If I craved one thing after moving to Tucson from New York City – aside from bagels, pizza, falafel, pad thai, ramen, curry, cupcakes, cronuts, and 24 hour diners – it was fresh pressed juice.
Carrots and beets, kale and ginger, lemon and spinach – these babies will go straight to your head in the very best way. Pressed juice is super nutritious, low-cal, filling, and just what our parched desert bodies need. But when I got to Arizona and started asking around for a juice bar, it was all blank stares followed by the ubiquitous answer in question form: “Jamba Juice?” (By the way that’s not a juice bar and have you checked the nutritional info on those smoothies?)
I knew Tucson was too cool to be a green juice desert, so after some sleuthing, and a couple of recent openings, I’ve finally gathered a solid, lifesaving list of the best places to find real, fresh pressed juice in Tucson. Actual pure juice.
So, whether you’re in need of a little weekend detox or you’re a daily cleanser type, here are my picks for the best places to drink your nutrients:
Owned and operated by certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Chef Kathy Iannacone and her daughter Chef Krista Miller, this vegan spot on Pennington is a health conscious heaven. Their “Farmacy” menu of Juice Remedies is the perfect breakfast or afternoon crash cure. If you’re new to juicing, try the Sweet Heart made with beet, carrot, apple, and ginger for a little sweetness and a little zing. Urban Fresh also has a Fresh Juice Club where you can prepay for 5 and get the 6th free. Totally worth it.
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Since there are several locations, from the Foothills to Speedway, Whole Foods is the best option for when you’re out running errands. They use only use raw, organic fruits and veggies at their Juice Bar (locally grown when in season) and while there’s nothing too crazy here – just the basics – sometimes that’s really all you need. Get creative with your own blend or stick with choices from their menu, like my personal go to, The Green Giant.
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Ari Shapiro (of Sparkroot and Falora) reopened the Congress location of Xoom Juice recently. While an extensive ingredient list for made to order smoothies is the main event, the downtown Xoom also has a fridge filled with fresh pressed veggie juices that are chilled and ready to go (pictured above). Sip one now and take one home for later.
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Just a few weeks after opening its doors in the old Umi Star location, Goodness is already filling a health food void in midtown Tucson. Their juice menu ranges from simple – such as The Commuter with cucumber, fuji apple, basil and lime, to artful with the Big Melons including watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, mint, lime, and himalayan salt. And, don’t forget your ID. Students and military get 20% off.
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Robeks might seem like your ordinary mall smoothie chain (you’ll find it in the Foothills Mall and nestled in one of our lovely strip malls out on East Broadway) but it stands out for its menu of fresh pressed juices. On hot summer days the Cool Cucumber (cucumber, apple, lemon, and ginger) will chill and soothe you from the inside out. They even have an Arizona Rewards Club for loyalists.
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Have a favorite juice spot that we missed? Let us know in the comments.
