What are the ingredients in pick and peel juice? A complete breakdown by flavor

January 7, 2026 •

5 min read

Despite some marketing claims of being 100% natural, the specific ingredients in Pick and Peel juice vary significantly by flavor, often including water, fruit juice from concentrate, and approved additives like acidity regulators. This detailed breakdown explores what exactly goes into the popular Kenyan brand's various juice offerings.

Quick Summary

Pick and Peel juice ingredients differ depending on the flavor, commonly featuring water, fruit juice reconstituted from concentrate, sugar, and food-grade additives such as citric acid and ascorbic acid. Different variants contain concentrates from specific fruits like pineapple, apple, or a mix of tropical fruits.

Key Points

Concentrate is a key ingredient: Pick and Peel juices are primarily made from fruit juice that has been reconstituted from concentrate, meaning water was removed and then added back.
Ingredients vary by flavor: The specific fruits and additives differ based on the flavor, such as pineapple concentrate and citric acid in the pineapple variant, or apple concentrate and malic acid in the apple juice.
Contains common food additives: Despite 'no additives' claims, approved additives like ascorbic acid (Vitamin C, E300) for antioxidant properties and citric acid (E330) for acidity regulation are used across flavors.
Sugar content varies: While some variants may have no added sugar, others include it as an ingredient to achieve the desired sweetness.
Processing affects nutritional value: The process of making juice concentrate, which involves heat, can reduce the levels of some nutrients like Vitamin C compared to fresh juice.
Labels detail specific additives: Understanding food labels, including E-numbers, helps consumers identify the specific additives and their function.

A Closer Look at Pick and Peel Juice Flavors

To understand the full picture of what's inside a carton of Pick and Peel juice, it's essential to examine the ingredients for individual flavors. While the brand promotes itself as free from artificial preservatives, additives, and colorings, a closer look at the labels reveals the use of certain approved food additives and the reconstitution of juice from concentrate. This is a standard practice in commercial juice production, used to ensure consistency, safety, and a long shelf life, but it contrasts with freshly squeezed juice.

Pineapple Flavour

According to product listings, the ingredients for the Pineapple Flavour are as follows:

Water
Pineapple Juice (Reconstituted From Pineapple Juice Concentrate) (34%)
Sugar
Acidity Regulator (E330)
Antioxidant (E300)

E330 is the food code for citric acid, a naturally occurring acid found in citrus fruits, which is used here to regulate acidity and inhibit microbial growth. E300 is ascorbic acid, more commonly known as Vitamin C, which serves as an antioxidant to preserve color and flavor.

Apple Flavour

The Apple Flavour has a slightly different composition:

Apple Juice Concentrate
Water
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Malic Acid

This variant notably includes malic acid, which is naturally present in apples and adds a tart flavor profile. Ascorbic acid is again used to maintain the juice's quality.

Orange Juice

The Orange Juice ingredients list provides a different set of details, showcasing the use of fruit puree in addition to other common additives:

Water
Sugar
Orange Puree
Acidity Regulator
Antioxidants
Natural Flavouring Substances

This list is less specific about the food codes but confirms the inclusion of orange puree for texture and flavor, alongside sweeteners and functional additives.

Tropical Mix Juice

The Tropical Mix Juice is described as a blend of several fruits:

Pineapple, mango, and orange blend
High in vitamin C
No artificial preservatives

While this is a simplified description from a retailer, the presence of multiple fruits indicates a blend of concentrates and purees, similar to the other flavors, along with added vitamin C.

The Difference Between Concentrate and Fresh Juice

The use of 'concentrate' is a key aspect of Pick and Peel's ingredients that distinguishes it from fresh-squeezed juice. Juice concentrate is created by removing most of the water from freshly squeezed juice through evaporation. This reduces volume, making it cheaper to transport and giving it a longer shelf life. When reconstituted, water is added back in. This process, which often involves heating, can sometimes lead to a loss of some nutrients and alters the flavor profile compared to fresh juice. In contrast, juice labeled 'not from concentrate' is simply pasteurized after being squeezed.

What are common juice additives?

Beyond the specific ingredients of a brand like Pick and Peel, the juice industry relies on a standard set of additives to control flavor, color, and shelf life.

