Feeling a cold coming on? Stop by one of these shops for an organic, immune-boosting juice, or try one of their juice cleanses for a real health kick.
Organic Works
THE STORY As one of Japan’s main importers and distributors of US-made industrial blenders and juicers, Organic Works has been at the forefront of the smoothie/juice trend in Tokyo since 2014. The brand was created under the umbrella of a larger, family-owned company called OKS – which also imports gourmet popcorn machines – and offers three different kinds of machines to juice bars and smoothie stands in Japan that are looking for top quality equipment. Naturally, it made sense for them to also open their own shop, and you can sample the fruits (and veg) of their labor at Organic Works Juice Bar and Grocery Store, which sits on a busy corner in Nishi-Azabu.
WHY WE LOVE THEM They are committed to being fully organic, and they work directly with farmers, mainly in Kyushu, to source the best raw ingredients and to ensure a high level of traceability. They offer not only raw juice and smoothies, but also cold-pressed juice, which contains no fibers and is therefore good for fasting. Need help with that? They’ve thought of that too by hiring an in-house nutritionist who puts together their Cleanse Menu, which offers three different plans depending on your needs. Each plan consists of a number of raw juices, which you can collect from 9am, and then drink at two-hour intervals through the day in place of meals.
WHAT TO TRY We love the Kale Detox juice (small ¥700, regular ¥1,000), which packs a citrus punch, and the Raw Cacao smoothie (small ¥600, regular ¥800), which is a simple but uber delicious blend of almonds, soy milk, banana and raw cacao. For something different, try their Amazake juice (¥600), served cold in summer and warm in winter. Afterwards, pop next door to their grocery store to stock up on organic wine, coffee, raw chocolate, healthy bento boxes, organic veg and plenty more.
Why Juice
THE STORY Born out of a desire to help the on-the-go Tokyoite balance their diet, Why Juice started producing cold-pressed juice, which they sell around Tokyo from a mini truck, a bicycle wagon, and their store in Daikanyama. They also deliver.
WHY WE LOVE THEM They try not to waste anything – they even send their leftover pulp to local farmers to use as livestock feed. They also use glass bottles instead of plastic, striving to always recycle and reuse.
WHAT TO TRY Tired of all the green juice out there? Why Juice makes a delicious Nuts Milk (small ¥700, large ¥1,400) from hazelnuts, walnuts and more.
Sunshine Juice
THE STORY Launched in 2014, Sunshine Juice was Tokyo’s first cold-pressed juice shop. Although you’ll find that cold-pressed is a tad more expensive than your standard type, the price tag is justified by the hefty portion of fruit and veg that goes into squeezing out the purest, most nutrient-rich (because no heat = preserved vitamins and enzymes) juice around.
WHY WE LOVE THEM They take health seriously, offering advice on how to give your digestive system a rest by opting for one of their Cleanse Programs (one to five days).
WHAT TO TRY We might be choosing this one based on its name alone, but “Detox in the Sun” (mini ¥980, regular ¥1,180) is also packed with green goodness in the form of kale, spinach, and komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach).
EJ Juice
THE STORY Based in Kojimachi, EJ Juice promises you three things: great taste thanks to a commitment to the cold-pressed method and sourcing directly from local farmers; great health since no chemicals are used in the production process and they have a registered dietician on hand to create their menus; and reasonable prices.
WHY WE LOVE THEM Aside from all of the above, they also offer two types of juice cleanses, with the Standard Cleanse (¥4,200) offering a good balance of veg and fruit, along with dashi soup for a light morning-after breakfast.
WHAT TO TRY For something more substantial, choose the Serum Milk (¥650) smoothie – it’s a pleasing pale pink color, and a delicious blend of cashews, almonds, walnuts, banana, blueberry, and cardamom.
