Little Stella is partial to watermelon juice. As the daughter of DROUGHT co-founder and CMO Julie James, Stella, 6, regularly taste-tests her mom’s creations.
This local chain, which sells 100-percent organic fruit and vegetable juices, truly is a family effort. Four metro Detroit-native sisters opened the first location in Plymouth in 2012. To date, there are five stores in southeast Michigan with two more heading to downtown Detroit and Ferndale.
The magic is the cold-press method DROUGHT uses to capture all those crucial nutrients in easy-to-drink concoctions. But what really makes it special?
“We’ve found that personally it can be very difficult to eat well on a regular basis,” James says. “Cold-pressed and bottled juice provides our customers with a ‘shortcut’ to acquiring their daily needs of fruits and vegetables by consolidating five pounds of organic produce into one bottle of juice.”
Introduce your kids to fresh raw juices by stopping into DROUGHT – 16-ounce bottles are $9-$11 and range from beets to greens – or creating your own juice at home. Its “Carrot No. 1” recipe is packed with beta-carotene and antioxidants for a great morning juice or midday pick-me-up.
Ingredients
- 2 large organic apples, unpeeled, cut in half
- 7 medium-sized organic carrots
- 3 stalks organic celery
- 1 small organic lemon, peeled
Special equipment
- Juicer or high-power blender, like a Vitamix or Ninja (original)
- Regular blender (modified)
Note: DROUGHT uses a special cold-press for maximum nutrient extraction. This recipe works with a home juicier or, with a little extra work, a regular blender.
Directions
Juicer/high-power blender
Juice the four ingredients. Combine all, mixing lemon to desired taste. Enjoy immediately. Makes about 8 ounces, which is one serving.
Regular blender
Combine ingredients (pre-chop into smaller chunks) in blender – gradually adding extra water for desired consistency (it might be a bit thick at first). After thoroughly blended, strain juice into a bowl using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Squeeze or press down with a spoon to push out more juice. Chill or enjoy right away.
Smoothie conversion tip: Add one full banana for a ticker version.
DROUGHT
Created by four sisters, this homegrown chain serves up raw juices designed to literally squeeze more nutrients into your life.
- Bloomfield Hills: 4078 W. Maple Road, 248-220-4330
- Detroit, Downtown: 719 Griswold St., Suite 110 (coming soon)
- Detroit, Midtown: 441 W. Canfield St., 313-285-1880
- Detroit, West Village: 1814 Parker St., 313-458-8867
- Ferndale: 211 W. Nine Mile Road (coming soon)
- Plymouth: 470 Forest Ave., Suite 11, 734-459-6383
- Royal Oak: 28822 Woodward Ave., 248-850-7528
- Hours: vary by location
