It wasn’t our usual luncheon and there was nothing regular about the rendezvous fixed at the Smoothie Factory in Azaiba’s Sukoon Complex. There was no aroma of grills and roasts wafting out to lead us to the entrance, and no hungry patrons seated around laden tables within to get a sneak peek at the fare on the menu.
Excepting the pre-arranged time, everything was an out of the ordinary experience, burnished with a large dose of freshness in the ambience, the fare and the very taste of the juices, smoothies and yoghurts.
We have never made a secret of our large appetites and have wantonly given in to our foodie cravings with a minimum of the three-course menu; and yet, here we were, content to sip a glass of fresh juice as an appetiser, eat a dollop of flavoured yoghurt with toppings as a main course and bite a protein ball as a dessert. Somewhere along with those three fresh offerings, our hunger was effectively quelled, supplemented by a feeling of freshness, even lightness, as if the hunger was satiated magically, without stuffing our tummies with carbs, fats and sugars.
When you make a date with Smoothie Factory you can be assured of health and detox in doses that are just right to give your body the essential boost to get through the rest of the day. Opened in March this year, the Azaiba outlet is a quintessential Smoothie Factory franchise in its design and brand image, with the ceiling of pipes and open iron frames reflecting a factory setup, complemented by the colourful furniture and vibrant wall décor. The wall facing the main counter acts as a menu, displaying all the items that are available.
Turmeric Drink Beet Root Drink Protein Balls Strawberry Apple Kale
The brand first made its way to Oman last December, when Marash Trading LLC introduced the franchise to the public here with an outlet in Oman Avenues Mall. It soon caught the fancy of the fast-growing tribe of health-conscious individuals seeking fresh and natural options to rock their fitness boats. Marash, which has a stake in a wide range of commercial operations, has plans to extend and branch out to other parts of the country in the coming years.
Founded in Texas, USA, Smoothie Factory is perfectly tailored for health addicts and weight warriors seeking newer avenues to complement their workout sessions. It is a health destination that churns fresh juices and smoothies to boost health and aid weight loss quest. On the menu are real fruit smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, authentic frozen yoghurts and healthy lite foods like salads (oriental and Waldorf salads), waffles and sandwiches and the quintessential coffees, frappes, teas, iced drinks and hot drinks.
The Factory owes its popularity, in no small measure, to the ‘Fresh Juice Cleanse Programs’ it has on offer to meet specific requirements of clients from different walks of life. These range from a one-day programme to 4-day schedules, with the option of free home delivery for the day-to-day juices. The choice of 1 Day Starter Cleanse includes ‘Trim Cleanse’, ‘Green Cleanse’ and ‘Root Cleanse’, which we got to try to experience the joys of living on fresh natural juices that are light on the stomach and nourishing for the body.
Six drinks are provided per day of the programme, which requires one to consume nothing but juices and water. A chart specifying times for each of the scheduled drinks is provided. However, the ones who are working out, while on the programme, have the liberty of tucking into fresh-cut vegetables or fruits.
The juices are 100 per cent real with no preservatives or sugars added – the ones trying out the cleansing programme have the option of customising the programme with the choice of juices on offer for a 1, 2 or 3-day programme. We tried the popular Sweet Beet (beet, cucumber, apple and carrot), Turmeric Sunrise (orange, turmeric and carrot) and Ginger Breeze (carrot, ginger and apple).
The juices are divided as Detox & Reset, Boost & Revive, Cleanse & Refresh, Glow & Replenish, Renew & Balance and Nourish & Satisfy. The smoothies are similarly classified; they comprise Berry Smoothies, Tropical Smoothies, Classic Smoothies, Specialty Smoothies, Protein Smoothies and Green Smoothies. Pick your choice of flavours and let nature work its magic.
On the yoghurt menu are 14 different flavours – however, only 4 are available every week. We tried the indulgent ‘Belgium Chocolate’, the ‘Original’ laced with sweet and tart flavours and the fresh and light ‘Strawberry and Cream’ – with toppings of fresh fruits, nuts and crunchy marshmallows. If you have a bigger appetite, you could choose the portion size and be lavish with the toppings.
Smoothie Factory is all about tasting the power of nature in all its healthy flavours.