Ibiza has a strong reputation as a party isle, but also it's pretty big on the holistic and healing side - a good yin for the fun yang. Juicing is one of those yins that you might like to try to retain the kind of balance that allows you to enjoy the island to the max.
Juicing isn't some new fad, it's been used as a way of maintaining health for a while. Around 100 years ago juices were used for people with severe fatigue and stress, their ace is to deliver to the system a complete range of nutrients in their most vital form. Is it time to ditch the energy drinks?
Fruit or veg?
You might baulk at the idea of juiced carrot or beetroot, especially if you have ever had them out of a bottle. Fresh juices though are another world of taste; the fact they are raw and not pasteurised means your body absorbs those nutrients and gives you a more natural and sustained lift too.
Verity Smith, founder of Ibiza Superfoods offers that: “Vegetable juices are preferred as they have a lower sugar content and have a more cleansing and alkalising effect on the body. A ratio of around 80/20 is a good basis."
This is because juiced fruit without its fibre is essentially just sugar, so it might not be that different from a can of Coke. Mixing fruit with veg also makes the juice more palatable, especially when you are new to it. Fruit is more quickly cleansing in general, but the reasons why vegetables are important is that they contain chlorophyll and very little sugar.
This means you get the cleansing action and your blood sugar remains balanced plus it keeps you regular and gets rid of toxic fats amongst other things.
Verity (pictured left) suggests beetroot as her number one juice ingredient ahead of a big night out since it is proven to increase stamina and endurance.
She also suggests starting small: “One juice a day is a great starting point. Don't be afraid to play around with ingredients and boost with ginger, lemon or superfoods.”
Health nut or concerned citizen
Essentially juicing is a good thing to add to your way of life: it can only do you good. You don't have to become a health obsessive to enjoy it either. It's been proved that having the right balance of nutrients can help to relieve stress and stresses on the body: juicing gives you easy access to that.
If you are coming here for a loaded week of fun or just a couple of big nights out, then you can either opt for a juice cleanse programme or seek out the cafés and health food shops. There's a big variety to choose from across the island and many of these are open all year round.
Where to go
First off there is Passion (pictured below), which has four different locations across the island and has quite an extensive juice list, offering top up shots of superfoods like spirulina. A juice here will set you back around €8 plus organic food is available. In San Antonio, at the edge of the West End, is The Skinny Kitchen, which has a smaller selection of juices all at €4.50 - and with a tagline of: “Eat clean, rave dirty' this place is definitely positioned at the recovery side of the market. Elements, the beach club next to Benirrás beach could be the perfect place to detox and soak up the sun at the same time. Their very popular “Detox Juice” contains apple, celery, carrot, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg and is priced at €10, plus you get the lovely setting.
Plenty of health food shops and cafés do juices too. Biorganic in Ibiza town do several juices of the day for €3. Nearby is Es Tap Nou, the grocers, that has a café attached with juices priced from €3.50. Wild Beets in Santa Gertrudis do simple blends of carrot and apple from €3.50 with superfood juices starting at €7. They are also the people behind the Elements juice bar and iPurify brand which will deliver a selection of juices to your residence. Santa Eularia has a wealth of health shops: Caos does a range of juices that start at €4.50. Its most popular juice is called “The Hulk”, a blend of apple, carrot, ginger and spirulina.
Verity offers complete juice cleanse programmes, which for many are a way of tobogganing onto a path of good health. She adds: “Last year one client did a juice cleanse and gave up drinking alcohol for the whole of July - and she was a club journalist. It's great when you see it transform people into cultivating healthier longer-term habits.”
There are lots of options in Ibiza for you to dip your toe or get fully immersed into the world of juicing. Have fun trying them out and here's to your good health!
"The Ibiza Spotlight Pick Me Up" – courtesy of Verity Smith, founder Ibiza Superfoods
For optimum recovery, a base blend of carrot, celery and cucumber is perfect. This helps to support the liver and provides an excellent balance of electrolytes to help replenish and rehydrate. For one generous sized glass:
- 1 small beetroot
- 3 carrots
- 1 small cucumber
- 2 celery stalks
- 1 handful of parsley
- Add ginger and lemon to taste!
WORDS | Julian Heathcote PHOTOS | Thanks to Ana Lui Photography
