March is National Nutrition Month, and Athens eateries are selling a variety of fresh, local produce that embodies the spirit of the day. The Red & Black has compiled a list of smoothie, juice, and kombucha retailers to check out before the end of the month approaches.
Figment Kombucha
1085 Baxter Street
Figment Kombucha is an Athens-based company dedicated to producing local, sustainable kombucha. Kombucha tea is a fermented beverage that has certain health benefits, including improved immunity and digestion.
Figment Kombucha offers four main flavors throughout the year. “Strawberry Meyer Lemon” is a fruity and refreshing combination. “Orange Blossom” is a Figment base tea with the scent of orange blossoms. Blueberry Lavender uses the juice from locally grown Georgia blueberries at their peak ripeness to increase their antioxidant properties.
The ingredients used in these drinks come from local farms, including blueberries from Ronda.
Arden’s Garden
184 College Avenue
Arden’s Garden is a Georgia-based company with 16 locations across the state. In addition to smoothies, we offer a wide selection of nutritious drinks, including cold-pressed vegetable and fruit juices. According to its website, Arden’s Garden uses products that boost energy levels and detoxify the body through “nature’s best foods.”
Juice cleanse options include the 2-Day Detox Cleanse, Weight Loss Cleanse, and Love Your Liver Cleanse.
Arden’s Garden also offers ‘shooters’, also known as wellness shots. These 1-3 ounce drinks have become famous for their high nutritional value, anti-inflammatory properties, and weight loss aids. OSF Healthcare describes them this way:A small fruit juice drink blended with extracts, herbs, and spices such as ginger and turmeric. Arden’s Garden carries four flavors: “Firecracker,” “Golden Turmeric,” “Ginger Root,” and “Hibiscus Jalapeno.”
journey juice
1428 Prince Avenue
Journey Juice offers a variety of cold-pressed juices made with locally sourced ingredients. Juices range in price from $6.48 to $18.00 each. After being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome in 2010, owner Amy Lawrence began to really explore her diet. At this time, she discovered her passion for eating clean and, more importantly, drinking clean.
According to the website, her favorite drink is “Beet Ginger,” which is made with apple, beetroot, lemon, and ginger. “Citrus Punch” made with pineapple, apple, orange, lemon, and lime. “Greens + Apple” consists of apple, cucumber, celery, romaine, kale, spinach, parsley, and lemon. and “chia fresca” made with lemon, chia seeds, agave, and filtered water.
Juices are available in 10 oz and 16 oz options. This website also has a Frequently Asked Questions page for those who have questions about the safest and most effective juice cleanses.
planet smoothie
196 Alps Street
Planet Smoothie, one of the largest smoothie chains in the country, was founded in 1995 in Atlanta, not far from Athens. In addition to smoothies, Planet Smoothies also offers energy, superfood, protein, and meal replacement options. The new menu item is the “Funky Monkey” smoothie bowl, which consists of an acai or dragon fruit base, granola, strawberries, blueberries, a peanut butter drizzle, and Planet Smoothie’s new whey protein crisps.
clean eats
1791 Oconee Connector, Suite 560
Clean Eatz is a franchise primarily focused on clean eating, but they also offer a variety of smoothies, coined “Smoothiez.” Flavors range from “Very Berry Good” to “Mud Slide Latte” and “Orange Push Up.”
“Very Berry Good” contains vanilla protein, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and smoothie cream and has 290 calories. The Mud Slide Latte is made with vanilla protein, mocha powder, and smoothie cream and has 430 calories. “Orange Push Up” consists of vanilla protein, orange, and smoothie cream and has only 205 calories.
There is Eight There are options, each costing $5.99. If you wish, his three add-on options are also available for additional benefits: “Immunity Blend,” “Trim + Tone Blend,” and “Muscle Recovery Blend.”
blenders
245 Oconee Street
This store focuses on smoothies and juices. The menu is divided into his eight sections, three of which are drink-based sections. The first beverage category includes six varieties of his “Kahuna His Smoothies” with green-based flavors such as “Kale Pineapple,” “Avocado Sunrise,” and “Green Giant.”
There are 9 types of “Pure Smoothies”. Flavors include “Strawberry Banana Craze,” “Chocolate Lava,” “Coffee Loco,” and “Mau Mango.” Lastly, there are 7 bottles of freshly pressed juice. If you are interested in wellness shots, “Ginger Shots” and “Wheatgrass Shots” are offered in this category.
west broad nutrition
2361 W. Broad St., Suite 11
packed tea These are a popular trend because they are an alternative to coffee and energy drinks and can be customized with supplements such as vitamins, collagen, and protein blends. West Broad Nutrition carries a wide selection of teas with names like “Captain America,” “Blue Hawaiian,” “Strawberry Jolly Rancher,” and “Watermelon Crawl.”
These brightly colored drinks have 24 calories and are touted to be good for energy and focus. Contains aloe, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. West Broad Nutrition also offers a “Beauty Line” which is basically a traditional blended tea with added biotin, collagen, protein, and vitamins A, B, C, and E.
Finally, West Broad Nutrition’s menu includes protein shakes that boast 24 to 27 grams of protein and 24 vitamins and minerals. We also have seasonal menus. It currently offers drinks such as ‘Bunny Hop’ road tea and ‘Cadbury Egg’ shakes.
