Recently I was invited to attend a juice tasting at Skyebird Juice Bar & Experimental Kitchen, located in the East End Market. I had been to Skyebird before, on my last visit to East End Market, but it was a busy Saturday and I didn’t have the chance to try anything out. So I was super excited about this opportunity. It was a small group that was invited so I knew it would be an intimate gathering that would give us all a chance to learn about Skyebird.
*Side note: If you have not been to East End Market yet – GO NOW! It is super cool. You won’t regret it.
So just what IS Skyebird you ask? Here are a few fun facts!
- Skyebird began in 2012 through farmers markets and events and opened its first location in the East End Market in October 2013.
- It is owned by the husband and wife team of Krystal and Devin Edwards.
- They sell Cold Pressed Juice, Juice Cleanses, Smoothies, Kombucha, Raw food, fermented vegetables, and hot sauces.
- 100% Organic – Uses all organic produce and local as much as possible.
- Fruit and vegetable pulp is repurposed to make item such as falafels, macaroons and pineapple jerky. Pulp is also available to the public for composting and supporting the downtown backyard chicken project.
- Certified Holistic Health Coach and 2 Herbalists on staff.
- A 16 ounce juice on average contains more than 4 pounds of produce.
We tried tried 6 different juices along with kombucha and falafel that they make with the pulp from the juicers. I’d never been to a juice bar so I was really interested in learning about their juices and their company.
Skyebird uses cold press juicers to make their juices. To use these juicers they must peel all the fruit and veggies before they go into the juicer. Also, it takes about an hour to make around a gallon of juice. Even though the process is more time consuming the juice comes out smoother and they like the overall product better. Thinking about getting a cold press juicer for yourself? You may want to reconsider that since they run about $2,500 a piece!
I have to admit that I didn’t like all of the juices. I definitely liked the sweeter ones better than the others. My favorite was the Fresh Beet juice. I love beets anyway, but even folks who don’t normally like beets (“They taste like dirt!”) liked the beet juice. It was super tasty and I could see myself easily getting addicted to this juice.
One of my favorite things about Skyebird is how eco-friendly they are. All the paper goods they use are primarily recycled material and or compostable. They do not use plastic! All beverages are served in US made Mason jars which can be returned for a discount and are reused. If you bring back your mason jars you get a 50 cent refund. You can also buy a Skyebird mason jar (that even has a handle) that saves you 10% off each time you bring it in for a refill. How cool is that?
Even though this was a juice tasting, they did talk about the raw foods that they serve and we were able to try their falafel. I’d never had falafel before and I really liked it. Krystal had been telling us about their food when she mentioned their zucchini pasta with marinara and it really peaked my interest. I ended up buying one to take home with me for the lunch the next day. I LOVED IT! You just shake up the contents of the jar and its ready to eat. And of course you can bring back your jar for that 50 cent refund.
I’m sure one of the biggest things on your mind right now is the prices of their juices and food. Well, I do find it a bit on the high side but I also understand why. Using organic foods and reusable products (ie Mason Jars instead of plastic cups) makes things a little bit higher. Do I think its worth the extra cost? Absolutely! Get yourself one of those Skyebird mason jars and take advantage of that 10% off.
By the end of our tasting I was in love with Skyebird. I loved the owner, I loved their ideas and why they do what they do, and I loved the product. East End Market has brought a lot of cool business to Orlando and Skyebird is definitely one of my favorites. Do yourself a favor and go check them out.
