La Sombra Juice

I really appreciate their dedication to cultivating community where ever they set-​up shop! La Sombra also gets all of their produce from farms that I recognize at farmers markets, which makes me feel really good about drinking their smoothies and juices, because I know exactly where they’re getting their fruits, veggies, and almonds!
Señor Verde is my favorite drink of theirs, a hearty green froth that tastes so savory yet sweet!
I cannot get enough of the Mango Lassi with turmeric, so unique and delicious!
Last but not least, El Vampiro, so classic, so red, so yummy!
I usually visit them at Mojo Bicycle Café on Divis, but they’re also with Aburayat on First Friday in Oakland, and on 15^th/​Tilde on 2^nd Saturdays in the afternoon!
The women who run La Sombra are so down to earth, make sure to check them out!

Very healthy and tasty smoothies! My favorite is the «la sombra» smoothie actually. And if you like your smoothies a little sweeter just let them know and they’ll make it to perfection! And they owners are super friendly!

La Sombra Juice is inside «Bissap Baobab» on 14^th. open 8 – 2:30, tuesday thru fridays. everythings freshly made. ingredients look the same as other juicers.
drink: «Get Rooted» (12 oz. 6.50)
–carrot, ginger, apple, kale
fresh drink tastely mostly of carrot, apple, little kale
didn’t see much kale going in.
drips:
–tasted ok, not a great value, carrots, apples inexpensive
–friendly, fast service.

Time: 10:43am/55°F cloudy
Purpose: This place is just within throwing stones from Oakland office. So when a colleague came in with a cup I’m not familiar with. A manual hand stamp cup usually means small local business that just started out recently. No funds or connections for high volume machine stamp cups. I took off as soon as she told me where it was, vanished in a cloud of dust, brb!
Ambiance: Located in the West African restaurant Bissap Baobab. The place is basically the African restaurant set up but, La Sombra takes over in the mornings from 8am-2:30pm. After that the restaurant takes over for the evening. The set up involves sandwich ad board on sidewalk, two blackboards with chalk writings on powerpoint presentation tri-​fold stand. Couple of empty hollowed out coconuts, pump air pots, sunflower sprouts, cup sizes display, email list, stacks of events/​partys postcard sizes, La Sombra stickers. There’s no seating in or out strictly a stand and drink or take to go. At that time tables/​chairs are non existence. Just a couple of painted structure beams in middle or room. Forget about bringing a friend to sit and sip it won’t happen here. I would take it to go a block over at Frank Ogawa Park Plaza and sit somewhere.
Staff: Two girls late 20s very friendly and happy. Full of enthusiasm to brighten up your morning. Both have full knowledge of what they sell and how to prepared right the first time around. They ask what kind of fruits/​veggies you like first. Base on what you tell them, they’ll paired you up with a drink close to it.
Cleanliness: Grade A, well kept nothing that sticks out like a sored thumb. Real easy clean as you go type of business. Expecting it to be the same every time.
Eats/​Drinks: Warm cup of chicory root coffee $ 3. Real roots on bottom of French press soaking up the flavor. I first thought that it looks to light to bare any coffee flavor. However it’s not real coffee its more like an herbal drink that get its flavor extracted from the roots. Thus to some it taste like coffee. I end up liking it as it soothes your throat in the mean time.
Products/​Services: Juices: 12oz-​$ 6.50/16oz-$ 8. Flavors-​El Vampiro, The Food Forest, Get Rooted, Orange Sun, Color Me Purple, LA Combinación. Warm drinks: Chicory root coffee $ 3, coconut cream chai $ 3.50, herbal green black teas $ 2. Smoothies: 16oz (only) $ 7.50. Flavors-​Buenos Dias, Pink Colado, Spinach Island Dreams, Mango Lassi, La Naranja, La Sombra. Spirulina add $ 1/​raw sprouted protein add $ 2. All smoothies are made with in-​house raw coconut or almond milk. Close on Sat, Sun, and Mon.
Punch Lines: No seating, closes early, wheelchair accessible, friendly, knowledgeable, no push sales, samples (on some not all available), create your own off menu, coconut/​almond use. Downtown, Chinatown, accessible by all major transportation, street parking, cafes/​restaurants, salon/​nail shops, bar/​pubs, within walking distance to uptown, AC Transit sales location, Broadway shuttle (Free).
Tradeoffs: Great for that once in a week change from coffee to something healthy and delicious but, caffeine free drink. Drinks here works like double duty drinks. Cleanse the inner soul in you for that rejuvenating feeling afterwards.
Final Thoughts: I agree its better than most places that does these type of drinks. Run of the mill places ingredients are lower quality. Here is all about its standards and the way its prepared. I will have to set aside a crowd source funding campaign to try every drink on the list. Its pricey but, no slum dog. Trying to come up with $ 101.50 that’ll cover every single one of them. Any backers?

The juices and smoothies are made, quite literally, from scratch — I got a smoothie with coconut milk, that they made from fresh coconuts in front of me; and sunflower sprouts, that were growing in a little pot on the counter. The only way they could be fresher would be if they had an actual orchard in the back.

This place just opened up down the street from my work. I love this neighborhood evolving and filling with unique and delicious places to visit, shop and eat. I was feeling drowsy and a cold coming on my way to work. I passed by a sign and what caught my eye was «coconut cream chai». I followed the address a block down 15^th street and entered into a beautiful and warm restaurant. I didn’t end up getting the chai, although I will sure have to try it next time. I ordered the Food Forest, with cucumber, greens and lemon and boy did that hit the spot. It was refreshing and I could feel all the vitamins fighting off my cold. It didn’t cure my cold completely but it definitely helped me get through the morning. The staff was super friendly and inviting and informative. I definitely will go back there for a smoothie or lunch. And oh, yes, a warm coconut cream chai. I haven’t seen that anywhere.