BLENDED BLISS REFRESH YOURSELF WITH A LICUADO.

Byline: Natalie Haughton Food Editor

Looking for a cool, frothy, fresh fruit drink to start the day? Opt for a licuado - a blended fruit drink that's popular and traditional in Mexico and throughout Latin American countries.

Typically made with milk, fresh or frozen fruits and granulated sugar or honey, licuados take only minutes to whir up in a blender at home - or you can pick them up in a variety of flavors at Latino markets and fast-food establishments (see list on page 12) around the Valley and beyond.

Although licuados are most often associated with fresh fruits and milk, juice or water can be used instead of milk, if desired, says Erik Perez, director of food services for Vallarta Supermarkets, where licuado sales average 500 to 700 per week per store with strawberry or banana or a combination of the two the most popular flavors.

``Licuado means blended. It's anything people like to blend with or without milk,'' adds Perez, who was raised on licuados in Guatemala. He describes them as ``fruit taste without taking a bite into the fruit.'' Although he moved to this country 20 years ago, Perez still consumes them. ``It's part of my culture. A licuado can be a breakfast replacement.'' Or it can be consumed later in the morning or in the afternoon as a pick-me-up snack.

At Rincon Taurino in Panorama City, licuados have a milk base, says Juan Martinez, the restaurant's manager, who drank them for breakfast while growing up in Mexico.

After choosing the fresh fruit - mango, papaya, banana, strawberry - customers can request the drink be blended with or without ice and add-ins like granola, nuts (almonds or walnuts), shredded coconut, chocolate (powder), raisins or eggs. The most popular version, the supermacho, contains the works. The restaurant routinely adds vanilla to the blended mixture along with a sprinkling of cinnamon on top before serving.

At Taqueria Los Altenos in Canoga Park, an average of 30 to 35 licuados, in a wide array of flavors ranging from fruit (including mamey, a sweet fruit) to coconut to chocolate, are sold each weekday and 60 to 65 per weekend day. The milk drinks are blended with a little ice to make them colder and a little thicker, notes Lizbeth Villasenor, a waitress and daughter of one of the owners. She doesn't consider orange juice blended with fruit a licuado - that's more like a smoothie-type drink.

Don't confuse licuados with smoothies. ``I think of licuados as healthier, lighter and thinner (in consistency) than a regular smoothie - and they don't have as much sugar,'' says Molly Ireland of Topanga Canyon, spokeswoman for the Berkeley-based California Milk Processor Board. Licuados also have less ice and a frothiness not found in smoothies.

Ireland often makes strawberry, strawberry-banana or pineapple licuados for her four girls, who range in age from 3 to 9 years, because ``they are one of the healthiest snacks I can get them to eat.'' The drinks provide calcium and protein from the milk and vitamins, minerals and fiber from the various fruits. ``Licuados are better than chips or other empty calories,'' says Ireland.

Her basic formula blends 1 cup fresh or frozen berries, 1 banana, 1 1/2 cups cold milk and 1/2 cup ice.

While Vallarta uses mostly fresh fruits, substituting frozen only when fresh are out of season, Ireland tends to use frozen fruit at home because it's more convenient. At Latino markets frozen pureed guava, mango, passion fruit, pineapple and other varieties are available in the freezer section.

Although whole milk has traditionally been used in the drinks, nowadays some prefer low- or nonfat milk. Flavorwise, there's not much difference, points out Ireland, because the fruit flavor overpowers the milk.

``Licuados mask a myriad of sins,'' notes Ireland, adding that fruits of various ripeness can be used. Taste and personalize as desired.

Natalie Haughton, [phone]

natalie.haughton(at)dailynews.com

STRAWBERRY LICUADO

1 cup cold milk

1 1/2 cups stemmed fresh strawberries

1 tablespoon granulated sugar (if needed)

1/2 cup ice (optional)

1 whole strawberry, for garnish

Place milk, strawberries, sugar and ice (if using) in a blender container and blend until smooth and frothy. Pour into a chilled glass. Garnish with whole strawberry. Serve immediately with a straw. Makes 1 serving.

