Tasting Arcadia

Episode 18 - Mamma's Juicery

• Karen Mac Nair • Season 2 • Episode 18

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On today’s episode of Tasting Arcadia, Karen Mac Nair dives into the refreshing world of cold-pressed juicing with Alejandro and Brandon from Mamma's Juicery, a family-owned, Latina-operated business bringing health and flavor to the San Gabriel Valley.

For more information and tickets to the Taste of Arcadia visit TasteOfArcadia.com.

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John Villa:

Welcome to Tasting Arcadia, the official podcast of Taste of Arcadia. Taste of Arcadia is an all-inclusive event featuring food and drinks from the San Gabriel Valley restaurants, all for one price Sample food, wine, beer and spirits. Check out our brand new cars, visit our business showcase booths, smile at our photo booth and shake it on the dance floor with me, john Villa from Dance Syndicate DJ Entertainment. Taste of Arcadia is September 13th at Santa Anita Park. The fun goes from 2 to 6 pm, with special VIP entrance at 1 pm. Don't forget this is a 21 and over event. Get your tickets today at tasteofarcadiacom. Now let's hear it for our host, Karen Mac Nair.

Karen Mac Nair:

Thanks, John, for introducing me. It's so good to hear your voice. Gosh, it's exciting that every episode, you join us. That's John Villa from Dance Syndicate. I'm Karen Mac Nair, the CEO at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce. You are listening to the Tasting Arcadia podcast, where we are tasting our way through the Arcadia and San Gabriel Valley, really, and we're meeting someone from Monrovia today. We're learning more about what food and drinks are out there and what businesses we can go support, because that is the whole point. In front of us today I have Alejandro and Brandon. They are from Mama's Juicery in Monrovia. Welcome, gentlemen.

Brandon Martinez:

Thank you, hello, thank you.

Karen Mac Nair:

I am excited to learn about your business. I've got a lot of great questions for you, so we're going to jump right in. Why don't you tell us a little bit about your business?

Alejandro Carvajal:

Well, we're called Mama's Juicery. We're a cold-pressed juice bar. We're right there on Myrtle, Old Town, Monrovia, Myrtle and Olive. We're family owned and operated. A Latina owned business.

Karen Mac Nair:

Love that Now. Is there any other locations?

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yes, we have two other ones. We have one in Baldwin Park right down the 605.

Karen Mac Nair:

And then we have one that's pretty far all the way in Murrieta about two hours oh, wow, yeah, that's a trek.

Alejandro Carvajal:

So if you're driving and you're going somewhere the casino.

Karen Mac Nair:

If you're going to san diego, you can stop by. Okay, I'm excited to hear about this. The um business in monrovia. Hours of operations. When can I come visit you?

Brandon Martinez:

that one is open from seven days a week, and the only day that we close late would be on Fridays from 7 am to 10 pm, and then any other day is from 7 am to 9 pm.

Karen Mac Nair:

And that's because the street fair, I'm assuming. So when you're walking around the street fair, you can get. I have the luxury of seeing the names, but you can get a little energy or detox when you're walking by.

Brandon Martinez:

We also do samples there. Oh, you do do samples. They go and try it. We offer it as a sample and they just are surprised by the taste, because it's the most greenest one we have.

Karen Mac Nair:

Yeah isn't that amazing. I feel like growing up as a kid like the green vegetables are the ones we didn't like yes and then you see a green juice and you're like, is it going to be my favorite? And it, it can be yeah, just that, go green.

Alejandro Carvajal:

It's all, all the veggies that you can think of, and the only fruit it has is cucumber oh, oh, really. Yeah, so it's a really, really green juice.

Karen Mac Nair:

And quite refreshing, then, with the cucumber flavors in it. Wow. So with the juices they're 100% juice.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yeah, they're cold-pressed. So we have a big machine in there. It's called a ZoomX Mastery Machine, so it's called a cold-pressed. It presses all of the juice out of everything. Wow, from spinach to cucumber, pineapple presses everything out.

Karen Mac Nair:

It's 100 juice that is amazing yeah, so none of our juices have any water in them, okay that was going to be my question, if there was any water base. No, it's just all the natural juices that are in it. Wow, do you find, if it's a certain season, certain juices are more popular.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yes, Okay, in the summer, I would say more of the juices that have like watermelon, pineapple, the ones that have like a higher water content, like the cucumber, the watermelon. And then during the winter people look for the milks. We also have milks. We have like almond milk. We have a cashew milk, and then we have a cashew almond milk with cacao in it.

