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North Davis (Jamba Juice #153)
1361 W. Covell Blvd. #115 in The Marketplace
Hours
Mon–Fri 7:00am–9:00pm
Sat 7:00am–9:00pm
Sun 8:00am–9:00pm
Phone
(530) 757-7050
Website
http://www.jambajuice.com

Jamba Juice has fruit smoothies, fresh squeezed juice, and more. They range from 250-330 kCal (for the same size), with 330 kCal/$3.50 being the best value. Their slogan is "Blend in the good." It was changed from "that felt good."

Former downtown Jamba, the remnants of the logo still visible above the awning.

A juice smoothie is excellent after a hot day bicycling across town. Or for a nice cool relaxing drink while studying for classes.

In 2009 they added pizza to their menu. Only they don't call it pizza, they call it "California Flatbreads" (perhaps pizza sounded fattening, or they wanted to distinguish themselves from the many pizza outlets). They offer three types, ranging from $3.50-$3.75. In 2010 they reformed their original Flatbreads to a larger 6 inch size, as well as improving the overall taste and quality of the product.

They also have oatmeal, sandwiches, wraps, and salads. In addition, they also have baked goods such as muffins, bread, pretzels, and bagels.

Sometimes they give out free samples to people who may be sitting around The Marketplace.

The downtown Jamba Juice (store #76), formerly located at 500 1st Street #3 in Davis Commons, closed its doors on November 13, 2013.

Current Coupon

None

How to Order at Jamba

For the greatest efficiency, follow this quick guide on ordering. Some of the other products that they offer

  1. Say the size of the smoothie first

  2. Pick which flavor you want to drink (Note, "Strawberry" is not a smoothie option and will only irritate the cashier. Read the menu.)

  3. Modify it if you want**

  4. Say whether or not you would like a boost with it (note: "boosts" are added nutritional supplementation, like extra fiber or calcium. The different types of boosts are listed near the cash register. Boosts cost a little extra.)

  5. Repeat steps 1-4 for "each" of your smoothies (PLEASE don't make the poor cashier ask you, "Which size?", and "Which boost would you like that?" for each of your Original Chocolate M'oods with Energy) :P

  6. Smile and pay =)

How to Modify Your Smoothie:

They also have "Fresh" bananas

Any smoothie at Jamba can be modified by the following commonly used methods:

  1. You can ask for it "Thick" or "Thin"

    • Thick means it have slightly less juice and more fruit.

    • Thin means it will be thinner and more liquidy.

  2. Adding an extra dose of any ingredient for a nominal 50 cents. (This also increases the size slightly)

  3. Swapping out one ingredient (as listed on the menu) for another. A juice can be subbed for a juice or solid, as can a solid.

It's easy!

At Jamba Juice, the person who is pouring the smoothie can't take your order. You would be surprised how many people try to order at the pour station. All orders should be directed to the individual at the cash register.

Some Ingredients available:

Fruits:

  • Strawberries
  • Bananas
  • Peaches
  • Mangoes
  • Raspberries
  • Blueberries

Juices, teas, etc:

  • Apple
  • Peach
  • Raspberry
  • Orange
  • Passion-Mango
  • Pineapple
  • Lemonade
  • Acai
  • Soymilk
  • Green Tea
  • Red Tea
  • Pomegranate (as of March 29, 2007) - Seasonal

Secret Menu and Items of Interest

They also have a large secret menu! Unlike other places (read: In-N-Out), it actually has remained a secret. Jamba has an entire secret menu of "unhealthy" smoothies named after things that would involve copyright violations were they to be included on the menu. The ones we know of:White Gummi Bear, Red Gummi Bear, Green Gummi Bear, Raspberry Dreamin', Pineapple Dreamin', Sourpatch Kid, Tropical Tango, Pacific Passion, Berry Depressing, Now and Later, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Apple Pie, Fruity Pebbles, Rainbow Sherbet, Strawberry Shortcake, Push Pop, Skittles, Andres' Surprise, and Lemonade Lightnin'.

