When ShaMyra Sylvester came home to Mobile to wait out quarantine with her family during the COVID shutdown, she had no intention of staying. After all, the Maysville-area native, who holds a master’s degree in strategic communications, had a prestigious role in Washington, D.C. as a communication’s manager and data analyst for the U.S. Department of Energy.
While living in D.C., Sylvester embarked on a wellness journey, in which she discovered that eating healthy, nutritious food not only made her feel better but improved her overall well-being. She was a frequent visitor to D.C.’s many juice bars and healthy dining establishments.
During her Mobile respite, she missed the healthy dining options, particularly the cold-pressed juice bars that she had come to enjoy. She decided she wanted to create an opportunity similar to the one she had in D.C. for the people of Mobile.
With Sylvester’s philosophy that “every healthy tree bears good fruit,” Ginger and Spice, a cold-pressed juice business, was born. Unlike other types of juice, cold-pressed juicers do not use heat to extract the juice, preserving over 90% of the minerals found in the produce. Using this technique, Ginger and Spice started with pop-ups at local events before landing a spot in the Innovation Portal. There, demand was so high that when a space opened on Dauphin Street, Sylvester took a leap of faith and moved her company to its new home.
In her new location, Sylvester experimented with combinations of fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy grains to create vegan dishes and smoothies that are not only good for the body but a delight to the taste buds as well. Now, in addition to cold-pressed juices, she serves a range of smoothies, wellness shots, smoothie bowls, and vegan toasts and wraps. The result is a menu that packs a nutritious punch.
“Ginger and Spice was an idea from God. It’s my calling. And I’m honored to connect with audiences who are both aware and unaware of the power of creating better habits centered around wellness,” Sylvester says.
The grab-and-go spot has been a hit, and Sylvester has embraced her new — albeit unexpected — role as entrepreneur. “I’m looking forward to growing with the well-being of our community in mind.”
On the Menu
Chiquita Toast
Multigrain toast is topped with almond butter, sliced bananas, cocoa nibs, granola and a drizzle of local honey for a healthy sweet treat.
Santorini Toast
Hummus, sliced tomato, onion, kalamata olives and arugula, with a rich balsamic vinegar glaze, complete the mouth-watering Mediterranean vibe on crunchy bread.
Skrawberry Toast
Named after the way Sylvester pronounced “strawberry” as a child, this sweet concoction features almond butter, sliced strawberries, fresh basil, local honey and chia seeds.
Barracoon Bowl
This delectable smoothie bowl has an acai base plus bananas and blueberries, hemp seeds, cacao nibs, Gogi berries, almond butter, coconut and honey.
Holy Wrap
This lunch favorite is packed with a spicy kale salad that gives it a satisfying crunch. Tomato, avocado, onion and sweet coconut corn make this wrap taste fresh from the garden.
Ginger and Spice • 209 Dauphin St. • 656-8571 • Tue – Fri 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat – Sun 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., closed Mon
