2012.12.07

The boom is here!　Care for your body easily
with natural juice stands

The number of juice stands in Tokyo that sell vitamin packed fresh juices, including the popular green smoothie, is increasing dramatically! Each shop has its own unique lineup of juices. We’ll deliver the latest juice stand information including hot juices that we recommend for the winter. (Top photo: Robeks Juice Harajuku Store)

Charge your body with nutrients from raw leafy greens and fruit!

The Energy Green includes spinach, bananas, apples and lemon. (S) 340 yen and up.

First, let us introduce a stand that specializes in green smoothies, a hit drink at the moment. A green smoothie is an energy drink that allows you to consume all the nutrients in leafy greens and fruit. Opened in March 2012, this store always has four types of smoothies available.

“The leafy greens are all organically grown and we only use fruits that are in season,” says staff member Ms. Shimizu. Because the high-speed blender juices the peels and seeds as well, they insist on using ingredients that are body-friendly, namely ingredients that are pesticide-free and are at their peak of flavor.

For beginners, we recommend the most popular Energy Green. Although it may remind you of the bitter aojiru kale drink, you’ll be surprised when you take a sip! The sweetness of the ripe fruits and the tang of citrus spreads in your mouth, giving it a delicious taste that will liven you up. It is served at room temperature without ice, and with little twists such as adding ginger during the winter, it is a nice way to replenish nutrients without placing a burden on your stomach.

From left: Apple Cinnamon (S) 400 yen and up (November through the end of December only), Winter Green (S) 360 yen and up (November through the end of December only), Tropical Blend (T) 480 yen.

There are many regulars who stop by every morning for a smoothie for breakfast.

Leafy greens and fruits are instantly juiced using an American Vita-Mix blender.

Green Smoothie Stand

1F Stem Harajuku, 6-5-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo TEL: 03-5467-8284 Hours: 9:00 - 20:00 Open year round

Enjoy homemade fruit syrups on ice in the summer and hot during winter.

This store, with its colorful lineup of jarred syrup and original granola, is actually also a juice stand. Juices using homemade syrups made from in-season, mainly organic fruit can be ordered with soda or with hot water.

There are always one to four types of fruit syrup available. You can come here to enjoy the in-season ingredients.

During the winter, the types of syrups available are mainly citrus fruits such as meyer lemons and blood oranges. Syrups with soda have a refreshing sweetness, making it an ideal drink to revitalize yourself! The drinks also have 4 to 5 slices of fruit in them, making them a good snack as well.

The Homemade Ginger Ale is popular with the regulars. The hot “hit” from the chili pepper will warm you up enough to make you sweat with just one cup. “The ginger cordial syrup is also popular too. I recommend it for the coming colder weather season,” says Ms. Shirao, the store manager. If you like the juice, buy the syrup as well as a gift for yourself.

Homemade Ginger Ale HOT (S) 300 yen and up. A drink that we recommend for a cold morning. There are also apple ginger and herb ginger as well.

Lemon ICE 500 yen, HOT (S) 400 yen and up. The whole cane sugar provides a soft sweetness.

Blood Orange ICE 500 yen, HOT (S) 400 yen and up.

Enjoy the same Fructus flavor at home with the Ginger Cordial. 2000 yen.

The store also sometimes sells in-season fruits direct from the market.

Fructus

1F 1-20-3 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo TEL: 03-6447-0080 Hours: 12:00 - 21:00 (19:00 on Saturdays and holidays) Closed: Sundays and holidays that fall on Mondays

The “vegetable sommelier” recipes that use rare fruits and vegetables are popular!

Pick and choose your own toppings to create an original salad. A salad and fresh juice set (S) starts at 960 yen. *Salads are only offered on weekdays.

The Little Juice Bar, a store that started in Hokkaido, features a full-time “vegetable sommelier.” You can enjoy take-out salads and fresh juices devised by the “vegetable sommelier” and dietician at the Sapporo Main Store.

What’ worth noting are the ingredients, mainly grown in Hokkaido. The “vegetable sommelier” personally observes the fields and buys fruits and vegetables. There are also fruits and vegetables that the staff personally harvest from contracted farmers. There are also rare varieties such as purple carrots, which are not sold in markets. So what are the key points to look for when choosing ingredients that go well with juice? “We select ingredients are ripe and full in color, as well as having a strong, distinct taste. It’s often the case that the color of the ingredients directly relates to the nutrients they contain.” (Ms. Mannen, “Vegetable sommelier” )

Juices are not pre-made and are made to order using the mixer. You can also customize your order by adding syrup made from 100% beet sugar, adding different fruits or adding more of a fruit (may cost extra). We recommend you try the Hot Veggie, available only during the winter, which uses milk from Hokkaido.

Berry Mix (S) 420 yen and up. Uses five types of berries including the blue-berried honeysuckle from Atsuma, Hokkaido.

The pumpkin Hot Veggie (450 yen) will be available between October to about March. Broccoli and beet versions are also available.

Lotsof fresh greens and in season fruits!

Little Juice Bar Shin-Maru Building Store

B1F Shin-Marunouchi Building, 1-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo TEL: 03-6273-4447 Hours: 11:00 - 21:00 (20:00 on Sundays and holidays) Closed when the Shin-Marunouchi Building is closed.

Provide yourself with the nutrients that you may lack with the supplement toppings!

Robeks Juice is a smoothie store chain with approximately 140 stores across the US. They opened their first store in Japan in Jiyugaoka and opened their Harajuku store in July 2012.

The first thing that surprises you as soon as you walk into the store is the wide variety of items on the menu. In addition to the main smoothie menu items there are also fresh juices, hot juices, fruit lattes and more. There are always over 45 drinks available, all of which use fruits and vegetables. The main characteristic of this store is the availability of breads and cream puffs, and the ability to relax in an eat-in space.

On the left is the Avocado Spinach ((T) 520 yen) available only in the mornings. On the right is the Acai Power ((T) 480 yen).

The ginger in the hot Carrot Ginger ((S) 380 yen and up) juice will warm you up. On the right is the famous Wheatgrass (200 yen), one cup of which is packed with nutrients!

The store uses IQF fruits for their smoothies. IQF fruits are fruits that are quick frozen at the peak of freshness. You can enjoy a fresh, delicious taste as each drink is made to order. There are no artificial colors, making the vibrant, beautiful colors from the blend of fruits and vegetables truly impressive! You can also add four types of supplement toppings, called Boosts. These toppings are collagen, multivitamin, fiber and lactic acid. “One Boost is free with each smoothie. Enjoy your own unique, customized smoothie.” (Ms. Nishino, Public Relations)