Most of these smoothies are probably available in Davis. Some of them are created from items not listed in the above ingredients. Ordering a "Pink Star" or a "White Gummi" or "Strawberry Shortcake" in North Davis or South Davis Jamba doesn't make the cashier bat an eye - it's all on the register. These secret drinks differ from the normally listed Jamba menu in ingredients used, the lack of the general fruity flavor, and even texture/consistency (depending which was ordered).

However, there are many names and recipes for the "Secret Menu" items that were created by the customer, but DO NOT exist in any Jamba Juice recipe guide (see the list above). If you ask for a "Now and Later" there is no recipe for it in the system, and you could be receiving a different smoothie every time. Most of these items are underground and word of mouth from long ago and it is hard to find remaining employees who know these. It is recommended that if you want to order one of the items listed above that isn't either a White Gummi, Pink Star, or Strawberry Shortcake know the recipe yourself, or else you may not get the smoothie. There are many combinations you can make, just make sure you know what you are getting, asking an employee for a "Sex on the Beach" can be offensive if they aren't aware of what you're asking for.

Dairy

There is some confusion as to which Jamba Juice products contain dairy. According to their FAQ:

Does Jamba Juice offer dairy-free products? Why yes we do! All of our fresh juices, juice blends, and boosts are dairy-free. Any smoothie can be made moooo-free by substituting the dairy with soymilk or sorbet. Current dairy-free smoothies include: Protein Berry Pizzazz™ and Jamba PowerBoost®. Jamba’s Apple Cinnamon Pretzel is also dairy-free. Our products are not certified as dairy-free.

Does Jamba Juice offer vegan products? You betchya! Our fresh juices and juice blends, EXCEPT the Vibrant C Blend, are vegan. Jamba also offers two vegan smoothies: Protein Berry Pizzazz and Jamba PowerBoost. The Apple Cinnamon Pretzel is our only vegan baked good. Our products are not certified vegan.

However, the All Fruit FAQ implies that non-All Fruit brand smoothies contain dairy.

For the lactose intolerant and vegan the Jamba All Fruit smoothies are a great option because unlike the other Jamba smoothies they do not contain frozen dairy.

If avoiding dairy is important to you for health or philosophical reasons, it might be a good idea to call their customer service (1-800-545-9972) for clarification.

Tips

  • Try a smoothie with no ice, it's better that way. —MichaelGiardina
  • Although it's not on the menu, they will gladly substitute non-dairy sorbet for sherbet.
  • If you're going to order 2 Sixteens of the same smoothie with a friend, do yourself a favor and save ~2 dollars by getting a Power size and asking them to split in two cups (its same volume, albeit a slightly different recipe and you only get 1/2 a boost)
  • For that matter, if you're really trying to save, grab an Original instead and split it. Although the Original size is advertised as 24 oz, the typical cup is actually full of about 26 oz of smoothie. Do the math.
  • The Peenya Kowlada, both M'oods, and the Orange Dream Machine each have "4" scoops of non fat frozen yogurt/sherbet in them. Just an FYI if you're actually trying to buy yourself a somewhat healthy meal (the rest of the menu is fine).
  • Remember these are supposed to be meal replacements. Don't go to Dos and order a huge order of Nachos and have a smoothie to drink. It's not that healthy. As a meal replacement, it's fine. Even the aforementioned Orange Dream Machine is only 540 calories...pretty light meal if you ask me

Comments:

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2005-06-13 18:54:09   I don't like them! I used to work for them (in Folsom) as a smoothiewench and the management structure really blew the big one. —SBS

  • I used to work for them too (in downtown Oakland) and they really screwed me over. My manager entered into the computer system that I was a bad influence and subversive when all I did was tell his manager that he pawned all his work off on me. Then I couldn't get a job there anymore (not a big deal) but then when another place called them for references he told them not to hire me. The bastard. —BenWebber
    • That is really bitchy, Ben! I'm not sure my manager went as far as entering into the computer that I sucked, but boy did she not like me. —SBS
      • So, I did a little research and as far as I know, it's an upstanding place. But I have not found any articles that aren't anything but puff pieces, so I will keep looking just to get some perspective. My opinion is leaning toward, though, the fact that Ben and I could have just had bad managers. —SBS

