Charcoal? Cactus? Cayenne? 14 Weird, Wacky, and Healthy Juices
Are you ready to drink charcoal lemonade? Or prickly pear cactus extract? Or a juice that tastes like "kimchi, cheese, and gym socks”? You might need an adventurous palate for that last concoction. But one thing is true. The popularity of green juice and smoothies has resulted in an explosion of creativity in the wellness beverage category, as you’ll see in our slide show above.
Are these elixirs good for you? It depends who you ask. Many of the beverages come with a variety of health claims, from clearer skin to better digestion, but none of the company’s websites offer much in the way of scientific proof or explanations.
Still, you are what you eat—or drink—and these beverages are more appealing to a growing segment of the population than traditional carbonated soft drinks. (Soda sales have declined in the U.S. for nine years in a row, according to Forbes.) Eric Helms, the founder and chief executive officer of Juice Generation, a chain of New York shops that has been around since 1999, insisted this isn’t a fad. "The majority of my customers visit each day as part of their lifestyle,” he said.
Check out the slideshow above to see some of the more unique drinks on the market today.
Love the juicing trend? Check out these stories and recipes:
Meet the juice guru who wants to save the world
Try this kale mango smoothie recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop
