In my early twenties, I lived with a local family in Costa Rica where I learned Spanish. Each day, the matriarch of the household, Eugenia, would make fresh agua frescas using local tropical fruits. I instantly came to depend on their vitamin-rich and life-giving qualities which would replenish me after long, sunny days at the beach.

Afterward, I relocated to San Francisco and lived in a house with, (admittedly) one-too-many roommates! My first winter, my 10 housemates were passing around the flu, and after I caught it for a second time -- I found myself longing for those nutrient dense juices that gave me so much life in Costa Rica.

So, I started making fresh juice concoctions in our home kitchen. My friend and roommate, Phoebe, (with a background in nutrition science) jumped in to help me create revitalizing and delicious blends. Excited by our recipes and the effects the juices had on our health, we began sharing them with our housemates. Turns out, we were on to something - the fresh juices helped us all kick that flu to the curb for good!