Karen Mac Nair:

So do you make the milks there?

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yes, we do those too. Those are also cold pressed as well. Oh wow, yeah.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay, I keep offering ideas. That's an.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Instagram video if I haven't watched it. And shots too. Oh really, yeah, ginger shots turmeric wheatgrass.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay. So if you, If you're starting to feel like I might have been under the weather a little bit, getting a couple ginger shots and some wheatgrass would really help burst that energy back up. So what was the inspiration for owning this business, being part of this business?

Alejandro Carvajal:

So my mom is Mama.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay, what a great name.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Her inspiration was basically taking a classic, like a classic Mexican bionicle spot, mixing it with like a press juicery, and then including all the acai bowls, the smoothies, so it's all that in one.

Karen Mac Nair:

Oh wow.

Alejandro Carvajal:

So we have something for everybody. You know, we have, like fresas con crema ambionicos, we have cold pressed juice, we have smoothies shots, anything you can think of.

Karen Mac Nair:

Wow, and it's all at the one location All at the one location. That's amazing. Did she grow up having this passion? Was it something?

Alejandro Carvajal:

No, my dad had a. He still has his Mexican restaurant in LA. Okay, and my mom was in charge of the fruit spot, a little corner selling fruits and making juices and from that I guess she got the inspiration and she opened her own spot here in Monrovia.

Karen Mac Nair:

It's so smart, just because we don't realize the healing powers of fruits, the energy powers of fruits, how much it can help us Spirit mind and body really in all of us.

Alejandro Carvajal:

My mom is really really big on that. If you ever talk to her, she's really really big on mind, spirit and body. Okay, cool, and just you know you are what you eat.

Karen Mac Nair:

Yeah Well, I'm going to taste it in a few minutes, but I see it in her products. Like, really, it is about taking care of our whole health. Yep what is some way that we can support your business. As we're a community, we want to give back to small businesses Any ideas of ways we can support you.

Alejandro Carvajal:

I would say, just come in, you know, buy a juice, buy a smoothie and honestly, what we've seen that's been really effective is just posting on social media tagging us on. Instagram on TikTok. It has really helped us over the past maybe year and a half. Oh, wow, Okay.

Karen Mac Nair:

So it's tell a friend, but even more than just verbal, on social media is really powerful, yeah, nowadays, so wow okay, I love that. So go out, try it, post tag and then tell a friend and buy a ginger shop for someone. So this is your first year at taste of arcadia, right, I'm so excited you guys are there um. One of our staff members, jose luis, I know has been very persistent but it's been our desire to really have some good juices.

Karen Mac Nair:

It's gonna. It's september 13th, so I feel a warm day coming on in the afternoon and that there's going to be a long line for you guys. Why don't you any ideas which juices you're taking, what you're thinking?

Alejandro Carvajal:

For sure the Maximus.

Karen Mac Nair:

And the Aztec juice.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Those are our best sellers.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay, so the Maximus. What is in that juice?

Alejandro Carvajal:

That one is beets, carrots, cucumber, lemon. Red and green apple ginger turmeric lime and orange juice.

Brandon Martinez:

Okay yeah.

Karen Mac Nair:

It is a wonderful red, bright red color, very rich in color. Is there a goal that you're trying to reach with this one? Does it help a certain part of our bodies?

Brandon Martinez:

So it actually does help a lot with weight loss and with high blood pressure.

Karen Mac Nair:

I'll take five, so it's really good yeah. So the beets and ginger is really what makes the difference.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yes, it's also anti-inflammatory as well, oh nice Ginger and turmeric.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay, I'd love that. And tell me a little bit about the Aztec.

Alejandro Carvajal:

The Aztec, that one's the prickly pear or the cactus pear, however you know it as, so that one has a red and green version of that, and then it has a pineapple, ginger and lemon. Uh, that one's also really good for inflammation okay, it's good for the digestion as well oh nice, that one.

Karen Mac Nair:

I noticed that the base it's. It's almost like a mixed drink, like it's got a nice orange base and then turns red. So then you shake it up to get everything all yeah.

Brandon Martinez:

So once it settles down, everything just goes. This would just be like the ginger settled down.

Karen Mac Nair:

Oh the ginger.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Okay, it's a beautiful rainbow color yeah, it's really, it's a really pretty color um, is there anything else about your business you wanted to share with us? Uh, we just launched our, our website, mamasjuicerycom, so we have the pickup orders there and then we're releasing the cleanses. So six-pack, one day juices and then we have a one day, three day, five day, um. So those are all coming out within the next week or so. Um, we have gotten orders already. We have one right now.

