The pomegranate is one of the oldest fruits known to man.
Ancient civilizations from all corners of the world recognized and appreciated its health benefits to such a degree that it became a part of many of their mythologies as a symbol of life or fertility.
Modern science not only confirmed what the people of old already knew, but it also discovered previously unknown benefits of the fruit.
It’s not at all surprising that the pomegranate has become one of the most popular fruits of today.
Our guide covers what to consider when buying pomegranate juice and reviews of the best pomegranate juice brands.
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Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice
Getting all the arils (the red “seeds” found inside) out of the pomegranate is something that not everyone has the time or patience to do.
Many people have started consuming pomegranate juice as a way to enjoy the fruit’s benefits without having to de-seed it.
A serving of 100 milliliters of pomegranate juice contains 53 calories which means that drinking this juice won’t have much impact on your diet as long as you do it in moderation.
In addition to being diet-friendly, the pomegranate is full of vitamins (especially C and E) and minerals (especially potassium).
Looking at a basic nutrition table won’t do the pomegranate justice, however.
The fruit is absolutely full of antioxidants and a single glass of its juice has a more potent antioxidant effect than a glass of red wine or a cup of green tea.
Multiple researchers have found that it lowers blood pressure and helps protect the cardiovascular system.
In addition to all this, it has also been linked with the prevention or treatment of many other health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, breast and prostate cancers, and various types of infections and inflammations.
What Type of Juice Should You Choose?
There are several different variants of pomegranate juice all of which have different properties and benefits. The juice can be either, pure, blended, concentrated, or sparkling. We’ll now examine the differences between them so you can get a better idea of which is the best option for you.
Pure
Made by cold-pressing the entire pomegranate, this is the cleanest and the smoothest type of pomegranate juice you can find.
The cold-pressing process also ensures that no nutrients are lost in the juicing process, but there is a tradeoff as this type of juice is usually more expensive than the other variants.
If you’re looking for the healthiest option available, then pure cold-pressed juice is likely the best option for you.
Blended
This is the most common type of juice and, as the name suggests, it is made by blending the pomegranate arils.
This process can oxidize some of the nutrients and the texture will probably be a bit thicker than the pure juice.
Blended juice is usually cheaper than the pure variant and should be more fiber-rich given that the whole arils are blended.
Pomegranate may be blended with other fruits or plants like aloe vera to give the juice a unique and exciting flavor.
Concentrated
A dense concentrate designed to be mixed with water or other drinks is a great way to save money and space with not knowing exactly what you’re getting being a major tradeoff in many cases.
Concentrates are often mixed with additives which can mean additional sugar and calories or other chemicals that may reduce the nutritional benefits of the juice, but there are some exceptions to this.
Concentrated juice is a good option if you want to save space/money and don’t put that much emphasis on nutritional benefits.
Sparkling
Basically a pomegranate-flavored soft drink made with refreshment being the primary focus instead of nutrition in most cases.
A good option if you’re a fan of the pomegranate flavor and don’t mind having additives in your drink. There are also some healthier options in this category as we will see a bit later in the review section.
Other Considerations When Choosing Pomegranate Juice
Added Artificial Colors or Preservatives
Pure natural pomegranate juice gets its red color from the naturally occurring compounds called anthocyanins.
Different production processes may distort its natural color, so some producers are adding artificial colors to make the juice more visually appealing, which is not uncommon in the food industry.
The US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have compiled a list of approved artificial food coloring.
Therefore it is a good idea to look at the label of the juice you’re considering to see if it contains any potentially bad artificial ingredients.
Natural or artificial preservatives may also be added to the juice to prolong its shelf life. The label on the container should tell you:
- If the juice contains any preservatives
- How it should be stored after opening the container
- In what time should you consume the juice once the container is opened.
Following the producer’s guidelines is recommended, but a good rule of thumb is to discard the juice if you notice an odd odor or flavor.
Added Sugar
Despite a relatively high natural sugar content, pomegranate juice has a bitter-sweet taste due to the presence of naturally occurring chemicals called tannins.
There are people who don’t find this taste to be appealing, so some producers are adding extra sugar to their juice to make the taste more appealing.
From a nutritional standpoint, natural sugars are beneficial when consumed in normal quantities but added sugars can contribute to obesity and other health problems.
It is recommended that you avoid them if you can and you should always check the product label to see if the juice you’re buying contains any, especially if you’re buying pure juice.
USDA Certification
USDA certified organic foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing. These include factors such as:
- Soil quality
- animal raising practices
- pest and weed control
- Uuse of additives
Organic producers will need to use natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods as much as possible to get certified.
Best Pomegranate Juice Brands Reviews
NADI USDA Organic Wild Rosehip Pomegranate Juice
This pomegranate and wild rosehip juice comes in packs of either 8 or 12 glass bottles which is the best kind of container for natural juices.
