Jamba Juice, for my followers in other countries, is an American food franchise providing healthier alternatives for food on the run. Mostly it’s fruit and vegetable smoothies and every now and then, when some new thing has proven good for your health, they give that a go as well. This week they’ve added “Ginger Shots” to their menu. I know this because I went there recently. "Ginger Root, is a proven natural detoxifier, and is very useful for busting up colds” so says the girl behind the counter.
They’ve had Wheat Grass Shots for years (juiced grass) that are highly nutritional and very beneficial. That's what I went there for. I’d been battling a nasty cold for days and thought perhaps one of those would help beat it. But this young lady was all about promoting the newest product and getting the sale. And she was good, very good. Upon hearing my obviously stuffy head voice, she brightly suggested trying one of their NEW Ginger Shots.
Here’s the thing about me; I’m all for trying new things, but I already know I have a dislike for Ginger. I wasn't interested in ingesting ounces of it highly concentrated liquid form. But this girl was good. She rattled off all the benefits then zeroed in on my weak links for the kill. “It’ll help bust up that cold,” she said. “And it costs less than a Wheat Grass Shot.” Uh-oh, a double whammy. Get rid of this cold AND save me money?? But I'm really not found at all of Ginger. It's one of those spices that a little bit will get you clear to China! She could tell I was struggling with this decision. “Look, if you don’t like it, I’ll make you a double Wheat Grass for free.” Like I said, she was good.
Alright then, what is there to lose (besides whatever skin it comes in contact with)? "Oh, alright sure, I guess I'll try it." Her next question was NOT comforting though. “Would you like that diluted with a little bit of lemon juice or a little bit orange juice?” Diluted?? My eyebrows went up in question. “It’s pretty strong, you’ll want it diluted,” she was nodding. Oh dear. Uhhhh, Oh go on, you’re an adult for heaven’s sake. “Orange juice please.” The clerk, having made her sale, (undoubtedly with a bonus of some sort, I know because I used to work at Jamba Juice, they provide great incentives for successfully pushing a new product) was quite pleased. She hopped to with admirable enthusiasm. We both watched a whole small orange slide down into the juicing machine and nothing but the purest, freshest orange juice flow out into a cup at the bottom. Then into a different juicing machine, she dropped two handfuls of sliced fresh ginger root. A cloudy creamish liquid flowed from the spout into another small container. She poured some of the orange juice and all of the ginger into my shot glass then took a tiny scoop of Cayenne Pepper and tossed it on top. Cayenne Pepper?!!!! Holy Cow and oh crap!!! She turned back to me and placed the shot glass and a fresh orange wedge on a small plate in front of me. I stared at it for a moment. I gathered my nerve. I picked up the cup and looked at it. I must have looked like I held my doom in my hand, because that's what it felt like. I was going to smell it first but she was quick to stop me, “It’s best not to smell it first,” she warned.
Alright then, nooooo smelling . . . . . . . . . here goes. I knocked back half of it and phfffoooommpf, DAMN! My eyes crossed, my hair stood on end and I shot straight out of my shoes! I levitated there three feet off the ground, rattled and dazed with my eyes watering. “The orange, the orange,” I heard her say. I jammed the orange wedge into my mouth and began sucking on it for all I was worth. Two seconds . . . five seconds . . . eight seconds, then aaahhhhh . . . . . . . . much better. I found my breath and sucked it in. Hooooooly Hell! What the bleep was THAT?! My stunned and shocked body wanted to know! I wiped at the tear drops and drool on the counter with my shirt sleeve. I knew she was watching me and waiting for a response but couldn’t speak. Never has my mouth felt such fire and fury. It wasn't the flavor that was tough to swallow, it was the potency!! The potency will send you through the roof! I held up a finger indicating I needed a moment. Half of the liquid remained. Could I do it, could I get the last half down? Was I willing to risk feeling The Coward in the face of an experiment in good health?
With no words, only raised eyebrows, I lifted what remained of the orange wedge indicating I’d appreciate another. She grabbed another and placed it on the plate. I anchored myself to the counter, took a deep breath, held it, and tossed back what was left. The second after it cleared tonsils, the orange wedge was in my mouth. And still, it rattled my bones. I’m telling you, that stuff is Hot Damn ShaaaaAZzaaaammm with Three Triple Flips to Boot!!! No need for coffee. All systems were GO on full alert and ready for ANY kind of action!! WeeeeHawwww and I’m wiping tears away.
“Sooooooooo, whadidya think?” her voice came drifting at me. My brain wasn’t thinking yet, all the neurons were still zapping away. “You didn’t like it did you,” it was more a statement from her than a question. Finally I managed a few words, “Um, not really. Can’t say I liked it – BUT, I certainly FELT it.” She offered to make me a double Wheatgrass Shot for free. I managed to croak out a polite thank you and gasp that that wasn’t necessary. I smiled, at least I think I did. I know I tried - can’t really be sure, my mouth was numb. I gathered the mental bits of me that had scattered and left the store.
Now here’s the silly, awesome, wonderful part. That Ginger Shot had enough fire in it to lift the space shuttle off the ground. There’s NO WAY any unwanted germ was about to stay in my body. Within the hour my head was clearing and my body already processing out the yucky stuff. I swear to God - it’s true. So true in fact, I went back that evening for another and got two for my daughter who was sicker than I was! She wasn’t hot on the idea, she dislikes ginger more than I do. But she was feeling so darn crappy she was willing to try anything to feel better. Mind you, this is a teenager, very STUBBORN about trying any new form of voodoo – especially if a parent suggests it. But, like I said, she felt really awful so she did.