Alejandro Carvajal:

It's the beginner okay um, but we're gonna have like a green one. We're gonna have the best sellers package if we have a six pack of celery. We have a six pack of this one right here, the mama's detox, okay, and then monrovia is getting a little bit bigger of a menu. We're. We have a six pack of this one right here, the mama's detox, okay, and then monrovia is getting a little bit bigger of a menu we're gonna have salads and toast like avocado toast okay, now you're talking toast that's coming, all coming pretty soon so now big question happy hour.

Karen Mac Nair:

do you have any happy hour specials? Yes, which I know is a weird question to ask you guys, sorry this is a juicery. But I'm just feeling like, is there a happy hour special?

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yeah, we do have a happy hour. It's 7.50 for an orange juice and a ginger shot before 12 pm. So it's all morning.

Karen Mac Nair:

It's morning happy hour. See folks, you can also have an exciting morning. You don't have to wait till after work. You start your day off right with a little energy, a little ginger shot, your little morning happy hour. It makes the day more sparkly.

Brandon Martinez:

It does and you feel good.

Karen Mac Nair:

Yeah, that is great. Okay, I also see in front of me the All Star.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yeah.

Karen Mac Nair:

What is in that one?

Alejandro Carvajal:

It's an orange color, that one's carrots, red and green, apple, lemon and ginger.

Karen Mac Nair:

okay, yeah, it's beautiful yeah and then the detox you've been talking about quite a bit.

Karen Mac Nair:

Yes, what's in that one again remind me that one has aloe vera, coconut water, cucumber and pineapple with lemon okay, it's really hydrating with the coconut water okay, especially right now, with the heat and the temperature changing we know it's going to be warm the next couple months. I always feel like that is a great way to hydrate and especially sometimes I feel like when you drink water it's great for our bodies. Don't anyone comment that it's not great. It's wonderful for our bodies, we all love it but you feel like sometimes you need just a little more. Yes, and it sounds like the detox would really help take you to that spot to help hydrate and really make it some. Just a splash, a little splash of hydration. So an angelus is that or age so I'm looking at sideways ageless.

Karen Mac Nair:

What's in the ageless?

Alejandro Carvajal:

that one's pineapple, cucumber, green apple, spinach and mint okay, has your mom perfected this ageless? Yeah, you see my mom, she, she's, uh, my mom's about to be 50 and she looks no older than 30.

Karen Mac Nair:

Oh, I love that, okay, and that name my dad came up with it. Oh, he did.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Well, my dad has came up with most of the names. He's really like really creative with the names.

Karen Mac Nair:

I love that. And the Energizer that one is. It's not the bunny, it's a drink, so that one has pineapple, turmeric and orange juice, and Lime.

Brandon Martinez:

Lime.

Karen Mac Nair:

Lime. Okay, I see a comment like there's something about the citrus with different, like a sweet fruits with a little tangy. There's definitely a blend. How do you come up with what the combination is going to be?

Alejandro Carvajal:

well, it takes us a couple, a couple days. We we sample it. Um, we'll try it out. Um, like, right now we have the a new juice. It's called laguna and that one's really, really pretty color. It's like a turquoise so that one has pineapple, we're looking at green apple or pear, and then it has lemon, ginger and blue spirulina. Oh, so that one has pineapple, we're looking at green apple or pear, and then it has lemon, ginger and blue spirulina. Oh so that one. It comes out a really pretty color.

Brandon Martinez:

We're just seeing how what our recipe was going to be okay, we had to mess around and find out what we like with it.

Karen Mac Nair:

Yeah so does your mom let inspiration come from staff also? Okay, yeah, I love that the staff is also family and friends.

Alejandro Carvajal:

So yay everybody gets in on it it and it's really fun to bring out a new juice.

Karen Mac Nair:

And lots of trying your experiments.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yeah.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay, so you have to tell me what was one that did not go as positively as you would think.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Well, recently. So we have this new one called the Beetle right, it's beet, strawberry, watermelon, uh and grape yeah okay, and strawberry as well. And so brandon was saying let's put ginger in it, because beets and ginger goes really well. And he what did you try with it was beets, strawberry, watermelon and ginger. So ginger instead of grape and nobody liked it no bueno yeah.

Brandon Martinez:

Like somehow the grape was the one that made it.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yeah.

Brandon Martinez:

Tastes really good.

Karen Mac Nair:

Isn't that well, that's incredible. Yeah, so do you have like base fruits that are important to have in each one, or just any combination?

