I’m not exactly a clean eater. In fact, I’m the kind of person who will find a way to put French fries on a salad. But after loading up on sugar cookies, tamales and fried turkey over the Christmas holidays, my body was practically begging for something green. Enter JUICEssential Juice Bar.
Located in the Éilan shopping center on the Northwest side, JUICEssential sells an array of organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, wellness shots and juice cleanse packages. Maybe it was the inspirational quotes on the wall next to the juice cooler or the subtle aroma of sliced vegetables when I walked in, but everything about this bar seems healthy.
Lucky for us, “healthy” means delicious at JUICEssential. I know because they let you sample the juices before you purchase a full-size glass bottle! This is a real bonus—who hasn’t accidentally ordered a drink they hated at a bar before? And if you’re new to cold-pressed juicing, don’t worry. The barista at JUICEssential was friendly, knowledgeable and happy to offer flavor recommendations.
I tasted three different juices before deciding which to order. Feeling bold, I asked for the magenta-hued Purple Chakra with an “advanced” label first. In my juice bar experience, this kind of label usually lets customers know what to expect taste-wise. Like on a scale of “ground up dirt and leaves” to “Minute Maid juice box.” Although Purple Chakra’s bottle includes grapefruit, collard greens, strawberry, beet, and ginger as ingredients, I braced myself for something really… earthy. One sip and my taste buds were pleasantly surprised with the flavor of a fresh green salad tossed in tangy herb-infused citrus dressing. Perfect for a lunch juice.
The second juice I tried was Minion, a sunny yellow “beginner” combo of pineapple, orange, ginger and pear. I could imagine a local bartender mixing up this recipe for a unique take on a mimosa. Grab this one for brunch.
The best juice I tried on my visit was the most surprising of them all: the dark green “moderate” Kale-eidoscope. I typically shy away from green juice because it seems like something a hardcore personal trainer or Gwyneth Paltrow would drink. But this juice boasts a sweet and sour blend of strawberries, apples and kale with red cabbage. Would you believe me if I told you that this kale juice tastes like candy? Because it tastes exactly like strawberry and apple Jolly Ranchers. I’m not kidding.
Having purchased a bottle of Kale-eidoscope for breakfast, I left the bar happy, energized, and ready to knock out those New Year’s resolutions. So whether you’re looking for an approachable dietary reset after the holidays, or just some damn good juice, JuiceEssential serves it up by the bottle.
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