10 Best Cranberry Juices 2024 | UK Nutritionist Reviewed
Fruit juice can be the perfect complement to a healthy balanced diet. It is a delicious and convenient way to get one of your five-a-day, and although it's not quite the same as eating the fruit itself, pouring out a glass is certainly easier. Cranberry juice in particular has some wonderful benefits – it's full of vitamin C and contains vitamins E, K1 and B6, too.
This combination makes it a powerful antioxidant, perfect for boosting the health of your body. Not only that, but it's also a tasty treat! In this article, we have arranged our 10 favourite cranberry juices available for purchase in the UK from Tesco, Asda, Amazon, eBay and others, plus we discuss the points to look out for when making your selection.
Quick List - Top Cranberry Juices
Ocean Spray
High Vitamin C With No Artificial Colours, Flavours, or Preservatives
mybest UK specialist Tara is a nutritionist and energy coach who helps clients lose weight, improve their eating habits, and get their energy back through their nutrition. Tara specialises in helping busy parents specifically improve their eating with ease and without overwhelm, and get back on track so the whole family can benefit.
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With Specialist Consultation From Nutritionist Tara Corbett
Tara is a nutritionist and energy coach who helps clients lose weight, improve their eating habits, and get their energy back through their nutrition. Tara specialises in helping busy parents specifically improve their eating with ease and without overwhelm, and get back on track so the whole family can benefit.
How to Choose a Cranberry Juice in the UK
- For Sweetened Cranberry Juice, Look For One With Less Than 22.5 g Sugar per 100 ml
- Wanting a Lower Calorie Cranberry Juice? Opt For a Sweetener Like Stevia
- Cranberry Juice May Help Protect Against Cystitis and Other UTIs
- To Save Money, Try a Cranberry Juice From Concentrate
- To Avoid Chemical Fertilisers or Pesticides, Go For an Organic Cranberry Juice
If You’re After a Sweetened Cranberry Juice, Look For One With Less Than 22.5 g of Total Sugars per 100 ml
Unsurprisingly, many sweetened cranberry juices contain sugar, and we all know that too much can be detrimental for our health in terms of blood sugar and tooth decay, plus it's high in calories, of course. If you choose a cranberry juice high in sugar, we strongly advise exercising moderation when consuming it.
According to the NHS, a product with more than 22.5 g of total sugars per 100 g is considered high-sugar, whereas one with 5 g or less per 100 g is classed as a low-sugar item. Anything in between would be considered as having a moderate level of sugar.
If you'd like to try a variety of ways to stay hydrated, here are our suggestions for coconut waters, kombucha drinks (fermented teas) and sparkling waters.
Many fruit juices add a large amount of sugar to their beverages, and cranberry juice is no different. It’s important to look at the label and see how many grams of sugar are added, and if it’s more than around 20g per serving, I wouldn’t advise it.
When you consume a diet high in sugar, you’re more at risk for diabetes, heart diseases, and inflammation, along with weight gain, acne, and fatigue.
Opt For an Alternative Sweetener Like Stevia or Sucralose, for a Lower Calorie Cranberry Juice
- Stevia: which is derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant has been historically used to control blood sugar levels and is also low in calories. But it is exponentially sweeter than sugar, which may prove overwhelming, and has its own distinct taste unlike sugar, which may be off-putting.
- Sucralose: is an artificial sweetener that is "zero-calorie". Although derived from normal sugar, it is treated to stop it from being absorbed at the same rate by the digestive tract, thus preventing it from having the same undesirable effects on our health. The way it is processed also makes it up to 600 times sweeter than regular sugar, so a little will go a very long way.
- Agave syrup: has become popular in healthy eating circles as a sugar alternative because its Glycemic Index (GI) is so low (meaning it has a minimal impact on your blood sugar level). However, having a high fructose content (regular consumption can put serious pressure on the function of the liver) - juice containing this sweetener may be best enjoyed less frequently.
Fructose is part of simple sugar (added sugar), along with glucose. It’s suggested that fructose is more harmful to the body than glucose, making it the worse option when it comes to added sugars.
Fructose impacts the normal function of your metabolism and is linked to causing certain metabolic disorders. Agave syrup has a high amount of fructose, and so I wouldn’t recommend regularly drinking cranberry juice with agave syrup in it.
Choose a Pure Cranberry Juice to Help Prevent Cystitis and Other UTIs
Although it has not been 100% scientifically proven, cranberry juice has long been associated with curing or preventing UTIs (urinary tract infections) like cystitis, which occur when E. coli attaches to other bacteria in the urinary tract. It is theorised that the consumption of cranberries (in pure extract or juice form) may help with preventing E. coli from attaching to the lining of the bladder.