2005-06-13 23:39:22   Too sugary and artificial. A smoothie should be fruit, not fruit sorbet. —JackHaskel

2005-12-08 14:06:35   I had a good experience ordering at Marketplace JJ. The Cashier person was friendly, helpful, and cheered me up for the rest of the day. YMMV. —SteveDavison

2006-09-30 20:41:07   The Jamba Juice near the Berkeley campus uses a type of paper cup instead of the normal styrofoam. I assume that the city requested or coerced that into happening. Is it possible that the ones in Davis could be required to do the same? —RyanPrendiville

2006-10-13 19:28:18   Thankfully, it actually isn't Styrofoam, but some weird biodegradable plastic stuff...so less worries at least :) —NatalieKitchiner

2007-03-11 18:14:10   Jamba Juice uses Styrofoam (aka Polystyrene), they say it in their FAQ. Berkeley banned it, that's why they don't have them there. From what I've read it seems that paper cup biodegrade better, but polystyrene recycles with a lesser impact than paper cups if you have a program for it. —AlexKistner

2006-11-08 21:07:32   very sugary. but once in a blue moon ill have their strawberry dreamin with soy —AnnThiNguyen

2007-06-15 12:40:37   Two Jamba Juices that are not on the menu are: Pink Starburst, White Gummy Bear. They both taste really weird though...a lot more sweet tasting. —rivas

  • do they actually taste similar/near enough to their namesakes? —KevinChin
  • The Pink Starburst does. I was able to get one at a Sac Jamba Juice. It's like drinking a giant sugar bomb. —LeightonHinkley

2007-07-15 14:24:25   I just learned a bunch of stuff about jamba juice thanks Davsiwiki! —StevenDaubert

2007-07-17 23:59:34   I miss the buy one get one free coupon. :( —JohnWong

2007-07-20 22:45:23   I've been having fun with the secret menu items. "Pink Star" and "White Gummi Bear" are both in the system - they just hit a button on the register. I ordered a "Red Gummi Bear" today - it wasn't in the system, looks like you need a cashier who knows what it is. She punched in the White version, then modified it: took out the peaches and mangoes, added in strawberries and raspberry juice. Took her about half a second to do it, I'm tempted to just ask what all the flavors in the system are. —EdWins

2007-10-16 16:56:25   I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this place —pebble

2007-10-28 23:14:48   Anybody know where you can get coupons? I'd love to come more often, but it gets expensive. They have a nice clean place there that smells divine. Kind workers too —AnnaF

2008-01-20 23:15:59   I am in love with the macha green tea blast with a protein boost, and the wheatgrass shots. Eat your jamba...dr's orders..:) —Dr.Lindsay

2008-09-28 16:13:52   i ordered a pomegranate paradise today and asked for no strawberries. i watched the person make my drink, add a scoopful of strawberries, realize his mistake, look around to make sure no one was watching, and serve it right up to me. not a huge deal for me because it was a taste preference thing, but if you have food allergies, i would watch out. —CandiceWang

2008-12-03 20:07:29   As much I love drinking Jamba back in high school, I don't drink it anymore now as an undergraduate. WHY? I totally agree with -JackHaskel, the bulk of jamba juice is mostly sorbet (fattening plus artificial fruit flavors) & sugar water (too sugary). This is just a friendly reminder to all... it's ok to enjoy it sparingly but way too much excess sugar in 1 drink. Other than that, Jamba usually has good customer service & the one in DavisCommon is bright & tidy like most Jamba Jucie chain stores. —AlyceeLeung

2009-04-30 20:28:17   I like me a jamba-j, but closing at 8PM is a bit crotchety. —sjoe

2009-05-04 16:49:58   I've tried both locations, the customer service was good, pretty like all the other Jamba Juice that I've visited. —thtly

