Hawker Sells Atas Cold-Pressed Juices From $2, Including Rainbow-Hued Ones

The ex-admin coordinator first learned about cold-pressed juices around 2013, and started juicing at home diligently, especially after noticing an improvement in her family members’ general health after months of drinking her vegetable-based concoctions. Unlike many sleekly packaged cold-pressed juices available on the market, hers are just pure cold-press extractions, with no addition of water or sugar. And here’s the clincher: her prices start from $2 for a 12 oz (350ml) cup of single-variety fruit juice such as apple or orange. This is pretty much the same price as a regular cup of apple or orange juice from any old hawker stall, and a steal compared to the almost-$10 branded bottled cold-pressed juices sold at cafes and salad shops which are often diluted with coconut water. Just for price comparison: a 500ml bottle of Antidote cold-pressed juice costs $18, while a 280ml citrus juice from Hic costs $6.50 (if you buy a carton of 12 bottles).

Extracted through cold press machines through a gentler process, cold-pressed juices take a bit longer to prepare, but retain much more of the natural nutrients in fruits and veggies than conventional juices, which might have its nutrients oxidised through the high-speed, high-heat process from cheaper machines.

When a neighbor suggested that she take up a hawker stall, since she retired from her admin job, it became a perfect platform for her to promote cold-pressed juices. Of course, setting up a hawker stall for the first time had its challenges and Mei shares that she has had to live with many “mistakes” made. Her challenge is also in educating people about what cold-pressed juices are and why they’re more beneficial than regular juices.

At the stall, Mei uses four machines (she declined to reveal its brand), each costing about one grand: two each for vegetables and fruits respectively. And while she has been operating ASip Drinks since 2014, Mei was only able to properly focus on the business in the last two years, due to family commitments. Recently, she has also trimmed her menu of some 45 juices down to about 20, in a bid to streamline operations and cut down on her customer’s waiting time, which is about double the wait compared to a normal cup of juice at a hawker centre.

One who walks with a spring in her step and speaks with a playful glint in her eye, Mei is a very spritely 60-something aunty, and she credits her good health to years of drinking half a litre of vegetable-based cold-pressed juices with ingredients like celery and spinach each day. However, she realises that the grassy flavour of vegetable-only juices aren’t acceptable to everyone, and so adds a fruit, such as orange or pineapple, into her veg blends for balance — all in a bid to get more people to try her green concoctions.

In fact, she even encourages her customers to get their own cold press juicers at home. However, she is confident that they will end up returning to her: “Nobody is going to stock as large a variety of fruits and vegetables [at home] as we do here at the stall.”

She also takes the effort to buy high quality produce — such as organic wild bittergourd which she says is more nutritious. You also know that she is serious about health when she tells you that she brought forward the time for last orders by 30 minutes. “Our current last order is at 8:30pm because I want to discourage people from consuming fructose too late in the day, when the stomach should be resting,” she says in her motherly manner.

While there is a menu pasted on the counter, Mei is big on seasonal fruits and likes throwing surprises into her blends. “It's important to consume a different variety of fruits and vegetables so that the body gets a balanced mix of nutrients!” she says. Mei has a trusted supplier from Pasir Panjang wholesale centre who sends her the good stuff.

Despite having a menu, Mei is happy to customise blends for her customers depending on how they are feeling, or even what they're eating (eg. She suggests a lifting, cleansing apple-lime-pear blend to go with Hammee’s burgers, from the same hawker centre.) Obviously, this makes work more challenging for her, but she insists on offering the service: “I do this because a lot of people are still not knowledgeable about cold-pressed juices! And I design mine so that they pack in lots of different vitamins which are good for your body.” Mei is clearly very clued-in on the different vitamins the various fruits and vegetables are rich in, and is happy to rattle on about their benefits. But when she hasn’t got sure answers, she will give you a mischievous sideways glance and say: “I am just an aunty, not a nutritionist or doctor!” Cute.

Mei gets to the stall at around 8am daily to start cutting up the fruits and vegetables. Business starts from 10:30am and ends at 8:30pm, however, she continues to stay at the stall to do more prep work and cleaning up, sometimes beyond 10pm. “Life is different now, but I enjoy it,” says Mei simply.

Those averse to the grassy taste of celery can consider this cleansing option. The sweetness of the orange juice added to the celery makes it very easy drinking. It's light but not watery, and having no ice in it means that it doesn’t get diluted as it sits. Mei also points out that cold-pressed juices are not frothy, unlike conventional juices — so you're really just getting 100% pure juice in your cup.

“We sell so much of this that we might as well change our stall name to ABC,” jokes Mei. This pretty concoction of Apple-Beetroot-Carrot and Yakult (Mei used the most popular grape flavour for the shoot, but the plain and sugar-free options are also available) is as easy on the eye as it is on the palate. Those who don’t like the earthy flavour of beetroot will be happy to know that it is well masked by the sweetness of the apple and carrot. The Yakult in it also lends a slight yogurt tanginess. Interestingly, the drink comes with instructions from Mei: “Don’t stir it! You should sip on the drink as you dip the straw in and enjoy it layer by layer. When you order a plate of food, you don’t stir everything together, right? It is the same principle for this!” Yes, ma'am.

Made with a mix of about six types of veggies (see below pic) including carrot, tomato, Japanese cucumber, celery, spinach, and when available, capsicum, white radish or cabbage, the amount of vegetables that go into this is about the same as a huge plate of salad. This probably constitutes more greens than what the average Singaporean consumes in a day.

It’s quite an easy drinking blend even for non veggie fans, especially with the sweet, fragrant hit of pineapple in the blend. Mei also adds a drop of beetroot juice on top for a colourful ‘bulls eye’ look. ‘I like to have fun with the presentation of my juices!’ she quips. Do note that the vegetable-based juices tend to be more pulpy though, and can get a bit filling if you guzzle it while waiting for your, ahem, char kway teow.

Probably the most value-for-money cold-pressed juice you can buy in Singapore. We love that Mei doesn’t cut corners on the quality of the fruit and veggies here, and the fact that she offers interesting customised blends on the spot. Enterprising Mei also accepts orders via WhatsApp messages: “You can order your drinks earlier in the day and let me know what time you want to pick it up”.

ASip Drinks is at #02-85, 31 Commonwealth Crescent Market. S149644. Tel: 9452-6777. Open daily 10:30am – 8:30pm (last orders at closing).​​​​​​​

Photos: Kelvin Chia/8 DAYS