We wouldn't recommend cranberry juice in the place of seeking medical help, of course, but it can't hurt to drink a glass every so often if it may lessen your chances of developing a pesky UTI! Just make sure to go for pure varieties.
Although it isn’t officially confirmed through science, pure cranberry juice has long been used to help ease the discomfort of UTIs and for fast-tracking the recovery period.
This is because the active compounds found in cranberry juice aren’t broken down and destroyed in the gut sufficiently, and so the remaining compounds help fight bacteria.
Try a Cranberry Juice From Concentrate to Save Money
Juice "from concentrate" is directly pasteurised, with all water extracted before being sent to be prepared for consumption, whereas the entirety of the fruit is juiced and pasteurised in "pure" juices, meaning that you are consuming the whole fruit. Juices made from concentrate will usually be cheaper as a result, although they will have a lower fibre content and are more likely to have added preservatives or sweeteners.
Cranberry juice made from concentrate is less healthy than pure juice options because of the manufacturing process and the extra additives and preservatives that will inevitably be added. For this reason, I would always recommend choosing pure juice over one that is made from concentrate. There generally will be more sugar added with juices from concentrate as well.
Go For an Organic Cranberry Juice to Avoid Chemical Fertilisers or Pesticides
As well as ensuring that there are no unwanted additional ingredients, you may want to also select an organic cranberry juice if you are particularly conscious of what you eat and drink. Organic varieties are made with cranberries that were farmed without the use of chemical fertilisers or pesticides.
I always recommend eating organic food where possible, and there are many affordable options for cranberry juice. Organic products contain no pesticides, minimal preservatives and are GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) free.
10 Best Cranberry Juices in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Biona Organic Cranberry Pure Juice｜330 ml | | Pure Cranberry Juice With No Added Sugar or Sweeteners | |
2 | Ocean Spray Chilled Cranberry Juice ｜1 litre | | High Vitamin C With No Artificial Colours, Flavours, or Preservatives | |
3 | Pago Premium Fruit Cranberry Juice｜12 x 200 ml | | Individual 200 ml Glass Bottles for Lunch Boxes | |
4 | Rabenhorst 100% Cranberry Juice｜750 ml | | Luxury Pure Cranberry Juice for Cocktails and More | |
5 | Ocean Spray No Added Sugar Cranberry Juice｜1 Litre | | Sweet Cranberry Juice With Only 16 Calories per Glass | |
6 | Ocean Spray Cranberry Classic｜1 Litre | | Popular Cranberry Juice With a Delicious Taste | |
7 | Waitrose Essential No Added Sugar Cranberry Drink｜1 Litre | | An Easy-to-Drink Juice That's Affordable | |
8 | Tesco Cranberry Juice Drink｜1 Litre | | Bargain From-Concentrate Cranberry Juice | |
9 | Beutelsbacher Organic Cranberry Fruit Drink｜750 ml | | An Organic Not-From-Concentrate Juice Sweetened With Agave, so Consume in Moderation | |
10 | Dynamic Health 100% Pure Cranberry Juice Concentrate｜473 ml | | Organic, From-Concentrate 100% Cranberry Drink |
Pure Cranberry Juice With No Added Sugar or Sweeteners
Our top choice is this cranberry juice from Biona. It really does have everything you could want (and nothing you don't want) from a healthy juice – no added sugar or sweeteners and organically harvested cranberries that are not from concentrate.
Moreover, it comes in a recyclable glass bottle, and at 330 ml can be kept in your fridge for a few days or taken on the go if you want to enjoy it while out and about. Made with 100%, pressed cranberries, you can't go wrong with this juice!
High Vitamin C With No Artificial Colours, Flavours, or Preservatives
Those who have previously purchased cranberry juice are probably familiar with the name Ocean Spray. One of the most popular creators of cranberry juices, they use cranberries harvested using the same method since 1930. This 'Original' version is chilled and contains added cranberry puree for an extra shot of antioxidants!
This particular offering is packaged in an easy-to-use, (or reuse) plastic bottle, and contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives, just an extra dose of vitamin C! The bottle is also composed of 25% recycled materials, which is an improvement on most plastic consumables.
PagoPremium Fruit Cranberry Juice ｜ 12 x 200 ml
Individual 200 ml Glass Bottles for Lunch Boxes
Looking for a lunchbox-friendly option? This bulk buy from Pago offers 12 perfectly-sized 200 ml servings. They come in glass bottles too, which is a definite plus in our eyes because glass is recycled indefinitely and can even be reused by you at home if you wish to do so.
This cranberry juice is made all the more enjoyable by real added sugar rather than sweeteners, however, this means that it has one of the highest sugar contents in our selection so we would advise consuming in moderation. This should be easy to do with the individual servings though!