Acidulants and pH Regulators: Ingredients like citric acid (E330) and malic acid (E296) are used to adjust the acidity level for flavor balance and to inhibit microbial growth.
Antioxidants: Ascorbic acid (E300), or Vitamin C, is a key antioxidant that prevents the juice from browning and losing its nutritional value over time.
Flavorings and Sweeteners: Natural or nature-identical flavorings are added to ensure a consistent taste profile across different batches. Many juices also include added sugar or alternative sweeteners.
Stabilizers: Pectin or xanthan gum (E415) might be used to keep pulp and other solids suspended in the liquid.

Comparison Table: Pick and Peel Flavors


Feature	Pineapple Flavour	Apple Flavour	Orange Juice
Primary Fruit	Pineapple	Apple	Orange
Concentrate Used	Yes, reconstituted from concentrate	Yes, from concentrate	May use concentrate, and includes puree
Added Sugar	Yes	Varies by nutritional profile	Yes
Acid Regulators	Citric Acid (E330)	Malic Acid	Yes
Antioxidants	Ascorbic Acid (E300)	Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)	Yes
Other Notables	Water is the main ingredient	No added sugar per some sources	Includes orange puree

Understanding Juice Labels and Ingredients

For consumers, understanding juice labels is crucial for making informed dietary choices. According to sources like the FDA, the ingredients on a label are listed in descending order by weight, meaning the first few ingredients make up the largest portion of the product. This is why water and fruit juice concentrate are often the first items listed for many Pick and Peel flavors. The 'Nutrition Facts' panel provides information on sugar content, which is important to consider, as even juices labeled as 100% can have naturally high sugar levels. Recognizing the E-numbers for additives helps identify what specific compounds are used for preservation, acidity, or color stabilization.

Conclusion

In summary, the ingredients in Pick and Peel juice are not a single formula but vary across its different flavor offerings. While the brand emphasizes its use of natural fruit juice and lack of artificial colorings, a closer inspection of individual products reveals the consistent use of water, juice from concentrate, and approved food additives like citric acid and ascorbic acid. This is typical for commercial juices and helps ensure product safety and longevity. Consumers can make informed choices by checking ingredient labels to understand the specific composition of each flavor, especially concerning added sugar and the origin of the juice (concentrate versus fresh). For more detailed guidance, the FDA's guide to understanding the Nutrition Facts label offers further insights.

Additional Considerations

Not all brands use the same ingredients or processing methods, so it's best to check the label for any juice product.
While additives like citric acid and ascorbic acid are generally recognized as safe, it's wise to be aware of what you are consuming.
Nutritional content can be affected by the juicing and concentrating process, with some heat-sensitive nutrients potentially diminishing.
The presence of added sugar is a factor to consider for those monitoring their sugar intake.
The flavor profile of juice made from concentrate can differ from freshly squeezed juice.

Understanding what are the ingredients in Pick and Peel juice and other commercial products empowers consumers to make choices that align with their health and dietary preferences. It is clear that while relying on fruit concentrate, the brand utilizes standard food processing techniques to deliver its wide range of flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary ingredient in Pick and Peel pineapple juice is water, followed by pineapple juice reconstituted from pineapple juice concentrate.

Yes, some flavors of Pick and Peel, like the Pineapple Flavour and Orange Juice, list sugar as an ingredient. For example, the pineapple variant includes sugar to balance the flavor.

No, Pick and Peel juice is made from fruit juice concentrate. This involves processing fresh juice to remove water, and then adding water back in during production.

E330 is the food code for citric acid, which is an acidity regulator, while E300 is the code for ascorbic acid, or Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant.

Juice from concentrate has had most of its water removed for transport and shelf life, potentially reducing some heat-sensitive nutrients during processing. Fresh juice, on the other hand, is simply pasteurized after being squeezed.

According to one retail description, the Pick and Peel Tropical Mix is free from artificial preservatives. However, approved food additives like ascorbic acid, which also acts as a preservative, are used in other flavors.

The concentration process can diminish some nutrients, particularly heat-sensitive ones like Vitamin C. While Pick and Peel adds back Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), a fresh, cold-pressed juice may contain a broader spectrum of nutrients.