Drink it up: Steelers’ Smith-Schuster teams with Salud Juicery for 'JuJu Juice'
Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is offering up some liquid refreshment.
The athlete teamed with Salud Juicery for “JuJu Juice.” It’s a blend of mangoes, oranges and apples, enhanced with “JuJu Power Sauce,” a fusion of turmeric and maca, which fittingly makes it bright yellow. The color represents the JuJu Foundation, which helps inner-city youth and the city of Pittsburgh.
Turmeric, a spice used in Asian food, and maca, a plant that grows in Central Peru, are super foods that were specifically chosen for the drink recipe, according to a news release from REV22 Juice and Wellness, the company that operates Salud Juicery. Maca was taken by Inca Army warriors before battle to give them power and strength, all of which are needed when preparing to take the field.
Smith-Schuster has 21 catches for three touchdowns this season.
“It’s all about giving back,” Smith-Schuster said in a statement. “I wanted to create a simple juice to help fuel Pittsburgh.”
The collaboration began when Rachel Maga, founder and owner of Ten Four Social, a social media marketing agency based on Pittsburgh’s South Side, contacted Smith-Schuster’s foundation.
“Collaborating with JuJu has been amazing,” said Maga, whose firm works with Salud Juicery. “He is a huge presence in Pittsburgh. He can do so much good to help a small business like Salud Juicery and also his foundation which helps so many kids.”
There is a second part to the partnership expected in November, Maga said.
The petite size JuJu Juice is $6.95 and the regular is $9.95. It is available at Salud stores in Sewickley, Shadyside, Southpointe, Oakland and Oakmont. The player was videotaped making the concoction at the Shadyside location.
Salud Juicery donated $10,000 and part of the proceeds to the foundation.
Smith-Schuster chooses to work with businesses he believes in, Maga said, and he wanted the juice to include natural ingredients.
The partnership is a perfect blend, said Virginia Corbett, owner of REV22 Juice and Wellness in a statement. “It’s an honor to work with JuJu,” she said. “He emanates the joy-filled life that is achieved through a balanced lifestyle; dietary choices lead the way to becoming your best self: mind, body and spirit.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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