How to get vitamin C in a drink: Simple & delicious ideas

October 23, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin C is an essential nutrient that humans cannot synthesize, making dietary intake vital for health. Getting your daily dose of this powerful antioxidant is surprisingly simple and delicious, especially when you know how to get vitamin C in a drink.

Quick Summary

This article explores practical and tasty methods for incorporating more vitamin C into your diet through various beverages. It offers recipes for homemade juices, smoothies, and fruit-infused waters, detailing the best high-C ingredients and preparation tips to maximize nutrient retention. Find inspiration for creating your own healthy and immune-boosting drinks.

Key Points

Prioritize fresh ingredients: For maximum vitamin C, use fresh fruits and vegetables like kakadu plums, acerola cherries, kiwis, and bell peppers, as the nutrient degrades over time.
Choose homemade over store-bought: DIY juices and smoothies retain significantly more vitamin C than pasteurized, store-bought versions that undergo heat processing and extended storage.
Control your sugar intake: Making your own drinks allows you to avoid the high levels of added sugar often found in commercial fruit juices.
Incorporate antioxidant-rich teas: Herbal teas made from rose hips and hibiscus are excellent, low-sugar sources of vitamin C when brewed and served fresh.
Infuse your water daily: A simple way to stay hydrated is by adding citrus slices (lemon, lime, orange) to your water, which provides a mild and continuous vitamin C boost.
Keep it cool and covered: Store any homemade beverages in dark, opaque glass containers in the refrigerator and consume them quickly to minimize vitamin C loss from heat, light, and oxidation.

Why getting Vitamin C from drinks is a great idea

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin vital for many bodily functions, including immune health, collagen production, and iron absorption. While many people associate vitamin C with oranges, a variety of other fruits and vegetables offer even higher concentrations. Incorporating these ingredients into beverages is an excellent way to boost your daily intake, especially for those who find it challenging to consume enough fruits and vegetables directly. Liquid forms can also aid hydration, and fresh, homemade versions often avoid the added sugars and preservatives found in many store-bought options.

Maximize vitamin C with fresh, high-quality ingredients

The key to a vitamin C-rich drink is using fresh, whole ingredients rather than processed juices. Vitamin C is sensitive to heat, light, and prolonged storage, so consuming ingredients soon after preparation is best.

Best fruits for vitamin C drinks:

Kakadu Plums: With the highest known concentration of vitamin C in any food, this Australian native is a potent addition to any smoothie.
Acerola Cherries: Just half a cup provides an enormous dose of vitamin C, along with anti-inflammatory properties.
Rose Hips: These small fruits from rose plants can be used to make a potent, tangy herbal tea rich in vitamin C.
Guava: A single guava offers more than the daily value for vitamin C.
Kiwi: These green gems have nearly twice the vitamin C of an orange, gram for gram.
Papaya: This tropical fruit is loaded with vitamin C and other antioxidants.
Strawberries: A cup of strawberries can exceed the daily requirement for many adults.
Citrus Fruits: Oranges, lemons, and grapefruit remain classic and reliable sources of vitamin C.

Best vegetables for vitamin C drinks:

Kale: This leafy green is a good source of vitamin C, along with vitamins K and A.
Spinach: A cup of raw spinach adds a gentle boost of vitamin C to any blend.
Bell Peppers: Yellow peppers contain the most vitamin C, with reds also being very high. While less common in sweet drinks, they can be a potent addition to savory juices.

Refreshing and delicious drink recipes

Here are some simple recipes to get you started on your vitamin C journey.

Citrus-Berry Smoothie:

Combine 1 cup of fresh strawberries, 1/2 cup of mango chunks, and 1/2 cup of unsweetened orange juice in a blender.
Add a medium kiwi (peeled) and a splash of coconut water or plain yogurt for a creamy texture.
Blend until smooth and enjoy immediately.

Zesty Lemon-Ginger Infused Water:

Fill a pitcher with cold, filtered water.
Add thinly sliced lemons and a few thin slices of fresh ginger.
Garnish with fresh mint leaves for extra flavor.
Let it infuse for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before serving. This is a great way to stay hydrated and get a continuous, mild dose of vitamin C throughout the day.

