The term “juice” once meant something very different than what it means today. It came in a can stored in the freezer aisle of the supermarket. You opened the can to reveal a deep-frozen, syrupy slurry of hyper-concentrated, faintly fruit-like stuff with enough suga r to give a whale the jitters. The can was then used to measure out the water needed to turn the sludge into something grudgingly palatable. You mixed the dubious potion with a whisk until the liquid had the same FD&C fluorescent hue throughout and, voila! Juice was served. We’ve subsequently learned a few things about nutrition, sugar intake and additive-free eating. On the North Shore, the term juice now conjures a revered, if not sacred, idea, one that has permeated contemporary health and wellness culture and has spawned legions of loyal devotees.
The Juicery Co., with its two North Shore locations (one in Edgemont Village and the other on East First Street near St. Georges Avenue), has led the charge in the juice-as-nutritional-cleanse philosophy, creating cold-pressed, raw juices and nut mylks (called “nut mylks” to differentiate them from dairy) with a commitment to farm-to-table principles. The recipes for The Juicery’s green juices, for example, change monthly, based on the organic produce that grows seasonally at the owners’ family farm in Pemberton. Juices are available in single-serve portions and multi-day nutritional cleanses. For those of you who, like me, are not keen on dairy milk, The Juicery’s housemade nut mylks are, in my estimation, among the tastiest on the market; the Honey Vanilla Mylk, made with sprouted almonds, clover honey, vanilla bean and sea salt is extraordinary. thejuiceryco.ca
Since 2010, Lower Lonsdale’s Buddha-Full has been the go-to retail shop and restaurant for health-minded and environmentally conscious patrons seeking organic, vegan, gluten-free and raw foods. Buddha’s menu is extensive, with deep forays into soups, sandwiches and smoothies, but raw juices are a mainstay of the business, incorporating some of nature’s most distinct flavour enhancers like ginger, rose water, turmeric, aloe and black pepper to enliven base fruits and vegetables such as beet, kale, strawberry, pineapple, carrot and grapefruit. Ages-old holistic health and vitality boosters prevail here as well. Not for the faint of heart, but a worthy experience nevertheless, is the potent Flu Shot, a short pour of warm, fermented cider tonic that takes your breath away and heats you up as it goes down. buddha-full.ca
The Local Lift Juice Bar, born of its founders’ passion for sports and an active lifestyle, is appropriately situated at the base of Mount Seymour in Parkgate Village. Local Lift takes the custom nutrition game to the next level by offering a free, 15-minute consultation with a naturopathic doctor to help you determine your most “pressing” fitness and dietary goals. Juices are fresh pressed in house and blends are developed specifically with end results in mind: detoxification, energy enhancement, immunity boosting and rehydration. I would categorize Local Lift as a good entry-level juice experience for those looking to dip their toes into this environment versus plunge in head-first; juice ingredients are familiar and approachable (both in terms of flavour and price) and don’t stray too far into exotic or esoteric territory. thelocallift.com
