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Twisted Smoothie Express is bringing a delicious spin on healthy eating to Miami Gardens, creating smoothies, wraps, salads and natural juices packed with nutrients and exotic flavors.
The juice bar and eatery is the brainchild of owner Nickolette Beckford. Born and raised in South Florida, Beckford was inspired by her Jamaican roots to create something different from national chains like Smoothie King and Jamba Juice. Instead, she wanted to focus on all-natural ingredients without added sugar or preservatives. “I wanted to promote heart health and general health with real frozen fruits, and in a natural way that spoke to my culture,” she said.
Beckford never envisioned herself as a smoothie entrepreneur. A few years ago, her father was remodeling a smoothie shop. The owners backed out of the project and the building sat vacant for two years. “My dad showed me the building and I wanted to have my own business at the time,” she recalled. “I was tired of punching in on [other] people’s clock, but didn’t think smoothies were it.” After two weeks and a few conversations with her husband, she decided to give it a try. “I was still thinking, smoothies in Miami Gardens? I didn’t think anyone would be interested,” Beckford said.
Three years later, Twisted Smoothie Express is still thriving, despite COVID-19. The location is currently following recommended safety precautions, with limited capacity on-site. Customers are also required to wear masks when ordering in person. As a convenient alternative, they offer takeout and delivery through Uber Eats.
The cafe continues to add fresh, unique options to their offerings, like turmeric and purple sea moss imported from the waters of Zanzibar. Their prices remain competitive, and they offer a number of specials and combos. For example, customers can get an additional sea moss or ginger shot with every smoothie ordered.
“We don’t have fried foods, and everything we provide is natural,” she said. “With COVID-19, this is good for the community, because people have been on alert about their health.”
Customers have quickly gravitated to standout blends, like the signature Miami Gardens smoothie made with orange juice, strawberry, mangoes and pineapple. Another popular combo is their green-fueled Powerhouse smoothie, packed with kale, spinach, banana, almond milk and pineapple. People also love their protein-rich Monkey Business smoothie, which has almond milk, banana, organic vanilla protein and peanut butter.
As their customer base grows, Beckford says they are planning to expand into events and promotions. Though this has been a challenging time for the restaurant industry, Beckford encourages other entrepreneurs to keep exploring and innovating. “Don’t give up,” she said. “I encourage you to beat the pavement and not give up.”
Twisted Smoothie Express is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and closed on Sundays. They are located at 17637 27th Avenue in Miami Gardens.
