After seeing some of my health numbers deteriorate during this pandemic, I realized I needed to make some changes to my eating habits. While brainstorming ways to do that, I had suddenly remembered seeing a Yelp friend post a review of a Nekter Juice Bar where she was encouraged to download the app and register for their rewards program to earn a free 16 oz drink/smoothie. Knowing that there was a Nekter in Long Beach by the traffic circle, I decided to check it out for myself.
After browsing Nekter's website www.nekterjuicebar.com, I noticed that was indeed true. If I provided my email address and downloaded their app, I could earn a reward for a free 16 oz drink/smoothie as a welcome to the Nekter family! I could have redeemed the reward anytime within the next two weeks, but I chose to use it the same day.
As previously mentioned, Nekter in Long Beach is located by the traffic circle. It's in the same plaza as Chipotle, Halal Guys, Vons, Planet Fitness, Baskin Robbins, and a few others, so parking definitely shouldn't be an issue.
I arrived on a Saturday late afternoon at the same time as another customer. We were the only two customers inside at the time, and since I needed time to look at the menu, I let the other customer order first.
As I looked at the menu, I saw that the Functional Smoothies were 50 cents more than Superfood Smoothies and the Fresh Juices. Because my health numbers were getting worse, the Health Nut, a Functional Smoothie, caught my eye. I asked the cashier if the 16 oz free drink/smoothie could be a Functional Smoothie, and she answered affirmatively. I also asked if I could redeem the Yelp check-in offer of a free ginger wellness shot. However, she did not think both could be done in the same transaction, so I just settled for the Health Nut smoothie, which consists of peanut butter, banana, dates, housemade cashew milk, vanilla protein, and agave nectar. You can substitute the peanut butter for almond butter for $1 more, but I stuck with peanut butter.
Next, the cashier asked if I wanted Vanilla Whey Protein or Vanilla Pea Protein. I wasn't familiar with these proteins, but she did mention that pea protein was plant-based, so I went with that.
The wait wasn't too long. Maybe about 3-5 minutes I'd say? And that was with the first customer ordering a bowl and another drink; the staff member who handed him his order also offered a paper bag.
When I got my smoothie, I thought it looked like a milkshake, but it sure didn't taste like one! I wasn't exactly a fan of how it tasted. The smoothie was incredibly thick, and the straw was pretty thin, so you can imagine how much I struggled with each sip! It was easier to drink as the smoothie got warmer, but I left it in my fridge for the next three days. In addition, I could taste the individual dates, which I'm not sure if I was supposed to? Overall, my taste buds thought the Health Nut was "just alright."
On my next visit, I ordered a Cold Brew Protein, another Functional Smoothie, and I liked that one better than the Health Nut. A Cold Brew Protein smoothie consists of cold brew coffee, banana, vanilla protein, housemade cashew milk, and agave nectar. I don't remember how my mood was around the time I ordered that smoothie, but I remember that with every sip I took, I felt better knowing that I was drinking something that was good for my body. If you've been used to milkshakes, milk tea, and other drinks that may have a ton of sugar, you'll notice the taste difference because the drinks at Nekter are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients that are necessary for your body to function properly. Anyways, I almost gave Nekter 3 stars, but I liked the Cold Brew Protein well enough to give it the 4th star.
On that same visit, I had a reward for a free wellness shot, and I chose elderberry. The elderberry shot came in a small cup, but I needed two gulps to finish it. It sure packed a punch, and it sure came in handy at a time when I was feeling kind of drowsy and needed that extra jolt to get me through the afternoon.
Nekter might not have the best tasting drinks, but at least they are healthier than In-N-Out milkshakes! It's good to know that there's an option for healthy drinks and bowls, and I could get points for every purchase I make! However, the drinks seem pretty pricey for the size, and I don't want to fall into the habit of being too healthy. Or a better way to put it, I don't want to splurge too much on the drinks not knowing how much of a benefit it will really have on my health. Only time will tell I guess! read more