Our motivation to keep up with your oh-so-healthy resolutions may be waning we move past January 1, but have no fear! I’ve put together some of my favorite places to grab a fresh Jersey juice first thing in the morning or mid afternoon, just when your doughnut craving threatens to rear its ugly head.
Healthy juices packed with vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices are a great way to start your day thanks to the body’s ability to absorb nutrients quickly. All the work of breaking down the fiber is already done by the juicer! It’s also a great way to ramp up your afternoon instead of your go-to cup of coffee. Whether you’re a juice lover looking for a cleanse or a looking for another way to consume veggies, you’ll find plenty of delicious drinks to try at any of these local Jersey juice shops.
Asbury Park and Montclair: Juice Basin
Founded in 2010, Juice Basin in Asbury Park started out in the Yoga Basin and then quickly found its own following, leading owners Reggie Flimlin and Enrique Wegel to focus solely on creating organic juices for their growing clientele. This year check out their additional location in Montclair, where juices will be delivered fresh daily from Asbury Park. If you love juice but have a hard time drinking down the greens, try the Poe Pina, packed with pineapple, pear, lime, ginger, and yes, kale.
Avon-by-the-Sea and Fair Haven: From Seed to Sprout
It should be no secret that I, just like thousands of other foodies, have fallen head over heels for From Seed to Sprout. Let’s just talk about their juices for this post. Besides their every day menu that ranges from 24 Carrot Gold to the Multivitamin and the best Pink Lemonade you’ll ever taste, there’s usually a special during the week. You can’t go wrong there.
Beach Haven Gardens: Living on the Veg
For those times at the beach when you just need a refresher, ride your bike over to Living on the Veg in Beach Haven Gardens on Long Beach Island for a fresh pressed juice. They may be known for their vegetarian dishes, but this shop hits a home run with delicious concoctions like Crazy Juice with carrots, cucumber, celery, spinach, garlic, kale, and ginger. Yes, there’s garlic in there. It may be crazy, but it works.
Belmar: Stay Gold
Not just a local coffee spot, Stay Gold also features a fresh, made-to-order juice bar. The hot Chai may tempt you, but one sip of the Green Gypsy with cilantro and that need for a caffeine fix will become a thing of the past.
Bradley Beach: Nourished by Nature
I happened to come across Nourished by Nature because of owner Cassandra Quarantello’s association with the kombucha brothers and I’m happy I did. Quarantello creates raw, cold pressed juices that are always unprocessed, never heated, never pasteurized, and made fresh every day using top quality organic ingredients. If you love green juices, pick up a Clean Green, made with cucumber, green apple, lime, and parsley.
Fair Haven and Red Bank (Spring 2016): Freshica’s
True to its name, Freshica’s serves nothing but fresh, made-to-order, cold pressed juices featuring both organic and locally grown ingredients. With over 16 juice choices and a number of ingredient options, including aloe vera for that healthy glow, you’d be hard- (or cold-) pressed not to want to try them all.
Lavallette and Pt. Pleasant Beach (Spring 2016): Kali-O’s Juice Box
I’m counting down the days until Kali-O’s Juice Box opens its (brand new) doors in Pt. Pleasant Beach, right on Arnold Avenue. The Lavallette location always leaves me feeling ready to go after refueling on its fresh-from-the-garden juices.
Ocean Township: The Juice Theory
You may have driven by the Juice Theory a few times without so much as a second glance, but take my word for it and stop! This little shop is a powerhouse when it comes to healthy, fresh, and delicious juices that I can’t get enough of. Try the Pear Pineapple Lime, for a Caribbean-in-Jersey juice experience.
Pt. Pleasant Beach: Tara Lu’s
Also growing a loyal fan base of Jersey juicers is Tara Lu’s in Pt. Pleasant Beach. I’ve joined the masses, craving the fresh juices made with Jersey fresh ingredients. The regular juices are amazing, but I have to say that I fell in love with the Rainbow Juice special, which actually has every color of the rainbow in it, thanks to beets, carrots, lemon, spinach, and blueberries.
West End: Dr!nk Juice Bar
Walk into Dr!nk Juice Bar in West End and turn left. That big chalkboard on the wall showing a list of over 60 juices, smoothies, tonics, and teas is about to become your reading for the morning. Or afternoon. It’s not just the wide variety of choices that keep me coming back. It’s also the fact that Dr!nk uses 100% organic and plant-based ingredients in all of its juices.