Açaí bowls are seen as healthy food when, in actuality, the average açaí boal contains approximately 600-1000 calories, depending on the size of the treat. This is due to the excessive amount of toppings that people put on top of their açai bowls, such as Nutella, granola, chocolate chips, and peanut butter, which all have high contents of sugar. SOHO Juice Co., located in Winter Park, is a vegan açaí restaurant and one of the few places that make açaí bowls in a way that doesn’t contain high amounts of sugar and has many health benefits. SOHO, founded by Justin Basil, opened for business in 2014 and has won numerous awards including the Best of the Bay award in 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. SOHO also has two other locations in Florida including Tampa and St. Petersburg.
All of SOHO’s ingredients and toppings are natural and organic. They even have superfood mix-ins that can be added to açai bowls and smoothies like sea moss, spirulina, blue algae, aloe vera, collagen booster, probiotic yogurt, and activated charcoal. These superfoods each have numerous health benefits that range from immunity boosting, inflammation, heart health, skin health, and detox. All of SOHO’s toppings are also sugar-free, including the chocolate and granola. Additionally, SOHO sells protein-packed and KETO-friendly snacks.
SOHO’s mission is to make their açaí as healthy as it is thought to be by being, “A vegan friendly and allergen focused marketplace serving plant based products made with wholesome ingredients. [O]ffering plant based smoothies, superfood açaí bowls, cold pressed juices and other grab and go items that are vegan and gluten free” According to SOHO’s website. They also bring awareness to how, “Not all açaí bowls are created equal.” They state how other açaí brands started to capitalize on açaí’s growing popularity, disregarding what açaí is ment to be: a healthy fruit. SOHO also states the different ways these big brands and corporations capitalize on açaí’s growth including making it in a powder form, making açaí ice cream, açaí sorbet, and low-grade açaí pulp. With the restaurant striving to be healthy and appetizing simultaneously, SOHO is the perfect place to go when searching for an açaí bowl that won’t jeopardize your health.
