The 10 Worst Store-Bought Orange Juice Brands, According To Our Taste Test
Not all orange juices are created equal, and some bottled versions can leave your taste buds feeling flat or overly sweet.
We put popular brands to the test to find out which ones just don’t squeeze the flavor right. From watered-down disappointments to strange aftertastes, these juices missed the mark.
If you want your glass to be refreshing and full of zing, steering clear of these options might be your best bet.
1. Great Value 100% Orange Juice (Walmart)
Budget-friendly doesn’t always mean taste-friendly. Walmart’s Great Value offering hits the wallet gently but punishes the palate with its watery consistency and artificial aftertaste.
Our testers noted it tasted more like orange-flavored water than actual juice.
While it contains the promised vitamin C, the flavor profile lacks the bright, natural citrus notes you’d expect from quality OJ.
2. Market Pantry 100% Orange Juice (Target)
Target shoppers beware! Market Pantry’s attempt at orange juice left our tasters scrunching their faces.
The oddly sweet yet strangely metallic flavor profile makes this juice a confusing morning experience.
Several testers compared it to drinking liquid candy with a hint of vitamin tablet. Despite its attractive packaging and competitive price point, we recommend leaving this one on the shelf.
3. Minute Maid Original 100% Orange Juice
Surprisingly disappointing from such a recognizable brand! Minute Maid’s offering struck our panel as overly processed with a strange chemical undertone that lingered unpleasantly.
The juice lacked freshness and tasted like it had been sitting on a shelf for months.
Despite its convenient packaging and widespread availability, this juice couldn’t hide its industrial origins behind its too-perfect sweetness.
4. Tropicana Pure Premium No Pulp
How the mighty have fallen! Once considered the gold standard, Tropicana’s flagship product disappointed our tasters with its flat flavor profile and artificial sweetness that masks any natural orange character.
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The juice tasted pasteurized to the point of flavor obliteration. For a premium-priced product, we expected much more from this industry giant whose commercials feature perfect oranges and sunshine.
5. Florida’s Natural Original Orange Juice
Florida may be famous for oranges, but this juice doesn’t showcase the state’s best.
Our testers found Florida’s Natural surprisingly acidic with an unpleasant sour note that dominated any natural sweetness.
The aftertaste left several panelists reaching for water. While the company boasts about being farmer-owned, we wish they’d focus more on improving their recipe than their marketing.
6. Simply Orange Pulp Free
Don’t be fooled by the fancy clear bottle! Simply Orange talks a big game about being, well, simple – but our tasters found it anything but naturally delicious.
The juice had an odd, almost powdery mouthfeel despite being pulp-free.
Several testers noted it tasted more like orange-flavored sugar water than juice squeezed from actual fruit. The premium price point makes this disappointment even harder to swallow.
7. Kirkland Signature 100% Orange Juice (Costco)
Bulk buying doesn’t equal bulk flavor. Costco’s house brand juice left our panel wondering if they were drinking orange-scented water instead of actual juice.
The flavor seemed diluted and lacked the vibrant, zesty punch that makes OJ worth drinking.
While Kirkland products often represent good value, this juice proves that sometimes you really do get what you pay for.
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8. Nature’s Nectar 100% Orange Juice (Aldi)
Aldi shoppers, take note! Nature’s Nectar might save you money, but it won’t satisfy your orange juice cravings.
Our testers were unanimous in their criticism of its bizarrely sweet yet somehow bitter finish.
The juice had an artificial quality that no amount of clever packaging could disguise. One taster compared it to “orange-flavored medicine from childhood” – and not in a nostalgic way.
9. Langers 100% Orange Juice
Mystery flavor alert! Langers somehow managed to create orange juice that doesn’t taste like oranges. Our panel struggled to identify what exactly they were drinking.
The overwhelming sweetness couldn’t mask a strange vegetal undertone that several testers compared to carrot juice.
While affordable, this juice’s identity crisis makes it a hard pass for anyone seeking an authentic citrus experience.
10. Clover Valley 100% Orange Juice (Dollar General)
Rock bottom of our taste test comes this budget option that proves some corners shouldn’t be cut. Dollar General’s Clover Valley brand delivered what one tester called “orange juice from another dimension.”
The strange flavor profile combined excessive sweetness with a bizarre artificial tang.
Even at its bargain price point, this juice represents poor value when you consider the taste experience. Our unanimous advice: spend a little more elsewhere.