CATEGORY

Apple Juice

2009 CHEFSBEST® AWARD FOR BEST TASTE WINNER

Mott's

What Makes Great Apple Juice?

A terrific alternative to sweeter juices such as orange and pineapple juice, apple juice is a refreshing and remarkably simple beverage that's tasty any time of day. Enjoy a glass with breakfast, and heat a few servings with mulling spices to warm yourself during the winter months.

Unlike other pulpy juices, the best apple juice will have an invitingly clear amber color ranging anywhere from light to dark. Its aroma should be almost entirely defined by that of pure apples, at a moderate level. There may be some cooked apple aroma, but it should remain low, and if aroma notes of other fruits such as grape or pear are sensed, they should be minimal, at most.

Although sweetness will be the predominant basic taste of great apple juice, it should not exceed a moderate level; in fact, a lower sweetness is more appropriate. If present, both sourness and bitterness should be barely detectable.

A high level of crisp and fresh apple flavor will be the most noticeable flavor in the best apple juice. This pronounced pure apple flavor is what lends any high-quality apple juice its singular taste.

Finally, the appropriate consistency of great apple juice will fall right between water and syrup found in canned fruit — in other words, not too thin and not too thick. Expect its aftertaste to dissipate at the same time as its sweetness, making it one of the easiest juices to drink.

We know what makes a great apple juice, but what makes a bad one?

Inappropriate levels of sweetness marred certain brands of apple juices — a few were too bland, while more often than not, others were too sweet for their own good. Unwelcome amounts of grape flavor also crept into the flavor profiles of lesser brands from time to time.

Why is Mott's the best apple juice?

Mott's light golden hue looked the part of a great apple juice, while the apples' freshness was clear to our chefs from the first taste. Other fruit flavors were appropriately minimal, and the flavors of a number of specific apple varieties, from Fuji to red delicious, were noted throughout the tasting session.

This judging was for shelf-stable apple juice from concentrate, not including apple juice not from concentrate, refrigerated apple juice, apple juice concentrate, or other shelf-stable or refrigerated juices or blends.

Other Leading Brands:

Apple & Eve, Juicy Juice, Langers, Martinelli's, Minute Maid, Old Orchard, Tree Top