Her first words this morning were, “Mom can you go back and get me another Ginger Shot?” She felt noticeably better. And so did I. So back I went. And will go again tomorrow, but only for her. My cold is gone! BooRah!!
They’ve had Wheat Grass Shots for years (juiced grass) that are highly nutritional and very beneficial. That's what I went there for. I’d been battling a nasty cold for days and thought perhaps one of those would help beat it. But this young lady was all about promoting the newest product and getting the sale. And she was good, very good. Upon hearing my obviously stuffy head voice, she brightly suggested trying one of their NEW Ginger Shots.
Here’s the thing about me; I’m all for trying new things, but I already know I have a dislike for Ginger. I wasn't interested in ingesting ounces of it highly concentrated liquid form. But this girl was good. She rattled off all the benefits then zeroed in on my weak links for the kill. “It’ll help bust up that cold,” she said. “And it costs less than a Wheat Grass Shot.” Uh-oh, a double whammy. Get rid of this cold AND save me money?? But I'm really not found at all of Ginger. It's one of those spices that a little bit will get you clear to China! She could tell I was struggling with this decision. “Look, if you don’t like it, I’ll make you a double Wheat Grass for free.” Like I said, she was good.
Alright then, what is there to lose (besides whatever skin it comes in contact with)? "Oh, alright sure, I guess I'll try it." Her next question was NOT comforting though. “Would you like that diluted with a little bit of lemon juice or a little bit orange juice?” Diluted?? My eyebrows went up in question. “It’s pretty strong, you’ll want it diluted,” she was nodding. Oh dear. Uhhhh, Oh go on, you’re an adult for heaven’s sake. “Orange juice please.” The clerk, having made her sale, (undoubtedly with a bonus of some sort, I know because I used to work at Jamba Juice, they provide great incentives for successfully pushing a new product) was quite pleased. She hopped to with admirable enthusiasm. We both watched a whole small orange slide down into the juicing machine and nothing but the purest, freshest orange juice flow out into a cup at the bottom. Then into a different juicing machine, she dropped two handfuls of sliced fresh ginger root. A cloudy creamish liquid flowed from the spout into another small container. She poured some of the orange juice and all of the ginger into my shot glass then took a tiny scoop of Cayenne Pepper and tossed it on top. Cayenne Pepper?!!!! Holy Cow and oh crap!!! She turned back to me and placed the shot glass and a fresh orange wedge on a small plate in front of me. I stared at it for a moment. I gathered my nerve. I picked up the cup and looked at it. I must have looked like I held my doom in my hand, because that's what it felt like. I was going to smell it first but she was quick to stop me, “It’s best not to smell it first,” she warned.
Alright then, nooooo smelling . . . . . . . . . here goes. I knocked back half of it and phfffoooommpf, DAMN! My eyes crossed, my hair stood on end and I shot straight out of my shoes! I levitated there three feet off the ground, rattled and dazed with my eyes watering. “The orange, the orange,” I heard her say. I jammed the orange wedge into my mouth and began sucking on it for all I was worth. Two seconds . . . five seconds . . . eight seconds, then aaahhhhh . . . . . . . . much better. I found my breath and sucked it in. Hooooooly Hell! What the bleep was THAT?! My stunned and shocked body wanted to know! I wiped at the tear drops and drool on the counter with my shirt sleeve. I knew she was watching me and waiting for a response but couldn’t speak. Never has my mouth felt such fire and fury. It wasn't the flavor that was tough to swallow, it was the potency!! The potency will send you through the roof! I held up a finger indicating I needed a moment. Half of the liquid remained. Could I do it, could I get the last half down? Was I willing to risk feeling The Coward in the face of an experiment in good health?
With no words, only raised eyebrows, I lifted what remained of the orange wedge indicating I’d appreciate another. She grabbed another and placed it on the plate. I anchored myself to the counter, took a deep breath, held it, and tossed back what was left. The second after it cleared tonsils, the orange wedge was in my mouth. And still, it rattled my bones. I’m telling you, that stuff is Hot Damn ShaaaaAZzaaaammm with Three Triple Flips to Boot!!! No need for coffee. All systems were GO on full alert and ready for ANY kind of action!! WeeeeHawwww and I’m wiping tears away.
“Sooooooooo, whadidya think?” her voice came drifting at me. My brain wasn’t thinking yet, all the neurons were still zapping away. “You didn’t like it did you,” it was more a statement from her than a question. Finally I managed a few words, “Um, not really. Can’t say I liked it – BUT, I certainly FELT it.” She offered to make me a double Wheatgrass Shot for free. I managed to croak out a polite thank you and gasp that that wasn’t necessary. I smiled, at least I think I did. I know I tried - can’t really be sure, my mouth was numb. I gathered the mental bits of me that had scattered and left the store.
Now here’s the silly, awesome, wonderful part. That Ginger Shot had enough fire in it to lift the space shuttle off the ground. There’s NO WAY any unwanted germ was about to stay in my body. Within the hour my head was clearing and my body already processing out the yucky stuff. I swear to God - it’s true. So true in fact, I went back that evening for another and got two for my daughter who was sicker than I was! She wasn’t hot on the idea, she dislikes ginger more than I do. But she was feeling so darn crappy she was willing to try anything to feel better. Mind you, this is a teenager, very STUBBORN about trying any new form of voodoo – especially if a parent suggests it. But, like I said, she felt really awful so she did.
Her first words this morning were, “Mom can you go back and get me another Ginger Shot?” She felt noticeably better. And so did I. So back I went. And will go again tomorrow, but only for her. My cold is gone! BooRah!!