NADI’s pomegranate and wild rosehip juice is very clean, consisting of only purified water and organic, USDA-certified ingredients, making it a very healthy option.
Just like the previous juice on our list, NADI’s product is also very diet-friendly with only 25 calories per 100 milliliters.
A hint of organic stevia provides the finishing touch to the flavor which many customers have found appealing.
ALO Enrich Aloe Vera Juice Drink Pomegranate Plus Cranberry
This aloe vera drink with the flavor of pomegranate and cranberry comes in packs of 12 bottles and combines the benefits of three very healthy plants into a single drink.
The juice itself contains aloe vera pulp and many customers have praised it for the soothing effect it had on their stomach.
With just 24 calories per 100 milliliters, this juice is very diet-friendly.
The addition of aloe vera pulp makes it very filling which helps cheat hunger and get you through the day without putting your caloric goal in danger.
Country Spoon Pomegranate Juice Concentrate
The first true concentrate on our list is made purely from pomegranates grown in the USA and comes in either 17 or 34 fl oz plastic bottles.
The plastic bottle packaging is sufficient for a concentrate and it contains no added sugars or preservatives.
The main concern with many concentrates is how will they taste when mixed with the recommended amount of water, a 5-1 ratio in this case.
This was more than sufficient for many customers and some have even found it to be strong, so there are definitely no worries about the quality here.
IZZE Fortified Sparkling Juice, Pomegranate
Our first sparkling pomegranate juice is made from fruit juice concentrate and comes in packs of 12 or 24 cans.
It breaks the usual norms for sparkling drinks by having zero added sugar, no preservatives, and maintaining the taste of the original fruit very well.
It’s a great pick up for fans of pomegranate drinks looking for something more refreshing than a traditional juice, and low caloric content of just 35 calories per 100 milliliters means that you can enjoy it without it conflicting with your diet goals.
Wish Pomegranate Juice
Wish’s USDA-certified organic pomegranate juice is made from fruit grown in Azerbaijan and it comes in packs of 1, 3, or 6 cartons.
Despite its organic origins, the juice itself is made from concentrate but it is made very well because many customers have praised its authentic fresh taste and feel.
It contains no added sugars and it not only tastes great on its own but is a great addition to cocktails or smoothies. Since this is pure pomegranate juice, it is more caloric than the previous two entries on our list.
Still, there’ no cause for concern because it has the natural 52 calories per 100 milliliters of juice.
Langers Fresh Pressed All Pomegranate Juice
This is a high quality pressed juice that comes in packs of 12 bottles.
The pomegranates that the juice is made from are grown in California and the juice itself contains no artificial colors, no artificial flavoring, no preservatives, and no added sugar.
Each bottle contains the juice of 9 natural, non-GMO pomegranates. The only drawback of this juice is that it comes in plastic bottles when a glass bottle would preserve the natural qualities of the juice much better.
Dynamic Health Pomegranate Concentrate
The second pure concentrate on our list is made from certified organic pomegranates and it comes in 16 fl oz plastic bottles.
It has no added sugars or preservatives, and the recommended 5-1 ratio of water to concentrate results in a glass of juice that tastes just right, not too weak and not too strong.
Many customers have found that it mixed very with sparkling water which lets you create your own IZZE-like refreshing pomegranate juice for hot summer days.
Lakewood Pure Organic Pomegranate Juice
This pure cold-pressed pomegranate juice is made from USDA-certified organic pomegranates and it comes in 32 fl oz glass bottles which do a great job of preserving the natural properties of the juice.
The fruit fiber was not filtered out, so remember to shake the bottle before drinking the juice.
The producers say that the juice contains no preservatives or added sugars, but the latter is a bit hard to believe given a larger than usual caloric content of 64 calories per 100 milliliters.
FruitFast Wonderful Pomegranate Juice Concentrate
Every 32 fl oz bottle of this concentrate is the equivalent of at least 64 medium-sized pomegranates.
Just like the rest of the concentrates on our list, it comes in a plastic bottle of either 16, 32, or 64 fl oz.
The production process of this concentrate is carefully monitored to prevent heat from jeopardizing the natural look and taste of the juice.
The recommended water to concentrate ratio is 7-1, but many customers have found it to have a weak taste and suggest a standard 5-1 radio instead for the best results.
POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
POM grows its own verified non-GMO pomegranates in California to bring you this 100% pure pomegranate juice from concentrate.
The whole-pressing process allows the juice to capture the potent antioxidants from all the parts of the plant.
The juice comes in 5 different bottle sizes ranging from 8 to 60 fl oz and the bottles themselves are wonderfully designed.
It has a great natural flavor and contains zero added sugars which is reflected in its caloric content which is around 50 calories per 100 milliliters.