We Asked a Floridian to Taste & Rank 11 Orange Juice Brands and the Winner Surprised Him

Orange juices ranked

When you stand in the juice aisle at the supermarket, you begin to realize just how many orange juice options there are out there. The sheer volume of bottles and cartons and jugs can get a little overwhelming. It’s understandable that every beverage company out there would want a little skin in the game, but finding the freshly squeezed orange juice that best suits your tastes can be a bit of a daunting task. And then there's the issue of the money you’d have to spend just to sample them all.

Luckily, I've done the hard work for you. In the name of science, my roommate and I tasted our way through 11 different store-bought orange juice brands to find out which orange juice brand was the best. To prevent bias, we did a blind tasting, with each of us taking a sip and then ranking each option on a scale of 1 to 5, one being the lowest possible score and five being the highest. We also took notes on overall flavor, texture and whether or not we wanted to drink more.

In case you were wondering, my qualifications here are just the same as any other proud orange juice-loving American out there, though my home state might give me some additional credibility. As a born and raised Florida boy, I have a few pretty strong opinions on orange juice, so this is one test I intended to take seriously. At the end of the tasting we were craving some bacon and eggs to go with all that oj, but we found a clear winner and also discovered some very interesting things during the process. Read on for the full details on the top 11 store-bought orange juice brands ranked from worst to best.

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11 Store-Bought Orange Juice Brands, Ranked Worst to Best

11. Evolution Fresh Organic Orange Juice

Not at all the option I expected to be ranked lowest on the list, Evolution Fresh is an organic cold-pressed orange juice that in my opinion has a surprisingly pungent and acidic flavor to it. Combine that with the ungodly amount of pulp in such a small bottle (for someone who would prefer the no-pulp version), this was a bit too over the top for me. We gave it a 2 out of 5 and came to the conclusion that a little less pulp would go a long way for the brand.

10. Lakewood Organic Pure Orange Juice

When you read the word organic it’s hard not to imagine that it might be a healthier option for you. And while sometimes that may be true, it doesn’t always mean that something will taste better. Upon first sip, Lakewood Organic was given a quick 2 out of 5. While this brand does have all the makings of a good orange juice, it’s areas like consistency and smoothness where the brand falls short. In the end, we thought there was a lack of that punch of flavor we all love in orange juice.

9. Simply Orange Orange Juice

One of the brands you can literally find anywhere, Simply Orange was one of the first surprising results we came across. Upon first taste, the brand was given yet another 2 out of 5, because of its bitter taste and thin consistency. Simply put, if there are other options available, go with those. Simply Orange is low in acid, which is what attracts many to the brand, but it may be ultimately sacrificing a flavorful punch in the process.

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8. Uncle Matt’s Organic Orange Juice

Our first 3 out of 5 from the blind test, Uncle Matt’s is a solid option for both breakfast or cocktails. From the very first sip there was a noticeably pleasant blend of bright flavors that combined beautifully with the drink's high levels of acidity. If you’re planning a fun brunch with your friends, maybe plan on snagging some Uncle Matt’s for those bottomless mimosas. You won’t be disappointed.

7. 365 Whole Foods Organic Orange Juice

Whether you like pulp or not, 365 Whole Foods has got you covered with two reliable options on the orange juice front. Originally scored as a 2 in the blind taste test, we eventually bumped our grade up to a 3 after a couple more sips because of the balanced levels of sweet and tangy flavor. This oj quickly grew on us, and if Whole Foods is your local, you won’t be disappointed. Pro tip: Make sure to shake the container well if you buy the pulp version.

6. Minute Maid Orange Juice

Another solid 3 out of 5 from the blind test, Minute Maid is one of those brands you see all across the country. Sometimes it's easy to write brands like Minute Maid off because it's made from concentrate, but the truth is that it doesn’t taste terrible. In fact, we thought Minute Maid tasted fresh, smooth and balanced.

5. Tropicana Orange Juice

Probably one of the most recognized names in the orange juice world, Tropicana has never really had the reputation of being the best or the worst in its category. That middle-of-the-road reputation held true in our taste test too, where we gave it a 3 out of 5. So far, anything ranked at a 3 has been a reliable option that had very little wrong with it, and Tropicana is just that. Compared to Simply Orange, which is packaged in a nearly identical bottle, Tropicana comes out on top.

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4. Trader Joe’s 100% Organic Orange Juice

One of the more controversial results of our blind test came from Trader Joe’s 100% Organic Orange Juice. Our final 3 out of 5 ranking of the blind test, Trader Joe’s offers an excellent pulp and no-pulp version of an incredibly good-tasting oj. Upon revealing each of the brands used in our blind test, we discovered that what prevented TJ’s from being ranked any higher was that it tasted very similar to Florida’s Natural, but it wasn't quite as good. It’s smooth and tangy with a punch of flavor, though it does have a rather thin consistency that we didn't love.

3. Tree Ripe Orange Juice

The first 4 out of 5 of the bunch, Tree Ripe isn't made from concentrate and contains oranges that are sourced from both the USA and Brazil. Upon first sip, Tree Ripe smacks your tastebuds with a burst of flavor that can only be described as being like candy. If orange juice were a candy, it would certainly be Tree Ripe. The flavor is bright and tangy and the consistency is smooth, but the aftertaste is a bit overpowering. That, plus the fact that it really tastes like candy in a bottle, prevented it from making it into the top two.

2. Florida’s Natural Orange Juice

Our second 4 out of 5 ranking—and the brand I honestly expected to take the win overall—Florida’s Natural is this Florida boy's favorite orange juice of all time. As I noted before, this brand is very similar in flavor and texture to Trader Joe’s, but you have to give it to the Floridians to know their way around a good batch of oj. This is what we imagine orange juice to taste like, but when compared to our #1 contender, Florida’s Natural unfortunately falls just slightly short of greatness.

1. Natalie’s Orange Juice

Out of the entire blind test, Natalie’s is the true Cinderella story of them all. Upon first blind taste, Natalie’s was given solid 4 out of 5 and happened to be the first one tested out of the entire lot of 11. After narrowing our selections down to the 3 brands that received a 4 and giving Natalie’s another sample, we quickly realized that Natalie’s flavor and texture were lightyears ahead of the competition. The juice is sweet, tangy, thick and pulpy, and we loved each and every sip. It took a second tasting round to realize it, but Natalie’s is simply the best orange juice you can buy right now—and I'm so willing to fight over that statement.

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