Wheat and other grass juices....confab please!

[T-Bird]

Hey all,

So I've been using these dynamic greens folks for the flash frozen wheat grass juice for convenience. But I've been very disappointed with my last 2 orders as the juice has not been strained and contains all the tiny grass particles, probably about 10% of the volume at a minimum. I sent an email but didn't hear anything back from them. I've lost confidence and have decided to go back to juicing my own....

But that isn't without problems either. I've been concerned about the temperature of the juicing - it's gotten really hot - especially in summer, couldn't do more than just a few ounces at a time.

I have the red sundance wheat grass juicer, and I've also had problems with the metal shaving off during juicing, so I'm not happy about that at all....

So - as I plan on getting back into this, what advice do you have for me in terms of juicers? I don't want it to get hot and cook the juice, and I don't want metal shavings going on either. Easy to clean would be good too.

I haven't bought wheat grass berries in a while either. Any good cources? high quality organic, and as inexpensive as possible.

also - anyone juice any oat barley rye or other grasses? Interested to hear your experiences and any differences taste-wise but most especially effect wise.

[T-Bird]

no comments at all?

Now I'm just hurt!

[MysticTree]

I use the healthy juicer which I think also goes under the name of lengren or something similar. Not used it yet on wheat grass and think what I have juiced (sunflower greens) needs more straining than the mesh screen that it comes with. makes very nice marzipan from soaked almonds though and I'm very pleased with it generally.

[Living Food]

Manual juicers are the best in that they won't overheat the juice or get metal shavings in the juice, just don't get one of the cheap plastic ones.


I haven't bought wheat grass berries in a while either. Any good cources? high quality organic, and as inexpensive as possible.

I buy from sproutpeople.org, although you may be able to find cheaper. All of the seeds they carry are good quality, though.


also - anyone juice any oat barley rye or other grasses? Interested to hear your experiences and any differences taste-wise but most especially effect wise.

I drink wheat, oat, rye, and barley grass, and sometimes spelt and kamut grass (although it's been a while). Taste-wise, it's pretty much all the same to me; then again, my taste buds aren't exactly "normal" anymore after so much grass, weeds, and strong sprouts. I slightly prefer barley grass juice because it's not as sweet as wheatgrass juice, but in my experience different people tend to prefer different grass juices. Effect-wise, they're all equally beneficial, although it's best to drink all of them if possible because they each contain compounds and nutrients that the others don't.

[Mary Kay]

I plant wheatgrass in the late fall as a cover crop in my garden, then while it's growing and not ready in the winter I do a mixture of 50% wheat, with the other 50% being a combo of kamut (the sweetest - maybe too sweet all by itself) oats, and barley (strongest tasting) and like the previous poster, think it's good to have a combo. I grow these indoors in trays in the winter. Then in the late spring, I have a ton of wheatgrass and literally juice it by the pound ---and there's no drinking it by the ounce either ---LOL, I drink it by the cup.

I have a stainless-steel manual juicer, and I want to keep it for my children in the event of some disaster and there's no power etc, and although it works just fine, I challenge anyone to want to try to juice wheatgrass in bulk on a daily basis with it. I believe in the electric masticating auger juicers, like the Omega or 8006 or the Samson. The Greenstar would be great, except it's a little difficult to clean, and pricey.

I also have a bunch of juicers, but for wheatgrass, have the Omega VRT --which constantly gets plugged, but for the first couple handfuls is GREAT and fast, but how good is fast, when you have to shut it down and clean it out? So, I use a Samson, which is very similar to the Omega 8004 - 8006 models
After awhile my juice gets a little warm, but never hot.

I got a bunch of people together and bought Samsons through our apple farm at wholesale, which is $179, and I sell them for $190 for my trouble, but I'm not really "in the business" but if you want to look into it, it's the best bang for your buck in my opinion and I can get you one if you like. EXCEPT there was some special deal someone on this forum told about where for a couple days, Omega 8004 - 8005's were $129 each. The thing about those is that the auger is made of the softer material, whereas I think? the 8006 has a harder one.

I'm assuming the Samson has the softer one, but haven't seen any probs so far, so while that deal was on, it was better than mine, but is gone now..

I also get my hard winter wheatberries through United Buying Club , which is where Whole Foods and others gets theirs - as I belong to a co-op...however have found that Wheatgrasskits.com has some pretty good prices. I also buy my kamut, oats and barley from Wheatgrasskits..

You could just get the hard red winter wheatberries from Whole Foods' bulk bins too and pay a reasonable price. You cannot buy whole oats or barley from Whole Foods though as you must get specific ones to sprout.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[MysticTree]

I have a manual juicer because I have no power. I think juicing a large amount would indeed be tiresome but it's my only option and i don't juice large amounts as it happens.

[Living Food]

I have a stainless-steel manual juicer, and I want to keep it for my children in the event of some disaster and there's no power etc, and although it works just fine, I challenge anyone to want to try to juice wheatgrass in bulk on a daily basis with it.

Yeah, it was definitely a drag at first. I've got plenty of time, though, and virtually limitless energy these days, so it doesn't bother me that much. I spend half my free time gathering weeds and the other half juicing them, lol (excluding meditation and exercise time).

I can see how this wouldn't work out for most people, however.

[lynch]

Im only using a manual juicer.

[Mary Kay]

Living Food,

In a way, I'm envious of you! Your life sounds so much simpler than mine.

Mary Kay

[Raw Angel Mom]

I find the best juicer for grass or any leafy greens is the twin gear green star.

You also have very dry pulp and so much more juice. It doesn't foam as easy as other juicer. It works great with firm apple, zukini and cucumber.

Not that great with soft fruits but you can buy the strainer that has bigger whole for tomato.

It does also nut butter or icecream with frozen banana.

[delmar]

I have a manual juicer because I have no power. I think juicing a large amount would indeed be tiresome but it's my only option and i don't juice large amounts as it happens.I just ordered a manual grass juicer. I think my first order of business will be to adapt it with an extra long crank. Theoretically, if you double the length of the crank you reduce the amount of effort needed to turn it by 50%. Turning the extra long crank should be no problem for me as I have freakishly long arms!

[MysticTree]

But won't that put extra stress on the juicing parts? The juicer I have already has a handle which is quite long.

[delmar]

But won't that put extra stress on the juicing parts? The juicer I have already has a handle which is quite long.It might. I'm sure I will need to resist the temptation to stuff more in just because it turns easier. I'll let you know how it works out.
edit Here is a photo of the juicer I have coming.

9132

The crank looks pretty short and hard to turn to me, but the auger is tin plated cast iron so it should be sturdy enough to take the modification.

[MysticTree]

9133 This is the one I have. The handle definitely is longer than the one on the picture you posted.

[Living Food]

Living Food,

In a way, I'm envious of you! Your life sounds so much simpler than mine.

Life's pretty good these days. I used to work long hours and be stuck in the economic rat race like so many other people, but I decided that my health, and the ability to spend my time walking barefoot on the grass with the breeze in my face, not a care in the world, was much more important to me then a little extra money. There's always a way to get what you want if you're determined enough.

[MysticTree]

Another half shot of wheatgrass yesterday. I don't really much care for the taste but I did look forward to drinking it if that makes sense. I doesn't make me retch now which is useful.