Rose Hip & Hibiscus Herbal Tea:

Brew a strong herbal tea using dried rose hips and hibiscus petals.
Steep for 10-15 minutes, then strain and let cool.
Serve chilled over ice with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Homemade vs. store-bought juice: What's best for vitamin C?

When choosing between fresh, homemade beverages and store-bought juices, there are significant nutritional considerations, especially regarding vitamin C retention. Prolonged storage, pasteurization, and exposure to light can all degrade vitamin C content over time.


Feature	Homemade Fresh Juice/Smoothie	Store-Bought Pasteurized Juice
Vitamin C Content	Highest, retained from fresh, raw ingredients.	Lower, degraded by heat pasteurization and storage time.
Preparation	Made on-demand, often consumed right away for maximum nutrient benefits.	Processed, pasteurized, and stored for extended periods.
Ingredients	You control the exact fresh fruits and vegetables used.	Often made from concentrate, and may contain added sugars or preservatives.
Flavor	Brighter, fresher, and more robust natural flavor.	Can have a muted or altered flavor profile due to processing.
Cost	Typically higher upfront cost for fresh ingredients.	Lower cost per serving and higher convenience.
Additives	Naturally free of added sugars, colors, or preservatives.	May contain significant amounts of added sugar, impacting overall health.
Control	Full control over sweetness and ingredient combinations.	Limited options, and often comes with pre-set sweetness levels.

Tips for retaining vitamin C in your drinks

To ensure your drinks are as potent as possible, follow these best practices:

Use glass containers: Store homemade juices or infused waters in dark or opaque glass containers, as light can accelerate vitamin C degradation.
Consume promptly: For best results, drink your concoctions soon after making them. Vitamin C is highly sensitive to oxidation once exposed to air.
Blend on low speed: While blending is effective, high-speed blenders can introduce more oxygen, potentially degrading the vitamin C. A quick, low-speed blend is best.
Add an acidic touch: The vitamin C in lemons and limes can help preserve the antioxidant properties of other ingredients in your drink.
Keep it cool: Store any leftover drinks in the refrigerator to slow the degradation process.

Conclusion

Incorporating vitamin C-rich drinks into your diet is a simple and enjoyable way to boost your nutritional intake and support your immune system. By prioritizing fresh, whole foods like berries, tropical fruits, and citrus, you can create delicious and powerful beverages at home. Avoiding excessive heat and air exposure during preparation and opting for homemade over highly processed store-bought options are key strategies for maximizing the vitamin C content. Experiment with different recipes and combinations to find your favorite way to get a daily dose of this essential nutrient in a tasty, hydrating form.

Outbound link: Learn more about vitamin C from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements.

Frequently Asked Questions

While oranges are famous for vitamin C, the Kakadu plum, acerola cherries, and rose hips contain significantly higher concentrations. A medium kiwi also provides nearly double the vitamin C of an orange.

Blending is generally fine, but the vitamin C content can slightly decrease due to oxidation. To minimize this, use a low-speed setting and consume the drink immediately after blending. The benefits of getting the full fruit fiber typically outweigh this minor loss.

Yes, many bottled orange juices are fortified and contain vitamin C, but the content is often reduced by heat pasteurization and storage. For the highest nutrient intake, fresh-squeezed juice is best.

Yes, you can add powdered ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to drinks. Look for a high-quality, pure powder. It is best to dissolve it in cold water or juice and consume it shortly after preparation.

Vitamin C is sensitive to light, heat, and air. A homemade drink will begin losing its potency right away. For the highest nutritional value, it is best to drink it within a few hours. Storing it in an airtight, opaque container in the fridge can help slow the degradation.

While fruit-infused water provides some vitamin C and is great for hydration, it will not offer the same high dose as a freshly blended smoothie or juice. It's a good supplement but likely not enough on its own to meet all your daily needs.

Cooking does reduce vitamin C content because it's a water-soluble vitamin. For a vitamin C drink, it is best to use raw vegetables like kale or spinach. However, cooked vegetables still retain some nutrients.