When visiting a store, you never know what to choose – is juice a better option, or maybe a drink or nectar? It's important to clarify the main differences between them to make the most informed purchasing decisions. Only in this way can we ensure good and healthy habits that will positively affect our well-being.
What are fruit juices? The concept of fruit juices is quite broad, as this group includes several types that differ significantly from each other. According to legal regulations, to be classified as juice, a few conditions must be met. These are primarily products capable of fermentation but are unfermented themselves. They can be obtained from one or more types of fruits – fresh or sweetened, which are healthy and ripe, and have taste, aroma, and color. This is how juices are defined. Today, several types can be found on the market. Primarily, the most commonly available in stores are juices produced based on concentrated fruit juices – then their composition also includes the addition of water, sometimes sugar.
However, juices cannot in any way contain dyes or flavors, and all their properties must result from natural characteristics. Their composition cannot include any preservatives or substances that would improve their consistency or composition. One of the best choices – in terms of health and nutritional properties – is to opt for puree juices. They are made 100% from fruits, giving us the certainty that we are choosing what is best for us.
What is hidden under the name nectar? Another choice waiting for us on store shelves is reaching for nectar. It is nothing else but juice diluted with water or puree. It is also possible to use both ingredients for dilution. Sugar can also be added to the nectar – in this case, a larger amount is permissible than in fruit juices. At the same time, nectar may contain various acidifying or sweetening substances. If the bottle says "No added sugar," it is worth familiarizing yourself with the composition to make sure that the nectar does not contain sweeteners.
When reaching for nectar, it's worth keeping in mind that its taste or color is fully conditioned by the natural ingredients and characteristics of the fruits from which they are made. Legal regulations specifically define what the minimum amount of fruit content should be. These values vary depending on the chosen fruit:
- apples – minimum 50%
- oranges – minimum 50%
- cherries – minimum 35%
- plums – minimum 30%
- black currants – minimum 25% In this case, there can also be no dyes or preservatives in the composition.
What do fruit drinks contain? Fruit drinks are a group that differs most from juices or nectars. This is a group of non-alcoholic beverages that are made based on juices. In the case of their composition, there are no such specific requirements that every manufacturer must follow. Fruit drinks have a lower proportion of fruit ingredients – most often from 3 to 5% of fruits. Sometimes it may be a bit higher, and sometimes simply zero. Drinks can have additional substances – both artificial and natural dyes, as well as preservatives, flavors, or sweetening substances.
