Top 8: Which of these 100% pure orange juices are the zest of the best

The orange juices that made our Top 8 this month are 100% pure juice with no additives.

Fri, 01 May, 2026 - 02:00

Roz Crowley

When buying oranges, watch for labels from Spain - this year’s crop is terrific, and comes with fewer air miles than most other imports.

We don’t have to eat oranges year-round to get essential nutrients. We can get them from in-season strawberries, blackcurrants, cherries and apples.

When we consider how many oranges are squeezed to make a carton (up to 15 per litre), it’s good value. We need to drink it within a week of opening to preserve the taste and nutritional value, especially vitamin C, which helps the body absorb other nutrients from food.

For value and minimal environmental impact, it makes sense to buy the largest cartons or bottles (ideally glass) and pour into small containers for school or work. One-serving cartons or pouches don’t make economic or environmental sense. Excess juice can be frozen.

The orange juices that made our Top 8 this month are 100% pure juice with no additives. If children are used to fizzy drinks, they can be weaned off sugary (or sugar-substitute) drinks by adding sparkling water to their juice.

We also tested some juices made from concentrate. Given the added processing, the nutritional value is reduced, and they also have far less flavour than the ‘fresh’ varieties.

SuperValu Signature Tastes freshly squeezed orange juice 1 litre €2.75

Roz Crowley Food reviews. Orange juices. Freshly squeezed Orange juice. SuperValu Signature Tastes. Picture: Larry Cummins

Very good flavour here, well balanced with no sour edge. Natural and delicious. In a plastic bottle, which, like all the bottles in our Top 8, can be returned for the deposit. We’d prefer to see plastic replaced with recycled glass, but at least this recycling scheme has raised awareness. This juice is delicious for mimosas or as a base for smoothies. Good value.

Score: 9.5

M&S Collection orange juice with bits 1 litre €5.25

Roz Crowley Food reviews. Orange juices. Freshly squeezed Orange juice with bits. M & S Collection Picture: Larry Cummins

Lots of lovely orange flavour here, like biting into an orange segment. In a plastic bottle. Much nicer than M&S smooth orange juice, which was quite watery but had a genuine flavour (€1.75 litres, €4.70). Testers thought it pricey. Check prices per litre on supermarket shelf tags to compare prices. These tags are usually very small, so you may need to bring reading glasses.

Score: 9

Aldi Specially Selected orange juice with bits 1 litre €2.75

Roz Crowley Food reviews. Orange juices. Orange juice with bits, ALDI Specially Selected. Picture: Larry Cummins

Lots of juicy bits here in this plastic bottle, which is lively and fresh tasting without an acidic edge or aftertaste. Delicious. Produced using fruit in late July from South Africa, followed by fruit from Peru, Uruguay and Mexico. There was much more flavour here than Aldi's slightly watery The Juice Company smooth orange juice (1.75 litres €3.29).

Score: 9

Don Simon orange juicy bits 1 litre €2.99

Roz Crowley Food reviews. Orange juices. Don Simon orange juicy bits. Picture: Larry Cummins

From Andalucia in Spain comes a mild, natural flavour with no sour edge. Children particularly liked this one. In a plastic bottle. Make sure bottles are returned to get the 25c deposit back. Make your own iced lollies from orange juice for an ideal way to avoid additives. Keep an eye out for reduced prices. Good after exercise instead of sugary, fizzy drinks. We bought in Dunnes.

Score: 8.5

Dunnes Simply Better Valencia orange juice with bits 1 litre €3.49

Roz Crowley Food reviews. Orange juices. Freshly squeezed Valencia Orange juice with bits, Dunnes Stores Simply Better.. Picture: Larry Cummins

Made by Keelings from 14 oranges from Valencia, Spain, this is a lovely, fresh drink. In a plastic bottle, the bits give it an interesting mouthfeel. We preferred this to the carton of Dunnes Stores orange juice with juicy bits (1 litre €2.19), but the price difference might make it more attractive for shoppers.

The carton shows no indication of where the oranges come from.

Score: 8

Lidl Deluxe Valencia smooth orange juice 1 litre €2.75

Roz Crowley Food reviews. Orange juices. Freshly squeezed Valencia Orange juice. Deluxe by Lidl. . Picture: Larry Cummins

In a plastic bottle, this is made from 13 oranges and looks and tastes exactly like the more expensive Dunnes Simply Better juice, though it has bits. The difference of 49c is considerable. Lidl Naturis with bits (1 litre €1.99) scored the same for its natural flavour. While slightly lacking in depth of flavour, it’s fair value.

Score: 8

Innocent smooth orange 1.35 litres €4

Roz Crowley Food reviews. Orange juices. innocent smooth orange juice. Picture: Larry Cummins

Nineteen and a half oranges are made into juice by this British-based company, mainly owned by Coca-Cola. The number of oranges isn’t reflected in the depth of flavour; in fact, it has a milder flavour than many of the juices. But it’s a pleasant drink, with no citrus peel edge.

Score: 7

Tropicana Smooth orange 1.5 litres €5.49 (€3.66/litre)

Roz Crowley Food reviews. Orange juices. Tropicana smooth orange with no bits. Picture: Larry Cummins

Made in Florida, the long journey may have lessened the flavour as it tastes quite watered down, though it is 100% orange juice. Expensive for this product in a good-sized carton.