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Fresh Herbs in Juice: Mint, Parsley, Coriander and Basil
Short answer. Juicing fresh herbs is about flavour, not volume. A small handful of mint, parsley or coriander is enough for two glasses, and it gives very little juice of its own, so roll the herbs into a bundle or wrap them in a larger leaf and feed them between firmer pieces such as cucumber, apple or celery. Parsley and coriander stems can go in; for mint and basil, use the leaves and soft tips. A horizontal slow juicer such as the Sana 727 (on its slowest setting) or the Sana 707 grips loose leaves best.
On this page
- Why add herbs to juice?
- How to juice fresh herbs
- How much to use
- Mint, cucumber and apple
- Parsley, celery and lemon
- Coriander, cucumber, pineapple and lime
- Basil with tomato
- Parsley, vitamin K and warfarin
- Growing a herb pot in a South African summer
- Keeping bought herbs fresh
- Frequently asked questions
Why add herbs to juice?
Herbs do in juice what they do in cooking. Mint makes a fruit juice taste cooler. Parsley gives a vegetable juice a fresh, peppery edge. Coriander brings something bright and slightly citrusy to pineapple and lime. Basil turns a tomato juice into something that tastes like summer.
They also let you keep the fruit down. A cucumber juice with mint and lime tastes far more interesting than plain cucumber, without needing a second apple to make it drinkable.
How to juice fresh herbs
Herbs are light, leafy and mostly air. Fed loose, they tend to sit on top of the auger or slip around the drum. Three habits fix that.
- Bundle or wrap them. Squeeze a handful of herbs into a tight ball, or roll them up inside a larger leaf such as cos lettuce or kale. A dense bundle gives the auger something to grip.
- Feed them between firmer pieces. Put in a piece of cucumber, apple or celery, then the herb bundle, then another firm piece. The harder produce pushes the leaves along and presses them against the screen.
- Go slowly. On the Sana 727, use 40 rpm, the setting SanaStore describes for root vegetables and fibrous greens. The 707 runs at a single low speed, so simply switch on and feed steadily.
Horizontal juicers handle leaves well because the auger lies flat and draws them along the screen rather than letting them wrap around a vertical screw. EU Juicers lists mint among the herbs the Sana 707 processes. In the hands-free Sana 878, a few mint leaves layered between pieces of fruit in the hopper work for a cooler, as in our summer coolers, but for herb-led green juices we reach for a horizontal.
How much to use
Less than you think. Herbs are strong, and their flavour comes through clearly in a cold juice.
| Herb | Per two glasses | Stems? |
|---|---|---|
| Mint | A small handful (about 10 g) | Leaves and soft tips; tough stems taste bitter |
| Parsley | A small handful (about 10 to 15 g) | Yes, stems are fine |
| Coriander | A small handful (about 10 to 15 g) | Yes, the stems carry plenty of flavour |
| Basil | 6 to 10 large leaves | Leaves and soft tips |
The juice yield from herbs is tiny, often just a teaspoon or two. That’s fine: they are there for flavour. Start at the lower amount, taste, and add more next time.
Mint, cucumber and apple
The easiest herb juice to love. Cucumber gives volume and a clean, cool taste, one green apple adds a little sweetness, and mint and lime make it taste like a long drink on a hot afternoon.
Mint, Cucumber and Apple Juice
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash the mint and shake it dry. Squeeze it into a tight bundle.
- On the 727, set 40 rpm. Feed a few cucumber sticks, then the mint bundle, then an apple wedge to push it through.
- Juice the rest of the cucumber, apple and lime, finishing with cucumber.
- Stir and serve straight away over ice if you like. Makes about 600 ml.
Notes
Parsley, celery and lemon
A sharp, savoury green juice with almost no sugar. It sits close to our foundation green juice, with parsley taking the place of ginger. Flat-leaf parsley tastes softer than curly; both work.
Parsley, Celery and Lemon Juice
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash the parsley well and shake it dry. Roll it into a tight bundle.
- On the 727, set 40 rpm. Feed a few pieces of celery, then the parsley, then more celery.
- Juice the cucumber and lemon, and finish with celery so the last of the parsley is pushed through.
- Stir and drink straight away. Makes about 500 ml.
Notes
Coriander, cucumber, pineapple and lime
Bright and tropical, with coriander adding a fresh, slightly peppery lift. If you’re one of the people for whom coriander tastes of soap, swap it for mint.
Coriander, Cucumber, Pineapple and Lime Juice
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash the coriander well and shake it dry. Squeeze it into a tight bundle.
- On the 727, set 40 rpm. Feed a few cucumber sticks, then the coriander, then a pineapple spear.
