Pure Love Juice: A Healthy Pick-Me-Up

This past weekend I traded my ice cream habits for something a little more pre-spring break bod appropriate and went for a refreshing acai bowl from Pure Love Juice-aka the cutest juice bar in Tucson. Although I have the biggest sweet tooth, I also love fueling my body with healthy foods that will give me lots of energy and the options at Pure Love Juice do just that! The menu consists of yummy AND healthy (who knew?!) pick-me-ups for a busy errand-filled Saturday, or any day really!

Owner, Marisol, is from Nogales and graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Agriculture of Business and Management three years ago. The juice bar has only been open for about six months now, but Marisol is happy with the growth the shop has already had considering Tucson businesses rely a lot on “word of mouth”. She says, “we didn’t do a lot of marketing in the beginning, but social media has helped a lot. We do a lot of community events where we sample things out.”

After graduating, Marisol did work that related to her degree and soon after was certified at Pure Joy Academy in holistic and wellness for her own personal reasons. “I wanted to heal myself,” she said. Her friends then started asking her to make them juice cleanses, which helped her realize she could start a business. Before Pure Love Juice, she owned a juice cleanse business where she worked from a commercial kitchen making juices and delivering them. One place she delivered to every morning was Body Works, the pilates studio next to Pure Love Juice. She saw there was a small space available next to the pilates studio and took advantage of the opportunity. “Everything fell into place.”

Marisol says she always knew she wanted to own her own business but she never thought it would be in the food industry. “My mom had her own business so I kind of grew up with that.”

Marisol has a lot of big plans for her local business. In the near future she hopes to complete smaller projects like getting a line of bottled juices as well as increasing their presence in the local farmers markets they participate in. If that goes well there could be talk of a second location.

Marisol is a firm believer in giving back to the community and she knew when she opened a business, philanthropy is something she wanted to participate in. She has plans on helping a different local charity each month; there will be a “juice of the month” and a percentage of each juice purchase will be donated to the “charity of the month.” “When you give you get back…that’s how I grew up…”

She had me try her three top sellers: Brazilian Acai Bowl, Green Juice, and the Cure-All Shot. The bowl contained an acai blend with granola, fruit, and super foods on top-my favorite! The green juice consisted of kale, spinach, parsley, lemon, celery, cucumber, ginger mint, and apple. The Cure-All Shot had garlic, ginger, lemon, turmeric, and cayenne, which is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral, which is great for the immune system. There was also honey on the bottom and a strawberry on the side to use for a chaser (which was my favorite part-this shot had a major kick to it)!

Marisol wants to help people understand the benefits of raw food like she has had the opportunity to do. “You’ll notice a change in energy level and stress level…it’s not about a trend, like being super skinny, it’s about being really healthy…and feeling really good. I like how I feel, it’s good energy.”

I’m hooked! I absolutely love the idea of supporting local businesses. And even more, I love that every time I have been to Pure Love Juice Marisol is working right alongside her employees. She is the sweetest person and genuinely wants her business to help her customers and the community. The idea of this little walk-up juice bar is so great. Finding new, creative ways to be healthy and eat healthy can be difficult sometimes, but Pure Love Juice makes it simple. Take a trip down to Tucson and try the Brazilian Acai Bowl, you won’t be disappointed!

To see more from Pure Love Juice, follow them on Instagram @PureLoveJuice.