and it was something that made me feel I’d pick a ‘Schmoo’ over a rival drink. Also, it was good to note that the drink was suitable for people with lactose intolerances.
Thankfully, Laurence was kind enough to send us away with multiple samples, and I have been enjoying ‘Schmoo’ ever since! It is a wonderful alternative to a cereal bar for breakfast on the go, and as somebody that doesn’t enjoy milk; it is a great way to get calcium into my diet without any effort.
I sadly have now run dry, but next month will see the drink being sold in the Leeds branches of Tesco, and I would advise you to pick up a bottle and try it, as I think you will find it just as yummy as we did!
-Steph
