Households wanting plain apple juice
A 100% apple juice suits a weekly shop if plain juice matters more than finding the lowest sugars figure, and the household can use the opened pack within its label instructions.
Who is each type for?
Shoppers comparing sugar per glass
A juice drink may suit someone prioritising a lower sugars figure per serving who is happy with less apple juice and a sweetener. Tesco’s listed no-added-sugar drink contains 20% apple juice from concentrate and sucralose.
Households planning portions and storage
A larger bottle needs to fit the number of people drinking it and its opened-life instructions. The NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to a combined 150ml a day, while the listed large Copella, innocent and Tropicana packs specify use within four or five days of opening.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the type of drink you want, then compare sugars on the same volume basis and check whether the pack size works after opening.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Read the sugars figure per 100ml or compare equal 150ml servings. Tesco lists 3.1g per 150ml for its juice drink; the listed Copella, innocent and Tropicana juices contain 14–15g per 150ml. | I want to compare the amount of sugar in a glass, not assume that “no added sugar” means sugar-free. |
| Drink type | Check whether the label says apple juice, apple juice drink or squash. Read the juice percentage, ingredients and any dilution instructions; a no-added-sugar claim alone does not identify the format. | For plain apple juice, I would choose a juice product. If a drink with sweetener or a dilutable apple-and-elderflower squash suits the household, I can compare those separately. |
| Pack and storage | Compare the pack volume with likely use after opening. The listed 1.35L Copella and 1.75L innocent juices say to use within four days; the 1.5L Tropicana juice says five days. Follow the pack’s refrigeration instructions. | A larger bottle is practical for us only if we can use it within the time on its label. |
| Portions | Check the volume of a serving or individual can. NHS Eatwell guidance limits fruit juice and smoothies to a combined total of no more than 150ml a day. | If I buy a large bottle or a multipack, I want to know how its serving size fits that guidance. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
Fruit juice still contains naturally occurring sugars. Tesco’s Tropicana listing and Asda’s Copella listing each give 15g sugars per 150ml.
Compare the sugars row at the same volume rather than relying on the front-of-pack wording.
-
Treating juice and juice drinks as identical
Tesco’s listed no-added-sugar juice drink contains water, 20% apple juice from concentrate and sucralose. That is a different format from the listed 100% apple juices.
Decide whether pure juice or a lower sugars figure per serving matters more, then check the ingredients of the product you choose.
-
Choosing a large bottle without checking its opened life
The listed Copella and innocent juices specify four days after opening; Tropicana specifies five. An unfinished bottle may therefore be wasted.
Match the pack to likely household use, refrigerate it as directed and follow its own use-within instruction.
-
Expecting squash to taste or serve like plain juice
M&S describes its Apple and Elderflower High Juice as a concentrate for dilution. It contains 50% apple juice from concentrate, elderflower flavouring and sucralose.
Choose it only if a dilutable, flavoured drink is what you want; check the product label for its preparation instructions.
Brand and product-line references
These examples show how particular products differ; a brand name alone does not tell you the juice content, sugars or storage instructions of every variant.
Copella
Asda lists Copella Cloudy Apple as a 1.35L, not-from-concentrate juice.
- The listed ingredients are apple juice and vitamin C antioxidant.
- The listing gives 15g sugars per 150ml and says to refrigerate and use within four days of opening.
innocent
Tesco lists a 1.75L innocent apple juice made from 100% apple juice, not from concentrate.
- The listed product is a large pack of plain juice with no added sugar.
- It contains 14g sugars per 150ml and should be refrigerated and used within four days of opening.
Tropicana
Tesco lists Tropicana Pressed Apple as a 1.5L, 100% pressed juice that is not from concentrate.
- The carton represents ten 150ml servings and states no added sugar.
- It contains 15g naturally occurring sugars per 150ml and specifies use within five days of opening.
Tesco
Tesco’s No Added Sugar Apple Juice Drink is a juice-drink alternative to 100% apple juice.
- The listed 1L drink contains 3.1g sugars per 150ml.
- Its ingredients include water, 20% apple juice from concentrate and sucralose; it is not pure apple juice.
M&S
M&S Apple and Elderflower High Juice is a concentrate for dilution, rather than plain apple juice.
- The listed concentrate has no added sugar and contains 50% apple juice from concentrate.
- It contains elderflower flavouring and sucralose; M&S states that it is not suitable for babies.
Joybuy apple juice options
These Joybuy options are a sparkling apple-juice multipack and a 1L juice made with concentrate. Check their individual labels if the exact “no added sugar” wording or opened-pack instructions matter to your weekly shop.
No image available
Appletiser 100% Apple Juice Lightly Sparkling 6 × 250ml
The separate cans may suit a household that wants a sparkling apple-juice multipack rather than one large opened bottle.
The listed ingredients identify carbonated apple juice from concentrate, with 10.5g sugars per 100ml. Each can holds 250ml; NHS guidance limits fruit juice and smoothies to a combined 150ml a day. Check the pack if an explicit no-added-sugar claim is important to you.
No image available
Huiyuan Apple Juice 1L
This 1L pack is an option for a household wanting apple juice made with concentrate rather than a sparkling multipack.
The product description identifies it as 100% apple juice with no added sugar and lists water and apple juice concentrate as ingredients. It gives 10.2g sugars per 100ml. Check the packaging for refrigeration and use-within instructions before choosing it for a weekly shop.
Frequently asked questions
Does “no added sugar” mean apple juice is sugar-free?
No. Apple juice can contain naturally occurring fruit sugars without added sugar: Tesco’s listed Tropicana juice and Asda’s listed Copella juice each contain 15g sugars per 150ml. Check the sugars row for the amount in the product you are buying.
Should I buy 100% apple juice or a lower-sugar juice drink?
Choose 100% apple juice if plain juice is the priority; compare its naturally occurring sugars per serving. If the sugars figure matters more, a juice drink may suit you instead: Tesco’s listed no-added-sugar version contains 3.1g sugars per 150ml, but also contains 20% apple juice from concentrate and sucralose.
How much fruit juice does NHS guidance suggest?
The NHS Eatwell Guide says fruit juice and smoothies should be limited to a combined total of no more than 150ml a day. Check serving volumes when comparing a large bottle with individual cans.
How long can a large apple juice pack be kept after opening?
Follow the instructions on the pack you buy. The listed Copella and innocent juices specify refrigeration and use within four days of opening; the listed Tropicana juice specifies use within five days.
Is apple-and-elderflower high-juice squash the same as apple juice?
No. M&S describes its Apple and Elderflower High Juice as a concentrate for dilution, containing 50% apple juice from concentrate alongside elderflower flavouring and sucralose. It is a flavoured alternative, not plain apple juice.