Where's the Juice?!
I have just returned from the grocery store and I am furious. Why? Because once again this week, I checked the refrigerated food and drink section only to discover that there was no juice. This is not a one-time occurrence. It happens at least every two weeks.
Actually, there is something that the store personnel call juice. It contains a bit of juice from blood oranges, sugar, and E129 artificial colour and artificial flavour. Aside from being wholly unnutritious bordering on junk food, I know that it tastes disgusting. I had the privilege of trying it at one of the many birthday parties that the Bambina got to attend.
I asked one of the staff at the store where the spremuta (the Italian word for juice that is not from concentrate) was. "Over there", she said, pointing to the drink containing sugar and artificial colour and flavour. In my home country of Canada, no one would call it juice. In fact, it is against law in Canada to call anything that is not 100 percent pure juice, "juice". You have to call it "drink".
"Er, I meant the real juice that does not contain sugar or colour", I tried to clarify.
"All we have is that, this week. Next week, we might get some other juice".
What is this, the Soviet Republic of Italy? Has central planning taken hold here? I am not asking that they import Tropicana brand juice from Florida, for heaven's sake. I just want a regular carton of 100 percent not-from-concentrate, generic, Sicilian orange juice. What on earth could possibly be preventing this store, in the capital city of the country that probably has more orange trees than anywhere else in Europe (barring Spain, perhaps) from having a ongoing, reliable supply of real juice????!!
Okay, rant over. But I really would like an answer. Can anyone out there enlighten me?
Actually, there is something that the store personnel call juice. It contains a bit of juice from blood oranges, sugar, and E129 artificial colour and artificial flavour. Aside from being wholly unnutritious bordering on junk food, I know that it tastes disgusting. I had the privilege of trying it at one of the many birthday parties that the Bambina got to attend.
I asked one of the staff at the store where the spremuta (the Italian word for juice that is not from concentrate) was. "Over there", she said, pointing to the drink containing sugar and artificial colour and flavour. In my home country of Canada, no one would call it juice. In fact, it is against law in Canada to call anything that is not 100 percent pure juice, "juice". You have to call it "drink".
"Er, I meant the real juice that does not contain sugar or colour", I tried to clarify.
"All we have is that, this week. Next week, we might get some other juice".
What is this, the Soviet Republic of Italy? Has central planning taken hold here? I am not asking that they import Tropicana brand juice from Florida, for heaven's sake. I just want a regular carton of 100 percent not-from-concentrate, generic, Sicilian orange juice. What on earth could possibly be preventing this store, in the capital city of the country that probably has more orange trees than anywhere else in Europe (barring Spain, perhaps) from having a ongoing, reliable supply of real juice????!!
Okay, rant over. But I really would like an answer. Can anyone out there enlighten me?
4 comments:
That's weird, we get Sicilian oranges spremuta, 100% here.
BTW, in the US, some people call Kool Aid juice! :)
Oh, I am not saying that it is different in the USA (land where cereal that turns your milk neon green passes as a nutritious breakfast). I was just expecting that the Italians would know better!
This annoys me too. I like to drink a glass of fruit juice with breakfast in the morning, but I'd rather pass on sugar water, high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors. Santal offers a couple of 100% juices, apple, and orange, I think. Otherwise, I've seen some supermarket brands of 100% pineapple and tropical mix. I really miss concord grape juice!
I don't really understand the scarcity of real juice here either, so I can't share any insight.
KC, the problem with all the 100% juices that you mention is that they are all from concentrate (ick!). I am looking for 100% pure juice, no concentrate or water added.
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