Not all juices are alike. Nicole Tan tells Tan Bee Hong why cold-pressed fruit juices are better
WHAT’S even better than freshly pressed fruit juice? Cold-pressed fruit juice delivered to your doorstep, that’s what.
I got really excited to learn about Strip Juice, which offers cold-pressed juice from orange and grapefruit to pomegranate. These juices have no added sugar and preservatives, just pure juice from quality fruit.
NO HEAT PLEASE
So what does cold-pressed mean? According to Nicole Tan of Strip Juice, this means the juices are extracted by pressing the fruit instead of using centrifugal force to extract the juice. The latter method creates heat which can destroy the nutrients in the juice.
Cold-pressed juice uses little or no heat, so the nutrients, minerals and enzymes can be absorbed in their purest form. Water is never added.
Cold press technology, she adds, uses no heat in the process of extracting the juice from the fruit, so there is almost no oxidation during or after juicing. This way, the flavour and nutrients are maintained in the juice for a longer period of time.
At Strip Juice, nothing is added to the juices. No sugar. No binders. Regular juices separate easily within an hour and this is an indication of oxidation. With cold-pressed juices, a little separation may occur after the second day only. “This is because we don’t use binders,” she says. “This is why the juices have a shelf-life of only 2-3 days.”
INSTANT BENEFITS
If you’re wondering why we should drink juices rather than eat the fruit, Nicole explains that cold-pressed juices are readily absorbed into the bloodstream to provide instant nourishment. Solid fruit can take a few hours to digest.
The chic entrepreneur says cold-pressed juices help reduce acidity in the body. “A healthy body has a balanced pH. Inflammation occurs when bodies become overly acidic from consuming highly acidic food such like fried chicken, coffee, alcohol and sugary food. Inflammation can lead to chronic illness,” she says.
But aren’t some juices acidic? She smiles and explains: “Both orange and grapefruit juices turn alkaline after ingestion even though they may be acidic in their natural state. Pomegranate juice is highly alkaline and has been used since ancient times to prevent and sometimes treat early signs of all sorts of diseases.”
THE TASTE
While I find the pomegranate a bit raw on the tongue, I am surprised that the grapefruit juice is not as sour as the fruit is wont to be.
“We select the best fruit from countries when these are in season,” says Nicole who adds that fruit juices may differ from month to month as taste and sweetness vary according to climate, season and terrain changes. In contrast, store-bought juices are artificially flavoured and sweetened to maintain the same taste always.
I love the South African grape juice. It’s as refreshing as biting into grapes and all that lovely purple resveratrol from the skin is retained. But the season is ending. “We have different fruit for different times of the year and though we do try to source for the same fruit from other countries, the taste may vary,” says Nicole.
The various fruits are imported from South Africa, India, Spain, US, Turkey, Egypt and Australia.
Meanwhile, Nicole is experimenting with new flavour combinations and one that she is particularly excited about is almond and grape. I can’t wait to try that!
BENEFITS OF JUICING
Orange
Orange is an excellent source of Vitamin C, A and B. It also contains collagen and antioxidants, slowing down the ageing process and giving skin a natural glow. A daily glass of orange juice can help reduce the risk of kidney stones formation and helps ease constipation.
Grapefruit
Drinking two glasses of grapefruit juice a day can significantly help in weight loss as grapefruit has a fat-burning enzyme. The anti-pathogenic resveratrol is said to help in anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory as well as lower cancer risk, blood pressure and cholesterol.
A daily drink can also boost your immune system, prevent common cold, reduce fever, relief sore throats and coughs. A glass of grapefruit juice just before bedtime can help prevent insomnia.
Pomegranate
This is one of the oldest known ancient super fruit and its juice has long been used to treat early symptoms of many chronic diseases such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, reversing plague build-up on narrowed arteries (atherosclerosis) and early signs of diabetes. It has anti-ageing properties and aids in weight loss.
Grape
Strip Juice offers the only fresh grape juice here. The South African grape used has a short season and an even shorter shelf life.
It is recommended to be drunk within two days of delivery and is said to taste best when we drink it immediately.
SERVE IT DIFFERENTLY
• Add sparkling water to juice to give it fizz
• Children never say “no” to an iced lolly. Pour juice into popsicle moulds and freeze for a lickalicious treat. Add chopped fruit such as grapes and strawberry to the juice before freezing. You can even combine two flavours by filling the mould halfway with one flavour and allowing it to set before topping up with another juice.
HOW TO ORDER
Available in Klang Valley: Hartamas, Mont Kiara, Bangsar, Damansara Heights and TTDI. Pick-ups available in the above areas.
To order, email stripjuice@gmail.com or call Nicole Tan at 012-313 5250.
Delivery time: From 8pm, Monday to Friday. Orders placed before Friday noon will be delivered on Monday. Pomegranate juice is RM23 for 250ml bottle. Other juices are RM23 for 500ml.
Nicole is also launching a juice cleanse programme with 10 juice blends.
1. Wake Up Call (orange, grapefruit, lemon, ginger)
2. Green Ranger (kale, green apple, coconut water, spirulina)
3. Tropical Boost (acai berry, pineapple, coconut water)
4. Island Break (kale, pineapple, wheatgrass)
5. Strip Cleanse (lemon, agave nectar, ginger, cayenne pepper, alkaline filtered water)
6. Healer’s Touch (purple carrot, red apple, ginger, chia seeds)
7. Dark Elixir (beetroot, purple carrot, watermelon, ginger, flaxseed oil)
8. Purple Milk (purple carrot, natural almond, alkaline filtered water, organic sea salt)
9. Honey Almond Milk (organic raw honey, natural almond, alkaline filtered water, organic sea salt)
10. Chocolate Almond Milk (organic cocoa powder, organic raw honey, natural almond, alkaline filtered water, organic sea salt)