It's 9 a.m. and University of Memphis student Jenessa Williamshas just ordered her first shot of the day with an apple juicechaser.
Instead of whiskey, bourbon, or rum, it is wheatgrass juice, andfans of this growing trend say its nutritional benefits outweighthe taste.
Wheatgrass juice, which is literally the strained juices frompressed wheatgrass, is said to be full of vitamins and nutrientsthat most people do not get enough of.
Square Foods juice bar server Tony Lawrence hacks off handfulsof grass from a plot of dirt, feeds it into a machine, and watchesat the pulp is separated from the bright green liquid that comesout of the machine and into the shot glass.
Williams said she takes two ounces of wheatgrass in the morningbefore exercise or work for energy.
"I don't eat a lot of vegetables because I'm a college studentand I don't cook usually," Williams said. "It's a way to get somekind of greens in me."
According to Lawrence, one one-ounce shot of wheatgrass has thenutritional equivalent of two and a half pounds of rawvegetables.
Amino acids that might be missing in a normal diet are found inwheatgrass juice, and wheatgrass lovers claim it cleans thebloodstream and liver.
Lawrence, 25, has worked at Square Foods since it opened a yearago.
He also said he drinks wheatgrass every other day, unless he hasmade so much of it he is sick of the smell.
"I'm usually pretty allergic to stuff," Lawrence said. "If Idrink it often I feel less congested, I have a better energy level,and I find my food digests better."
Because of the nutritional benefits and the American fast-pacedlifestyle, Lawrence said he has seen wheatgrass juice receivegrowing attention.
"Sales of wheatgrass have increased this year, and sales alwaysincrease in the summer for some reason," Lawrence said.
Lawrence, who works from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, said he sellsmore wheatgrass than any other juice, about 30 one-ounce shotsduring his working day.
According to Williams, wheatgrass is growing in popularity.
"It's spreading so that you hear people who don't usually shophealth food stores are asking about it," Williams said.
Lawrence said he has several daily customers. Most people opt tocome in to order a shot a day because wheatgrass juice is best whenit is no more than 15 minutes old - the longer it is oxidized theless nutritional value.
Williams comes to get her fresh-made shot because she saidpurchasing a wheatgrass machine would be too expensive.
According to Lawrence, they usually run around $200.
As for the actual taste of wheatgrass, Lawrence said he takesthe sweet with the sour.
"The wheatgrass juice actually has a sweet taste, but it hasthat grassy smell," Lawrence said.
Williams said her first shot of wheatgrass made her sick, andrecommends taking wheatgrass on a full stomach, while othersrecommend an empty one. A juice chaser is also stronglyrecommended.
Williams said she doesn't particularly like the taste, but shelikes the nutrition and energy from the minerals found inwheatgrass.
Wheatgrass juice is said to be 70 percent chlorophyll, absorbing92 of the known 102 minerals from the soil.
Taking only 10 minutes to digest, it is said to neutralizetoxins and wash drug deposits from the body.
Believers also claim it improves blood sugar problems, reducesacne and scars, deodorizes, and helps a sore throat.