- Juice the rest, alternating soft pineapple with firm cucumber, and finish with cucumber.
- Stir and serve straight away. Makes about 450 ml.
Notes
Basil with tomato
Basil is best in savoury juice. A few leaves fed with cherry tomatoes, red pepper and celery make a fresh tomato juice that tastes of a summer garden. Our savoury and spicy juices post has the full garden tomato recipe. If you have more basil than you can juice, our basil pesto uses a big bunch on the homogenising screen.
Parsley, vitamin K and warfarin
Parsley is a good source of vitamin K. University of Iowa Health Care’s guide for people on warfarin puts 10 sprigs of parsley in its medium group, at 80 to 400 mcg of vitamin K per serving. Vitamin K affects how warfarin works, and the US National Institutes of Health advises people on warfarin to keep their vitamin K intake consistent, because sudden changes can alter its effect. A daily parsley juice is exactly the kind of change to discuss first. If you take warfarin or other regular medication, or have a health condition, check with your doctor before making herb-heavy green juice a habit. Our guide to juicing and your health explains who should check with a doctor first, and why.
Home-made juice isn’t pasteurised, so wash herbs well (grit hides in parsley and coriander) and drink the juice on the day you make it.
Growing a herb pot in a South African summer
A few pots by the kitchen door save you buying a new packet of herbs every week.
- Basil loves heat and sun. SA House and Garden suggests giving it as much warmth and sun as you can and watering every couple of days. Pinch out the flower spikes to keep it leafy.
- Mint spreads fast, so give it a big pot of its own. It needs regular watering in summer, and stressed mint runs to seed.
- Coriander is the tricky one in December. Lifestyle Home Garden notes that it prefers the cooler seasons and tends to bolt (flower and set seed) in very hot weather. Give it morning sun rather than afternoon sun, never let the soil dry out, and sow a little every few weeks.
- Parsley is the most forgiving of the four in our experience, happy in a pot with some afternoon shade.
Pick from the top and pick often. Regular picking keeps most herbs bushy, and young leaves taste best.
Keeping bought herbs fresh
- Parsley, coriander and mint. Trim the stems, stand them in a jar with a little water like a bunch of flowers, cover loosely with a bag and keep them in the fridge. Change the water every couple of days.
- Basil. It dislikes the cold and blackens in the fridge. Keep it in a glass of water on the counter, out of direct sun.
- Wash just before juicing, not before storing. Wet leaves go slimy faster.
Made with a Sana juicer
Sana 707 Juicer
R9899,00
Sana 727 Supreme Juicer
Price range: R12999,00 through R14999,00
Frequently asked questions
Can you put herbs in a juicer?
Yes. Soft herbs such as mint, parsley, coriander and basil juice well in a slow juicer when you bundle them tightly or wrap them in a larger leaf and feed them between firmer produce like cucumber or apple. They give very little juice on their own, so use them for flavour.
How much mint should I put in juice?
About a small handful, around 10 g of leaves and soft tips, for two glasses. Mint is strong, so start there and add more next time if you want it mintier.
Can I juice parsley and coriander stems?
Yes. Parsley and coriander stems juice well and carry plenty of flavour. With mint and basil, stick to the leaves and soft tips, because tough stems can taste bitter.
Which speed should I use for herbs on the Sana 727?
Use 40 rpm, the slowest setting, which SanaStore describes for root vegetables and fibrous greens. The Sana 707 has one low speed, so simply feed slowly.
Is parsley juice safe if I take warfarin?
Parsley is a good source of vitamin K, which affects how warfarin works. People on warfarin are usually advised to keep their vitamin K intake consistent, so check with your doctor before adding regular parsley juice to your routine.
Why does my coriander keep going to seed?
Coriander prefers cooler weather and tends to bolt in very hot summers, especially if the soil dries out. Give it morning sun and afternoon shade, keep it watered, and sow small batches every few weeks.
Sources
- Sana 727 Supreme, SanaStore: four speeds and the 40 rpm setting for fibrous greens. sanastore.co.za
- Sana juicer EUJ-707, EU Juicers: herbs the 707 processes, including mint. eujuicers.com
- Warfarin, your diet and vitamin K foods, University of Iowa Health Care. uihc.org
- Vitamin K fact sheet for health professionals, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: warfarin and consistent intake. ods.od.nih.gov
- Growing herbs in pots, House and Garden South Africa: basil and mint. houseandgarden.co.za
- Coriander, Lifestyle Home Garden: sowing seasons and bolting in summer heat. lifestyle.co.za
- Unpasteurised juice, US Food and Drug Administration. fda.gov
