WHEN MATT SHOOK founded JuiceLand in Austin in 2011, there was no way of knowing what the next decade would bring — not 35 locations and counting, and certainly not a global pandemic.
But here we are in 2021, with five locations of the smoothie and plant-based food joint here in Houston. The Bellaire outpost opened at the end of last year, and the Heights, Montrose and Upper Kirby locales remain popular; the one inside Midtown's Whole Foods is temporarily closed.
As Houston and the world cautiously enters a new, post-vaccine era, a juice cleanse doesn't sound like a bad idea after the year we all had. For its part, JuiceLand encourages folks to simply consume as many raw nutrients and enzymes as possible. Pre-bottled, cold-pressed juices are available for mix-and-match, build-your-own cleanses; suggested combos are listed here. Every shop has cleanse carriers that hold six bottles, making it easy to hand-pick your faves.
The Gingerade — lemon, ginger, cayenne and maple syrup — is just what the doctor ordered on a sunny spring afternoon: a little spicy at first, but it soon becomes incredibly refreshing. And the Fountain, with carrot, celery, beet, kale and more, is actually rich and filling. The Chocolate Hemp Mylk is also very flavorful, tasting almost like an indulgent post-workout shake.
A few bottles go a long way, but JuiceLand also offers juice by the gallon, with a sustainability discount of up to 25 percent. Cheers!
