Proprietor Kristina Hastings continues to seek out the proper combos.
Since opening six months in the past, Kristina Hastings has made Bliss Blendz a must-visit cease for locals and guests to San Juan Bautista. With drinks that name-check the city’s historical past, like her Vertigo Glow with blended greens, or flights of fancy like her Pink Monkey fruit smoothies or Sweetheart’s Dream choco-cacao, she has shortly been in a position to construct a loyal clientele.
“We get a variety of in-town regulars and even some individuals who have arrange accounts with us,” Hastings stated. “And I’ve had individuals inform me they drive in from Hollister simply to get our smoothies as a result of they’re so pure and wholesome. It’s good to see them, and they’re additionally telling their mates.”
Hastings started fascinated about beginning her personal enterprise whereas mountain climbing the Pacific Crest Path throughout the pandemic. When she returned, she partnered with Kim Calame to open Bliss Blendz in July 2021. Hastings has a background as a nutritionist that got here into play as she targeted on wholesome elements that might stability collectively in addition to maintain the calorie depend down.
“It took me a few yr to work out the recipes with out having so as to add sugar to them,” she stated. “These are all sweetened solely by fruit, simply candy sufficient to have the palate take pleasure in them.”
When she first opened, she supplied a seletion of fruit smoothies, tremendous green-based drinks, espresso and tea, and smoothie bowls, salads, and chia seed puddings. Lately she has been baking her personal contemporary cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies, and bread pudding served with maple syrup. As a bonus, when clients purchase one thing off the menu, they get free freshly popped popcorn.
On Might 18, buyer Gray Pirir ordered Mrs. B’s Bliss for the primary time and stated she additionally likes the Simply Fruit smoothies.
“I really feel the drinks right here style extra like the main focus is on pure elements,” she stated. “With the Mrs. B’s Bliss, I like the way it’s candy however with a wholesome aspect. And you may actually style the strawberries, which I like. I’ve informed lots of people to return right here as a result of she not solely has an amazing range of drinks, however she additionally has a variety of good meals, like her salads.”
All the smoothies are vegan and vegetarian, and Hastings is more than pleased to adapt the kinds of milk or nut butter to accommodate meals intolerances or preferences.
“If I needed to put my method into phrases, it might be only one: ‘well being,’ Hastings stated. “I’m enthusiastic about healthful options in consuming. I stored listening to individuals say smoothies are excessive calorie or excessive fats until you make them at house. So I’m bringing that right here—issues that I might make at house for me. I wish to carry that wholesome method to the whole lot I promote.”
Imply Inexperienced Mango (20 oz. $9.50) “This one is made up of the whole lot I like,” Hastings stated. It’s a mix of almond milk, orange juice, bananas, tremendous greens (spinach, kale, and chard), mango, and avocado. The aroma of the greens is distinctive, however they solely accent the style of the drink, with the banana and mango taking entrance and heart.
Vertigo Glow (20 oz. $9.50) One in every of Bliss Blendz’s best-selling flavors, it’s a mixture of coconut water, orange juice, banana, tremendous greens, Granny Smith apple, pineapple and ginger. “I wished to do one thing with ginger for digestion and really low sugar that will help you detox just a little bit,” she stated. The ginger and apple create an attractive aroma, and people flavors predominate. The ginger is light, offering a kick that warms your throat with out being overwhelming—Hastings fortunately piles on extra ginger on request.
Mrs. B’s Bliss (20 oz. $9.50) Hastings requested her landlord, Patricia Bains, proprietor of Mrs. B’s Z-Place, situated just some doorways down from Bliss Blendz, what her favourite flavors had been. What she developed was an virtually milkshake-thick fruit smoothie made out of coconut milk, banana, pineapple, strawberries, and yogurt. All sturdy elements, the flavour comes largely from the strawberries, that are sweetened solely by the pineapple and banana, making it tart and fresh-tasting. This one is a best-seller on the store.
Estevon’s Encore (20 oz. $9.50) Honoring the famed Mission Boys Choir based by Father Esteban Tapis, this chocolate milk concoction is made out of oat milk, bananas, chia seeds, peanut butter, dates, vanilla, and cacao. The one I attempted was made with almond butter on account of my allergy to peanuts, and it was nonetheless a delight, with the chocolate coming via as a base taste and the fruit using above it. I can’t think about this not being an instantaneous favourite with kids. A variation of this drink, the Mission Mocha, provides espresso for just a little caffeine enhance.
White Chocolate Chai (20 oz. $7.75, 12 oz $4.75) My private favourite of the recent drinks. The white chocolate works surprisingly effectively with the sturdy chai, including a contact of sweetness whereas filling out the flavour and giving it extra depth and tone.
Simply Fruit Smoothie (20 oz. $7.50, 12 oz $4.50) Simply Fruit smoothies are customized made out of quite a lot of menu picks. The one I attempted, cherry-cranberry with lemonade, had the consistency of a barely melted slushy and was immensely refreshing. “Our hottest is peach-pear with pineapple,” she stated. “These are sweetened with apple and pear juice, together with some natural fruit.” This was my favourite of all those I attempted that day. The cherry comes via strongly, with some tanginess and sweetness coming from the lemonade. It’s a good summertime refresher, and with over 15 totally different elements to select from, you can drink all of them summer season with out concern of repeating your self.
Bliss Blendz is situated at 300A Third Road, and is open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
BenitoLink thanks our underwriters, Hollister Super and Windmill Market, for serving to to increase the Eat, Drink, Savor sequence and provides our readers the tales that curiosity them. Hollister Tremendous (two shops in Hollister) and Windmill Market (in San Juan Bautista) assist reporting on the impressed and inventive individuals behind the various scrumptious foods and drinks merchandise made in San Benito County. All editorial choices are made by BenitoLink.