STRAWBERRY-BANANA LICUADO

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup fresh OR frozen strawberries

1 ripe banana, sliced

1/2 cup ice (only if using fresh berries)

Place milk, strawberries and banana slices in blender container and blend until smooth. Add ice (if using) and blend on high until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

MANGO LICUADO

1 1/2 cups milk

2 cups frozen mango pulp

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Place all ingredients in blender container and blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

PINA LICUADO

2 cups milk

1 cup frozen pineapple pulp (labeled pina pulp and available in freezer sections of Latino supermarkets)

Juice of 5 Mexican limes OR 1 regular-size lime

1 tablespoon sugar OR to taste

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor container. Blend 1 to 2 minutes, until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

BANANA LICKETY SPLIT 

1 1/4 cups milk

1 large OR 2 small very ripe bananas, cut up

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 cup ice

Place all ingredients in a blender container and blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

FRUIT MEDLEY

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup fresh OR frozen berries, such as strawberries, blueberries OR raspberries

1 ripe banana, sliced

2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate

1 tablespoon granulated sugar OR equivalent sugar substitute

1/2 to 1 cup ice

Place all ingredients in a blender container and blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

PASSION FRUIT LICUADO

1 1/2 cups milk

3/4 cup frozen passion fruit pulp (labeled parcha/maracuya pulp and available in freezer sections of Latino supermarkets)

1/2 cup crushed ice

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor container. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

GUAVA LICUADO

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup frozen guava pulp (labeled guayaba and available in freezer sections of Latino supermarkets)

1/2 cup crushed ice

1 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon OR to taste

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor container. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

Licuado locations

If you want to buy licuados instead of making them, you can pick them up at this sampling of establishments. Some have separate licuado bars:

--Vallarta Supermarkets, 9136 Sepulveda Blvd., North Hills, [phone]; 8458 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, [phone]. (Other stores in Canoga Park, North Hollywood, Burbank, Panorama City, Palmdale, Pacoima, Sylmar, Lancaster, Oxnard, etc.). Licuados are available with milk, juice, water and can be made with a variety of fruits or fruit mixtures - strawberries, bananas, pineapple, melons, mangoes, papaya, apples, watermelon and more - and juices like carrot, pineapple and such. Granola, eggs and nuts can be added, if desired. Cost is $1.99 (16 ounces) and $2.99 (32 ounces).

--Rincon Taurino, 14551 Nordoff St., Panorama City, [phone]; 8708 Van Nuys Blvd., Panorama City, [phone]. Most popular licuado is the supermacho prepared with eggs, banana, coconut, almonds, chocolate, granola, nuts, milk, raisins, ice and vanilla, then topped with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon. Also available are mango, banana, strawberry, papaya or any combination of fruit licuados, with or without ice. By request, granola, nuts (almonds or walnuts), shredded coconut, chocolate (cocoa powder) and eggs can be added. Cost is $3.50 (20 ounces) per licuado.

--Taqueria Los Altenos, 21109 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, [phone]. Licuados, made with milk, sugar, a little bit of ice and fresh fruits such as banana, strawberry, papaya, mango, mamey (a sweet fruit similar to papaya), coconut and pineapple are $2.90 (24 ounces).

Bronco Restaurant, 4378 Woodman Ave., Sherman Oaks. [phone]. Licuados available include strawberry, banana or papaya or a combination of fruits. Can be made with milk or orange juice in two sizes priced at $3.50 or $4.45 each.

Vern's Volver Volver, 7219 Tampa Ave., Reseda. [phone]. Strawberry, banana, chocolate and vanilla licuados are available with prices ranging from $3 (16 ounces) to $4.50 (32 ounces).

Los Burritos, 3125 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, [phone]. (Other locations in North Hollywood and elsewhere in Los Angeles). The following licuado-style drinks are available: strawberry with banana and milk; banana and milk; papaya with banana and pineapple juice; orange juice with egg and banana; orange juice and natural yogurt with ice and honey; blackberries with yogurt or milk and pineapple juice. Prices range from $2.75 (16 ounces) to $5.95 (32 ounces).

El Taco Loco, 7144 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park, [phone]. Papaya, melon or strawberry or a mixture of fruit licuados are available for $2.50 (16 ounces) or $3.50 (32 ounces).

Coffee and Cream, 13739 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar. [phone]. While this place offers smoothies, customers can request licuados (smoothies with less ice) prepared with milk in flavors including strawberry-banana, raspberry, peach, pina colada, mango, guava, papaya, wild berry or passion fruit. Prices range from $3 (14 ounces) to $4 (24 ounces).

Paradise Juice & Deli, 4007 W. Riverside Drive, Suite A, Burbank. [phone]. The most popular licuado here is made with peanut butter, banana, dates and milk ($3.30 for 16 ounces). A fruit rainbow blends watermelon, strawberries, blackberries and banana with orange juice. Prices range from $3.10 (16 ounces) to $3.60 (20 ounces).

- Natalie Haughton

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) Licuados

Give 'em a whirl

(2 -- 3 -- color) Norma Batres whips up a licuado for a Vallarta customer. Blend assorted fruit licuados at home or pick them up at Latino markets and fast-food places. Try strawberry, banana, mango, papaya, pineapple, apple, watermelon, melons, mamey fruit and more.

(4 -- color) MANGO LICUADO

Photos by Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Photographed at Vallarta Supermarket, North Hills

Box:

Licuado locations (see text)