Transforming celery juice from a bitter beverage into a delicious treat is easier. With its crunchy, sweet flavor, California celery pairs well with fruits, herbs, and natural sweeteners to create a palatable, energizing elixir.
Using a household blender to blend its soft stalks, you can skip fancy equipment while adding spices or combining it with carrot and beet for an extra boost. These simple healthy habits make this nourishing drink effortless and enjoyable, turning it into a crave-worthy part of your day.
Easy Ways to Make Celery Juice More Tasty
Enhance celery juice with sweet fruits, herbs, or natural sweeteners to balance its earthy taste. Experiment with apples, cinnamon, or coconut water for a refreshing and flavorful drink.
What Is Celery Juice?
Celery juice, a simple drink made from fresh celery stalks, gained popularity a few years ago when Medical Medium Anthony William highlighted its health benefits in his book Liver Rescue.
He explained that it helps digestion, especially when consumed in the morning on an empty stomach, by restoring hydrochloric acid and activating the gut. Celery juice is mainly made with a juicer or blender, and the fibers are strained using a fine mesh strainer.
Its earthy, herbal taste hints at natural sweetness, while leaving the leaves on can add slight bitterness. Removing the leaves before making them can create a more balanced taste for those sensitive to bitter flavors.
Health Benefits of Celery
Fresh California celery is not only sweet, crunchy, and tasty, but it’s also packed with nutrients that are good for your health.
It contains vitamins A, C, and K and essential minerals like potassium and calcium. This powerhouse ingredient includes antioxidants that help fight free radicals and has been shown to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Thanks to the presence of a compound called 3-n-butylphthalide (BuPh), it also helps to reduce bloating, making it a perfect choice for a nutritious juice.
Select the Best Celery for Juicing
Select the Right Celery
The type of celery you choose can significantly impact the flavor of your juice. Pascal celery is the best choice due to its milder, mellow flavor and reduced stringy fiber.
This variety creates an easy-drinking juice compared to more substantial options like celeriac, which can be overpowering. Stick to inner stalks and leaves, which are the most tender and mild-tasting. Avoid the tougher, bitter outer stalks and base, though adding a slice of the base can increase your juice yield if you prefer.
Soak to Soften
Consider soaking celery in water for 30 minutes before juicing to make your juice smoother and less bitter. This process helps to soften vegetable fibers and dilute the natural bitterness.
For the best results, chop the stalks into 1-2 inch pieces to maximize water absorption during soaking. With these steps, you can transform plain celery juice into a refreshing, enjoyable drink with enhanced flavor and texture.
Sweeten Celery with Complementary Fruits
Enhancing celery juice with the right fruits can transform its robust flavor and vegetal essence into something more enjoyable. The best fruits to mix with carrot juice can also work wonders with celery juice, as their sweetness and flavors complement the taste.
Sweet Apples
Sweet apples are a great choice, especially tart green varieties like Granny Smiths, which pair perfectly in a 1:2 apple-to-celery ratio. Adding a squeeze of lemon brightens the flavors further.
Juicy Peaches
For a sweeter twist, juicy peaches effectively mask celery’s bitterness when juiced in a 1:3 celery-to-peach ratio, offering balanced fruit sweetness.
Ripe Pears
Delicate ripe pears, such as Anjou or Bartlett, provide a contrasting sweetness in a 2:1 celery-to-pear ratio, complementing the strong celery taste.
Tropical Pineapple
Pineapple’s tropical tang and pleasant counterpoint work well in a 1/4 cup pineapple to 3/4 cup celery mix, balancing the mineral qualities of celery.
Sweet Oranges
For a citrusy option, sweet oranges balance the earthiness of celery juice. A 1:3 orange-to-celery ratio creates bright, refreshing flavors.
Pomegranate Seeds
Pomegranate seeds add a sweet-tart burst of flavor that contrasts nicely with celery’s grassy tones. Just a few tablespoons of seeds make a big difference.
Honeydew Melon
Refreshing honeydew melon, with its delicate sweetness, tempers celery’s strong flavor in a 1/4 cup melon to 3/4 cup celery combination.
Juicy Grapes
Finally, juicy grapes, whether Concord or red, offer gentle fruit sweetness to mellow celery juice. Blend in a few tablespoons at a time to achieve the desired taste.
These combinations will elevate celery juice into a refreshing, flavorful drink.
Add Herbs and Spices to Boost Flavor
Add a Sweet and Spicy Touch
A pinch of cinnamon adds inherent sweetness and a warm, comforting flavor to celery juice, making it taste balanced and inviting. For a slightly earthy, gently spicy note, include turmeric powder—it complements celery’s grassy essence and adds depth.
Brighten with Citrus
A little lemon zest can do wonders! Grate the outermost yellow peel of a lemon for a burst of citrus fragrance that cuts through celery’s strong taste. This trick not only balances the flavor but also makes the juice feel more vibrant and refreshing.
Cool It Down with Herbs
Fresh peppermint leaves bring a candy-like essence and natural sweetness that mellow celery’s earthy bitterness. If you prefer something more aromatic, try basil—its licorice-scented aroma creates a delightful interplay with celery’s savory qualities.
Let these simple tips help you craft a glass of celery juice that’s flavorful, balanced, and enjoyable!
Add Natural Sweeteners
Adding natural sweeteners is a simple way to balance the strong, earthy taste of celery juice without overpowering its innate flavor.
A teaspoon of agave nectar adds gentle sweetness with a lower glycemic impact than regular sugar, while raw, unpasteurized honey can provide a rich balance.
Personally, I’ve found that pure maple syrup, with its earthy, caramel notes, pairs beautifully with celery’s herbal qualities, but it’s best to use it sparingly. For a lighter option, a few drops of organic stevia extract subtly sweeten the juice without masking its essence.
If you prefer something more hydrating, blend naturally sweet coconut water in a 1:4 ratio with celery juice to enjoy the added benefit of electrolytes.
For a unique twist, mix the juice with chilled hibiscus or green tea, sweetened with just a touch of honey, for a refreshing and energizing lift. These combinations not only enhance the flavor but also make the drink more enjoyable.
Conclusion
Transforming celery juice into a tasty and enjoyable drink is all about experimenting with complementary ingredients, enhancing its natural flavors, and balancing its earthy tones. From adding sweet fruits like apples, oranges, and pineapples to incorporating herbs, spices, and natural sweeteners, the possibilities are endless.
Whether you prefer a tropical twist, a refreshing herbal touch, or a simple infusion of natural sweetness, these methods ensure celery juice becomes a delightful part of your daily routine. By following these tips, you can enjoy a nourishing beverage that’s both flavorful and packed with health benefits.
FAQ’s
Q: What can I add to celery to make it taste better?
You can sprinkle celery with herbs like dill, parsley, or basil, or add a touch of spices such as paprika, cumin, or garlic powder for extra flavor. A squeeze of lemon or lime juice will also brighten the taste without adding many calories.
Q: How to make celery juice more tolerable?
Add apples, lemon, pineapple, or cucumber to your celery juice for a natural sweetness, or blend in ginger for a spicy kick. You can also try experimenting with a 1/2 teaspoon of agave syrup to make the taste less bitter.
Q: What is the best way to drink celery juice?
Drinking celery juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach helps in digesting foods you eat later. For best results, consume it 15-30 minutes before or after eating to maximize its benefits.