2009-08-18 23:13:15   jamba juice..mmmmmMMMMM! mainland jambas better start gettin Gotta Guava like hawaii. cause its bomb! —jasonwon

2010-01-30 15:49:26   Love this place. —strawberry

2010-04-15 15:46:28   http://www.jambajuice.com/20thcoupon/index.html

Until the 25th of this month, you can buy one and get one free! —hankim

2010-09-16 15:32:35   They are doing buy one get on free through the 22nd of this month. http://www.jambajuice.com/eb/bogo1/index.html —ChrisDietrich

2010-10-14 08:42:11   i LOVE the white gummi, and the red gummi. anything on the secret menu is good.

except this one time an employee acted like a total snob and asked me what is suppose to go in the white gummi. and i was like, "well idk, that's YOUR job, not mine." and he told me that for my own good, i should know what goes in a drink or else etc etc etc...i was so hot and tired that day i did NOT have time for his crap. sometimes little things can piss you off at the wrong moment, and that was definitely one of them —emme

2010-12-09 11:30:34   Just an FYI to customers who want a "Secret Menu" item, there are only 3 options that have set recipes. The White Gummi, the Pink Star and the Strawberry Shortcake. Every other option, such as the "Red Gummi" or the "Green Gummi" you need to know the recipe for. After working there I heard 8 different recipes for the "Red Gummi." After asking a customer if they would like the typical Red Gummi recipe, they corrected me and said "That's not correct." Being corrected on something that doesn't exist is extremely idiotic. Anyone can walk into an In & Out and ask for a Big Mac. You may get a hamburger, but since they have no recipe for it, you'll never know what your getting.

If you want to try the "secret menu" smoothies, find the recipes online and bring them in, and ask for those ingredients exactly. If you as them for a Sour Patch Kids, you're asking for too much. Aren't there 4 different flavored Sour Patch Kids candies anyways? Same with Skittles, You asking for the Purple Bag? The Red or Blue Bag? Know the recipe yourself and you will get the same smoothie every time. If you are allergic to an ingredient and you get it in the "Red Gummi" it isn't the fault of the smoothie maker, It is your fault that you didn't know what was inside of it when ordering it. —JeffDurand

2013-06-06 10:52:48   im planning to open my own business out of the US and its the same concept as jamba juice, is there someone who have worked there before or just knows what machines they use to make smoothies, juices, etc. All the basic information I should know.. thanks! —joseelias

2013-12-31 15:39:22   I'm wondering if anyone really knows why the commons location closed. It says on the wiki that the corporate headquarters elected not to renew the lease but what we were told was that Whole Foods outbid them because WF wanted a bigger space, in which they could offer smoothies. I care because I want to know if WF is predatory, similar to Walmart, in driving out competition. —JaneBF

  • I heard the same from a few Jamba Juice employees. I frequented the commons store fairly often before they closed and got to know a few of the former employees pretty well. Ran into a couple of them after they closed, and they told me Whole Foods had approached the landlord with a higher offer on the lease. Sounds like the landlord asked Jamba Juice if they were willing to pay an equivalent rent and Jamba Juice declined. -JT
    • I have heard the same thing, from a couple former employees, and I think it was in Wendy Weitzel's column Coming's and Going's in the Enterprise. I'm not 100% sure on that though. JamesKrause

2014-01-24 21:39:16   Bummer. I'm going over to the WF wikipage and point people to this discussion. I'm not a conspiracist, but the WF CEO is anti-union, says FACA is fascism? We embrace this? —JaneBF

2014-01-25 06:35:12   while it might not be overly neighborly, I wouldn't consider Jamba a mom and pop store. I thought it was well known that WF was coming into Davis into a small sq foot location and that they desired to expand as leases turned over. Seems like the the market operating as intended. —loneshark

2014-04-15 23:08:49   There is another smoothie off of the secret menu called "Screaming Orgasm". No joke, I used to work here and I was asked to make it several times. - Kiah —DagonJones

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