Alejandro Carvajal:

No, we like to make a combination of everything we like to have like a flavor palette for everybody, believe it or not. Some people like the really really green juices, and then we also have really sweet ones. We have some that have strawberry, raspberry, peach, mango guava, we have really sweet ones.

Karen Mac Nair:

So right now is probably the great time, because fruit season. Oh yeah, I feel like it's peak right now, the other day I was just eating like snacking on watermelon for that reason, just feeling like you needed hydration and you just wanted a little something, so I could see how going to you guys could really help.

Brandon Martinez:

We have a summer drink which is watermelon, strawberry, orange and pineapple.

Alejandro Carvajal:

It's really good. Yeah, that was the juice of the month last month.

Brandon Martinez:

That's another thing about us. We have juices of the month. So each month we rotate one of the juices from the fridge and we make that specific juice the juice of the month.

Alejandro Carvajal:

And it'll usually be seasonal produce that we put into it. Just because we get our produce locally. So, it'll be like a seasonal, like the summer. You know, the watermelon and the strawberry were in season, so that became our juice of the month.

Karen Mac Nair:

So do you announce on Instagram, TikTok, your juice of the month. We will oh nice, okay, so follow, you guys Follow us, and then you can get updates right there.

Brandon Martinez:

And then also the price is half off for the bottle.

Karen Mac Nair:

Ooh for the juice of the month. So even if you don't know, I'm just saying you should probably try it out that month. Try it out, see what your favorites are yeah, okay, another idea I have freeze them into little ice cubes and then you can have them in your drinks later. Yeah, yeah.

Alejandro Carvajal:

That can work too.

Karen Mac Nair:

You can freeze them. Yeah, you can do that. Sorry. Now I'm thinking, hmm, how could I turn this into a wonderful drink? Okay, I feel like we need to start tasting a few, if that's okay with you. Which?

Alejandro Carvajal:

one would you like to try?

Karen Mac Nair:

I'm going to jump in. Let me try the detox to start All right here you go.

Brandon Martinez:

Okay, just shake.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay, so they're handing me this bottle. I love it that they're all branded. They have your beautiful logo on it the design. So is that your mom's cute face, or supposed to be?

Alejandro Carvajal:

It's supposed to be.

Karen Mac Nair:

Inspired by, with a wonderful hair of fruits and vegetables. Okay, shaking it up. It's a cold press detox 100% organic, no preservatives. Oh, that's important. Shake well. Separation is natural. That's my teacher voice, did you like that? Right here, just to say separation is natural. Do not be teacher voice. Did you like that? Right here. Separation is natural. Do not be alarmed, just shake it up. Okay, this is a detox. Taking a drink Ooh, that's so good.

Alejandro Carvajal:

It's a little sour.

Karen Mac Nair:

Pineapple Banana Is there banana?

Alejandro Carvajal:

in it. No, there's no banana Am.

Brandon Martinez:

I making it up now. Now you want to make your own ginger, I know.

Karen Mac Nair:

Now I'm so inspired about making it so I definitely taste the pineapple.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yeah.

Karen Mac Nair:

Is there ginger in this one?

Alejandro Carvajal:

No, I'm really making it up now, okay, tell me what's in it.

Karen Mac Nair:

You're imagining stuff? Okay, tell.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Pineapple, cucumber, lemon, aloe vera and coconut water and coconut water.

Karen Mac Nair:

It is good yeah.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Really good. Yeah, it's one of the better sellers.

Karen Mac Nair:

So when you said you're going to do a detox pack, there'll be smaller bottles.

Alejandro Carvajal:

No, there'll be those this size yeah.

Karen Mac Nair:

And then anything else with it.

Alejandro Carvajal:

You mentioned a bit. Right now we're looking at just a six-pack of juices you mentioned. Right now we're looking at, uh, just a six pack of juices, and then those will be like the, the introductory ones, and then we're gonna have like a bigger one that'll have either four or five juices, and then I'll have a couple of shots as well oh, nice, yeah, and this bottle is 16 ounces.

Karen Mac Nair:

I just want to tell everyone this is a nice 16 ounce bottle so you can take it on the go yep with you, yeah which is great. So will you, do you want to tell me what your favorites are and try those with me, so I'm not drinking alone? I don't have a friend drink by herself.

Brandon Martinez:

My personal favorite is our Maximus juice which is beets, carrots, cucumber, red and green apple, ginger, turmeric, lime and orange juice. Just go ahead and drink it.

Karen Mac Nair:

Oh, you want me to try it for you?

