Introduction
When it comes to refreshing and invigorating beverages, few things can match the delightful experience of sipping on jaba juice, but it can be confusing to find the right one. In Kenya, there is a variety of jaba juices that are bound to make you confused. Every month there is a new brand, and they are all claiming to be the best in typical Kenyan fashion. Today we dive into the top jaba juice brands and see which each one has to offer. Hopefully you learn something from my experiences.
**1. Handas Juice:
Kickstarting our list is the ever-popular Handas Juice. Boy, I can go on about this brand because what the offer is simply incredible. They have a variety of juice types and flavors that can satisfy any one. They are also the first jaba juice brand in the world to offer sparkling jaba juice, which is just amazing. My favorite one is their sex on the beach flavor. Overflowing with tropical sweetness, this juice is a perennial favorite among locals and tourists alike.
The other types they have are the cold-pressed jaba juice and the distilled jaba juice version. The cold pressed is where they blend and squeeze the juice out of the jaba to give a fresh and potent product. This enables the consumer to enjoy the cathinone in its natural form. This is the closest thing to chewing the actual khat/jaba and I must say it’s an experience like no other. It has more of an earthy taste with tartness and it can only last up to 4 days.
On the distilled ones, they extract the active ingredients through distilation then mix it with natural flavours. It is more tasty and goes down easier but it still packs a punch. The only issue is that the cathinone disintegrates a little bit through distillation but you still get the desired effect. This one can last up to 2 months which is revolutionary. Anyway, I wrote a whole review about handas jaba juice because once I get started, I don’t stop.
2. Jaba Nation:
Jaba Nation proudly offers a diverse range of jaba juices, all of which are meticulously crafted from organic ingredients. Our commitment to providing the highest quality beverages is evident in every sip. From the zesty burst of citrus to the refreshing sweetness of mixed berries, each flavor in our collection is a testament to our dedication to organic goodness. We source only the finest fruits from sustainable farms, ensuring that every drop is not only delicious but also environmentally responsible. Whether you’re indulging in the tropical notes of our mango passionfruit blend or savoring the classic taste of apple orchard freshness, Jaba Nation’s organic jaba juices are a true embodiment of nature’s bounty in every bottle. For some reason I cannot find a downloadable image of them on google
3. Petiole:
Petiole is a unique brand that came into the market in 2023. Although new to the scene, they were smart enough to focus on a niche market and stick to their guns. This resulted in a tasty, strong and consistent juice with excellent packaging. At 1200ksh for a 750ml bottle, the price is quite hefty but I would say it is worth it. They only offer 1 flavor though which is a bummer, but they make up for it by having a great flavor that also goes well with alcoholic drinks. Their silver bullet is their instagram content. It is bound to leave you laughing if you understand Kenyan calture.
4. Slap Premium:
This brand is a unique brand to say the least. They offer a variety of excellent flavored juices that pack a punch, hence the name. Although it is not that popular, in places where it’s sold it has a cult like following that is hard to find with most brands. My favorite is the passion turmeric juice that they have, it goes really well with cocktails and is sure to get the job done. The uniqueness about this brand is the mystery behind it. They have no marketing whatsoever, and can only be found in like 3 spots in Nairobi. The packaging is very basic, and that’s me trying to be nice, but the juice is great. It looks like a primary school business project for some students, who decided to make and sell homemade lemonade. However they really make up for it in the taste and quality.
5. Jaba Tamu:
Jaba Tamu is a Diani based jaba juice that is very unique to the other brands. Most coast based jaba juices are nasty at best but theirs is on per with the Nairobi brands. They make their juice with freshly blended fruits and use sugarcane juice as the sweetener. This results in a smoothie like juice that is really tropical and rich in life. The naturalness is also their disadvantage because it only lasts a couple of days in the fridge and they cannot expand as a brand for this reason which is unfortunate because the juice is actually great. Definitely worth a try if you are ever in Diani
6. Catha Juice:
I believe catha was the first brand to make and sell jaba juice in Kenya. I am sure this is a bold statement, because there are many other people who made jaba juice for themselves and their friends at home, but I believe catha was the one to commercially sell the juice first. They are very unique compared to the other brands because their focus is on wellness and they cater to the premium market only. To some people, they belong up on the rankings, but I gave them number 6 because their juice is just not tasty. Since they cater to the healthy and wealthy market, they do not use sugar or any sweetener at all, so their juices taste like the reall thing which is not too appealing. Anyways, I do see that they have new flavors so I will give the flavors a try and re rank them accordingly. They do however have a great brand, and I love that they focus on healthy living above everything else.
7. Hirams Ghat Juice:
This is the brand along with Handas Juice and Catha are the ogees of jaba juice in Kenya. They were the first brands to commercialize the idea of jaba juice and fathered all the other brands that we know today. Although they have been doing this for many years, the juice has never changed or evolved at all. They still offer the same flavors, same taste and same strength. They have a loyal following though so if it’s not broken, there is no point in fixing it.
8. Ignite Jaba Juice:
Ignite is another new jaba juice brand that is still trying to find its foot on the market. They have 3 flavors and all are mediocre at best if was being frank. Given that they are new, they can make mistakes for years and still be able to come out strong. I am hoping they focus more on their juice in the coming years because there is a lot of potential here.
9. Jaba Waba:
From here on out, these juices are not even trying. They are more like people who are going with the wave and trying throwing things at the wall to see what sticks. The reason Jaba Waba is 9 is because they use fresh fruits that are blended, so that is unique. However, they don’t even try to make it great, they just blend fruits and mix it with Jaba freely. This results in a low quality product, but it has a lot of potential due to the fact that they use fresh fruits.
10. Yaba Jaba Juice:
honest, number 10 was the most difficult to pick because the other brands in the market are simply horrible except for the above 9. Picking out the best of the worst was a challenge but I settled on yaba jaba juice. As the name suggests, there is no effort in making the juice as well but I needed a number 10 so here we are.
Conclusion
I hop I wasn’t to harsh to some of these brands, but I beleive the audience needs to know what works and what doesn’t. It is a new industry that needs a lot of regulation and boundaries need to be defined, so it is very easy for a normal consumer to be lost in all that is being offered. I am hoping this list is helpful to most people who don’t know much about jaba juice and most importantly I want to hear what your thoughts are. This is my own opinion so hope no one gets all worked up about it.