Luxury Pure Cranberry Juice for Cocktails and More
If you are looking for a healthy cranberry juice with very few added ingredients, we recommend choosing this option from Rabenhorst. We love that it is pure cranberry juice, with no added sweeteners and has that genuine, tart taste.
You get 750 ml (providing a 100 ml serving for every day of the week), and it comes in an endlessly-recyclable glass bottle. The price means that this is an uber-healthy juice to invest in when you are on a serious week-long health-kick.
Ocean SprayNo Added Sugar Cranberry Juice ｜ 1 Litre
Sweet Cranberry Juice With Only 16 Calories per Glass
If you're watching your waistline but can't quite stomach the taste of pure cranberry juice, you may want to look to this option from Ocean Spray that boasts no added sugar but gets its sweetness from the added sucralose.
Though great for dieters (at only 16 calories per glass), it may not be the choice for those looking for a generally healthy option, due to the added artificial sweetener and the fact that it's made from concentrate. It is a an affordable option and that gets our approval.
Popular Cranberry Juice With a Delicious Taste
If you've been to the fruit juice aisle in any supermarket recently, you will have probably noticed that the eye-catching cranberry juice from Ocean Spray dominates. It is not without reason that it is so popular!
Made from a blend of cranberries and a few other ingredients such as added sugar and a natural sweetener, while it may not be the healthiest cranberry juice for some shoppers, it is ultra easy to drink. It is also budget-friendly.
WaitroseEssential No Added Sugar Cranberry Drink ｜ 1 Litre
An Easy-to-Drink Juice That's Affordable
This Essential range cranberry juice from Waitrose has no added sugar but it does contain an artificial sweetener sucralose, which will put some people off who are on a real health-kick.
The taste is vey drinkable and the price reasonable. It contains a portion of cranberry puree to give an extra-boost to the urinary-health benefits of cranberry, which so many people tell their friends about.
Bargain From-Concentrate Cranberry Juice
This Tesco own brand cranberry juice drink gets an inclusion for its affordability, which can be important if you consume a lot of juice! At under £1 per carton, it is the cheapest on our list.
It contains some sugar and is sweetened with sucralose. As expected from a cheaper option, it is made from concentrate, and that combined with the sugar and artificial sweetener will put some health-conscious buyers off.
BeutelsbacherOrganic Cranberry Fruit Drink ｜ 750 ml
An Organic Not-From-Concentrate Juice Sweetened With Agave, so Consume in Moderation
The presence of agave means this beverage is further down our ranking as nutritionist-advice is to consume agave-sweetener only in moderation, which is hard to do when drinking such a delicious drink!
Dynamic Health100% Pure Cranberry Juice Concentrate ｜ 473 ml
Organic, From-Concentrate 100% Cranberry Drink
This juice is made of 100% pure organic cranberry concentrate - it is a bitter product best added to water (or sparkling water). It will certainly give you a concentrated cranberry boost and it has a loyal fan base. But the price is eye-watering!
This expensive juice has been noted to be particularly helpful with relieving and decreasing the occurrence of UTIs, so it's worth knowing about for the (hopefully) few and far between occasions when you may need it.
The Benefits of Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is naturally antibacterial and full of vitamin C, and also contains vitamin E, copper, and vitamins K1 and B6 - this combination makes cranberry juice a powerful antioxidant, perfect for boosting the health of your body.
Although it isn’t officially confirmed, pure cranberry juice has long been used to help ease the discomfort of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and many swear it fast-tracks the recovery period. The active compounds found in cranberry juice aren’t fully broken down and destroyed in the gut, and so the remaining compounds help fight bacteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cranberry Juice Good If You Have Diabetes?
For people with diabetes, generally, it's recommended to have whole fruits over fruit juices as they contain more nutrients and fibre, meaning they won't affect the blood sugar levels as much. If you want to have cranberry juice, go for unsweetened and pure cranberry juice, plus we don't recommend consuming more than a half-cup (120ml) per day.
Can Cranberry Juice Go Bad?
At room temperature, an unopened bottle of cranberry juice can last for about 9 months. However, the shelf life decreases dramatically once the bottle is started - many opened bottles need to be kept in the fridge and consumed within 5 days!
Written and researched by Hannah Kato
Top 5 Cranberry Juices
No. 1: Biona｜Organic Cranberry Pure Juice｜330 ml
No. 2: Ocean Spray｜Chilled Cranberry Juice ｜1 litre
No. 3: Pago｜Premium Fruit Cranberry Juice｜12 x 200 ml
No. 4: Rabenhorst｜100% Cranberry Juice｜750 ml
No. 5: Ocean Spray｜No Added Sugar Cranberry Juice｜1 Litre
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