Alejandro Carvajal:

Shake it up.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay, shake it up, shake it up. Yep, I'm going to start singing, I'm going to smell it first. Ooh Lime.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Lemon.

Karen Mac Nair:

Lime, I got it right that time, you guys.

Brandon Martinez:

I'm sure I brought the Revive.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Oh God or the new booster.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay, so good smooth yeah, really smooth that one's a

Brandon Martinez:

local favorite in Monrovia for sure, yeah, it's our top seller okay, love it.

Karen Mac Nair:

I see why taking a second drink. Is there a vegetable in here?

Alejandro Carvajal:

yes, what is it?

Karen Mac Nair:

uh, beets and carrots okay, the beets, that's what I taste. It tastes delicious, though it's got a sweet taste to it. Yeah, yeah, that's good probably from the apples, oh apples and orange juice okay, you guys, if I did a blind test, I could not guess I would totally fail. But but it's delicious. Okay, one more.

Alejandro Carvajal:

One more. What's the next one? What's your favorite? I would say the Aztec. I would say the Aztec.

Karen Mac Nair:

The.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Aztec is pretty cool.

Karen Mac Nair:

I'm shaking it up. This one has turmeric in it, right.

Alejandro Carvajal:

No, that one has ginger. You know what we could do.

Karen Mac Nair:

The turmeric this was energizer that one has, guys. Oh well, you at least you know I'm being honest. A quick guessing, oh good, yeah really good a zing. At the end, what's the zing?

Alejandro Carvajal:

Maybe the ginger.

Karen Mac Nair:

The ginger yeah.

Brandon Martinez:

Ginger and lemon.

Karen Mac Nair:

I love that. Yeah, ooh, I like it.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yeah, that one's really good.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay, I see why. Top three favorites. I haven't had the others yet, but I can see why. Yeah, mmm.

Brandon Martinez:

Very good.

Karen Mac Nair:

You can sample more at the store. Thank you and it's nice to know that everyone can go and sample. Yeah, you don't have to walk in and make and make a commitment yet you can try something new sample it. Yep, and I'm gonna say this to everybody out there don't judge what you think something's gonna taste like. Taste it, then hear what's in it.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Another thing is the smell. Of some juices are a little iffy.

Karen Mac Nair:

The flavors are good. The flavor is good.

Alejandro Carvajal:

We have one that's called the Revive, and that one's really, really green and it also has a kick of garlic.

Karen Mac Nair:

It smells like garlic, but when you drink it, of course you taste a little bit of garlic, but you taste everything else and it's pretty good when you drink it, of course you taste a little bit of garlic, but you taste everything else and it's pretty good Because, even like with the beet aspect of it, if someone had told me a beet was in it, I might be like before I taste it, but after tasting it you just know that they're. Yeah, you don't. It's just got a great flavor. You know that something's in it, but don't let your mind mess with your taste buds. Have your taste buds go first. Yes, is your taste buds? No, have your taste buds to go first. Yes is the big takeaway. Um well, thank you so much for being here. I can't believe we're already at the end of the podcast. Is there anything else you wanted to share just before we go? I don't want to miss out on anything um baldwin park.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Our baldwin park location, which is our newest location, is having our one year anniversary oh yeah, congratulations, aug. August 22nd.

Karen Mac Nair:

Okay.

Alejandro Carvajal:

We're going to have $1 orange shoes. We're going to have a DJ. It's going to be really fun.

Brandon Martinez:

And free shirts.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Yay, I love that.

Karen Mac Nair:

They're wonderful t-shirts. They're black, they will fit everyone. You'll enjoy them, with a wonderful logo on it. Well, thank you both for being here. Thank you both for being here. Thank you for agreeing to be at taste of Arcadia. We're so excited. Get your tickets today so you could taste all of these great juices that I just told you about, and then got all the ingredients mixed up so you can figure it out on your own at taste of Arcadia. So go to taste of Arcadiacom to get your tickets. September 13th, we are at Santa Anita park. Um, we're so excited to see everyone there. So excited to be back, and thank you both for being here.

Alejandro Carvajal:

Thank you for having us.

Karen Mac Nair:

We will see you all soon. And John, go ahead, take us away.

John Villa:

Thank you, karen, for another great episode. You can hear us on YouTube, apple Podcasts, spotify, amazon Music and iHeart Radio. Don't forget, join us on September 13th at Santa Anita Park for Taste of Arcadia. You can get your tickets now at tasteofarcadiacom. Thanks again for joining us for Tasting Arcadia. We'll see you at the Taste.