Fruit Juice vs Fruit Nectar
It can be difficult for the average person to differentiate between fruit juice and fruit nectar. Many people believe that they are consuming a healthy drink with all the benefits of the fruit mentioned on the label. However, there are significant differences between fruit juice and fruit nectar that should be considered.
Key Takeaways
- Fruit juice is 100% fresh fruit juice, processed by extracting water from the pulp and without any additional preservatives or flavors.
- Fruit nectar contains a lower percentage of fruit juice and may include other ingredients such as water, sweeteners, and preservatives.
- It is important to check the ingredients in a bottle before purchasing a drink that claims to be fruit juice.
Fruit juice is the fresh juice extracted from the pulp of fruits, which is what people expect when they buy a bottle of a cold drink labeled as a fruit drink. In contrast, nectar is a sweet liquid secreted by flowers that attract pollinating insects. In the beverage industry, nectar has come to mean a type of non-carbonated soft drink made with fresh juice. It is differentiated from any drink labeled as fruit juice, as it is not 100% fruit juice and can contain many other ingredients. There are no industry standards, and the percentage of fruit juice in a fruit nectar can range from 0-100%.
It is important to note that fruit juice is freshly squeezed from fruit pulp and is treated against deterioration and spoilage, or processed into a concentrate where water is extracted from the juice. Fruit nectar is a fruit juice that contains a lower percentage of juice than pure fruit juice. When two or more fruit juices are mixed, the drink is called a nectar blend.
Now that you have the information, make sure to have a look at the ingredients in a bottle before you buy a drink claiming to be fruit juice. In brief, fruit drinks in the market may look similar, but people should be aware of the differences between fruit juice and fruit nectar. While fruit juice is 100% fresh fruit juice that has been processed after extracting water from it, nectar is a drink that contains a lesser percentage of fruit juice and has other ingredients such as preservatives and sugar.
