New year, new you: Smoothies, juices rise in popularity in January in Palm Beach

M.M. Cloutier
·4 min read
Blue Majik smoothie at Celis Juice Bar includes coconut water, pineapple, banana, mango and E3Live, a nutrient-dense algae, according to Celis.
Blue Majik smoothie at Celis Juice Bar includes coconut water, pineapple, banana, mango and E3Live, a nutrient-dense algae, according to Celis.

Move over, Champagne and cocktails.

With holiday-season soirees now over, many Palm Beachers are turning to other sips as part of what they perceive as a healthful start to 2023.

Sales of fresh-pressed fruit and vegetable juices and plant-based smoothies are booming in town right now.

Two-ounce shots of fresh-pressed juice, such as wheatgrass, are popular at Amici Market.
Two-ounce shots of fresh-pressed juice, such as wheatgrass, are popular at Amici Market.

Whether they’re quaffed as a snack, a breakfast stand-in or part of a vegan diet, among other things, “they’re popular all year, but we always get a big influx during January,” Hess Musallet, owner of Field of Greens, including its location on Royal Poinciana Way, told the Daily News.

“Everyone wants to start a new year off in a new direction so we get more crazy-busy with juices and smoothies at this time of year,” said Maurizio Ciminella, co-owner of Amici Market on North County Road.

“They’re not just popular with adults, either” Ciminella told the Daily News. “We have young children who order fresh-pressed vegetable juices and you know what? They love it.”

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“Pressed” juices refers to the method used to extract only the juice from the fruits and vegetables.

By contrast, a plant-based smoothie combines whole fruits and/or vegetables and often other ingredients — such as vegan protein and almond milk.

At places in town that make and sell them, such libations typically employ organic produce.

The drinks can be — and often are — customized. For instance, want to keep natural sugar at a minimum? Go for ingredients involving little or no fruit and mostly (or all) vegetables.

Drinks such as The Reef (a fresh-pressed blend of beets, apple, cucumber, kale, lemon and ginger) and The Peruvian (kale, parsley, banana, green apple and almond milk) are among the organic options at the juice bar at Amici Market.

More than a dozen fresh-pressed juice blends — 16 ounces each — are offered for $11.99 to $14.99. A variety of smoothies — 16 ounces apiece — are $11.99 each.

Amici Market's fresh-pressed juice called The Reef is named after Palm Beach's Reef Road.
Amici Market's fresh-pressed juice called The Reef is named after Palm Beach's Reef Road.

Most of the pours are named after Palm Beach street names.

“Some people love them because they feel it gives them energy or makes them feel good,” Ciminella said. “Everyone is in their own world about why they drink juices and smoothies.”

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Regulars at Amici Market often stop by in the morning or late afternoon for a two-ounce shot of fresh-pressed juices. Shots start at $5 and options include wheatgrass, plus ginger and turmeric.

Field of Greens, with dine-in and to-go options, features cold-pressed juices and plant-based smoothies and protein shakes (as well as salads, soups, sandwiches and more that often are vegan).

Plant-based protein shakes at Field of Greens include one called Almond Brothers.
Plant-based protein shakes at Field of Greens include one called Almond Brothers.

The juices — such as the popular F.O.G. with spinach, kale, cucumber, apple, celery, lemon and ginger — cost $6.95 for 12 ounces.

Shots are available, too: a two-ounce ginger jolt, for instance, is $4.99.

Spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, Medjool date and almond milk power up the Green Goddess, one of the smoothies Field of Greens offers for $7.95 each for 16 ounces.

Cold-press F.O.G. juice at Field of Greens includes spinach, kale, cucumber, apple, celery, lemon and ginger.
Cold-press F.O.G. juice at Field of Greens includes spinach, kale, cucumber, apple, celery, lemon and ginger.

Among the popular plant-based protein shakes ($8.95 for 16 ounces) is Almond Brothers, with strawberry, blueberry, Medjool date, house-made almond butter, vegan vanilla protein and almond milk.

“What’s so nice to see in Palm Beach is the variety of people who come in for our juices and smoothies — from billionaires to surfers and also servers who come before a shift at (nearby restaurants) Henry’s or Lola (41),” Musallet said.

Among other the Palm Beach places with fresh-pressed juices and smoothies is Celis Juice Bar (formerly known as Celis Produce) in Royal Poinciana Plaza. Its offerings also include breakfast goodies, salads, sandwiches and hot-and-cold coffee drinks.

A popular fresh-pressed juice at Celis Juice Bar is the Supa Dupa Green.
A popular fresh-pressed juice at Celis Juice Bar is the Supa Dupa Green.

“We believe juice bars will be a staple business in the future, similar to coffee shops and cafes,” Alex Celis, who co-owns the business with his brothers Felipe and Camilo, told the Daily News.

Celis Juice Bar’s fresh-pressed juices — 16 ounces each for $9.50 — include the Kale-a-Bunga with kale, cucumber, apple, lemon and ginger.

Kale, cucumber, celery, lemon and spinach comprise the Supa Dupa Green.

Fresh-pressed juice shots also are offered. They’re 2 ounces and $4.95 each, including the Orange Glow with turmeric, ginger, orange, carrot and black pepper.

Chocolate Funk — almond milk, date, raw cocoa, banana and peanut butter — is among Celis’ popular smoothies, which are 16 ounces and range in price from $9 to $10.50.

Another top-selling smoothie is The Glow with coconut water, pineapple, banana, mango, orange, turmeric and black pepper.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Drinks are seen as a healthful start to 2023