What Does It Mean When Pomegranate Juice is From Concentrate?

December 10, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Food and Drug Administration, juice from concentrate is produced by extracting water from squeezed juice, which is later added back during packaging. This process is a common industry practice, and understanding what it means when pomegranate juice is from concentrate is key to making an informed decision about your beverage choices.

Quick Summary

The phrase "from concentrate" indicates that pomegranate juice has been processed to remove most of its water, which is later restored before bottling. This affects flavor, nutritional value, and shelf-life, differentiating it from fresher options and impacting consumer preferences.

Key Points

Processing Method: "From concentrate" means water is evaporated from the juice and added back during bottling, making it cheaper and easier to transport.
Flavor Differences: The heat used in processing can alter the flavor, resulting in a less fresh, sometimes slightly cooked taste compared to not-from-concentrate (NFC) juice.
Nutritional Value: While both forms can be healthy, NFC juice often retains more of the delicate antioxidants like anthocyanins due to less heat exposure.
Check for Additives: The nutritional quality of concentrate heavily depends on whether added sugars, flavor packs, or other additives are used during reconstitution. Look for "100% juice".
Cost and Convenience: Juice from concentrate is generally more affordable and shelf-stable, offering a convenient option for consumers.
Not-from-Concentrate: NFC juice is simply pressed, pasteurized, and packaged, resulting in a product with a fresher taste and higher retention of certain compounds.

Decoding the 'From Concentrate' Label

When you pick up a bottle of pomegranate juice and see the words "from concentrate," it signifies a specific manufacturing process. This method involves extracting fresh pomegranate juice, evaporating the majority of its water content to create a thick, syrupy concentrate, and then later re-adding water before the product is bottled and sold. This practice offers significant benefits for manufacturers, primarily by making the product more economical to transport and store, as it greatly reduces the volume and extends the shelf life. However, the processing steps can also impact the juice's flavor and nutritional profile, creating a noticeable difference from its "not from concentrate" (NFC) counterpart.

The Manufacturing Process: From Fruit to Concentrate

The journey of pomegranate juice from the field to your glass is a multi-step process when it is made from concentrate. It begins with the harvesting and pressing of fresh pomegranates to extract the juice. The raw juice is then subjected to heat treatment in a vacuum evaporator to boil off the water, leaving behind a highly concentrated solution. While this removes the bulk and weight of the water for more efficient shipping, it also often results in the loss of some volatile flavor and aroma compounds. After transport to the bottling facility, water is added back to rehydrate the concentrate, a process known as reconstitution. To ensure a consistent taste profile, some manufacturers may add flavor packs, which can be derived from the fruit itself but are often a blend of natural compounds designed to restore flavor lost during concentration.

Flavor and Nutritional Variations

The most significant difference between concentrated and NFC pomegranate juice lies in the taste and nutritional nuances. The heat used to evaporate the water can create a "cooked" or "caramelized" flavor in concentrated juice, while NFC juice tends to retain a fresher, fruitier taste. Studies have shown that NFC pomegranate juice can also have higher levels of key antioxidants like anthocyanins compared to reconstituted juice, which may see a reduction due to thermal processing. Similarly, while both types are generally good sources of polyphenols, NFC juice may offer a slight nutritional advantage. Critically, the nutritional impact also depends heavily on whether any sugars or other additives are introduced during reconstitution. 100% juice from concentrate, with no added sugars, can be nutritionally comparable to NFC juice in terms of vitamins and minerals.

Key Considerations for Consumers

When deciding between juice from concentrate and NFC, consumers should consider their priorities. If a fresh, vibrant flavor is most important, NFC is the superior choice, though it often comes at a higher price due to increased shipping costs. For those prioritizing convenience and cost, concentrate is an excellent, shelf-stable option. It is crucial to examine the product label for added sugars, which can significantly increase the calorie count and diminish the beverage's health value. A juice labeled as "100% juice from concentrate" is generally the most nutritionally sound choice within this category, as it contains only the rehydrated concentrate and no other additives.

Pomegranate Juice: Concentrate vs. Not From Concentrate


Feature	Pomegranate Juice from Concentrate	Pomegranate Juice Not from Concentrate (NFC)
Processing	Water is removed via evaporation and added back later.	Juice is pressed, pasteurized, and packaged without water removal.
Flavor Profile	Often has a more muted, sometimes slightly cooked or caramelized taste.	Tends to have a fresher, more vibrant fruit flavor.
Antioxidant Levels	Retains many antioxidants, but some heat-sensitive compounds may be reduced.	Generally contains slightly higher levels of heat-sensitive antioxidants like anthocyanins.
Shelf Life	Longer, more stable shelf life due to concentration and pasteurization.	Shorter shelf life; typically found in the refrigerated section.
Transportation	More efficient and cost-effective to transport, as volume is significantly reduced.	Less efficient and more expensive to transport due to high water content.
Nutritional Quality	Can be comparable to NFC if labeled 100% juice with no added sugar.	Often perceived as superior due to minimal processing, but may lose some nutrients during pasteurization.
Cost	Generally more affordable due to production and transportation efficiencies.	Typically more expensive due to higher processing and transport costs.

Conclusion

Understanding what it means when pomegranate juice is from concentrate allows consumers to make informed decisions based on their preferences for flavor, cost, and processing. While the concentration process involves removing and then replacing water, the resulting product can still be a nutritious choice, especially if it is 100% juice with no added sugars. However, for the most vibrant flavor and highest retention of delicate antioxidants, juice that is not from concentrate remains the premium option. Ultimately, the best choice depends on balancing these factors to fit individual needs and budgets. For further information on the nutritional science behind pomegranate juice, one can explore studies on its health effects documented by the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

To make pomegranate juice concentrate, freshly pressed juice is heated under a vacuum to evaporate most of the water. The resulting thick, syrupy liquid is then stored and transported before water is added back to it at a bottling plant.

If a product is labeled "100% juice from concentrate" with no added sugars, its nutritional value can be very similar to NFC juice. However, some heat-sensitive antioxidants and delicate flavor compounds may be slightly reduced during the concentration process.

Juice from concentrate is generally cheaper because removing the water significantly reduces its volume. This makes it more efficient and less costly to transport and store large quantities of the product.

The amount of sugar depends on the product. 100% pomegranate juice from concentrate should not have added sugars, and its sugar content per serving will be comparable to NFC juice. However, juice cocktails or blends often add extra sweeteners, so checking the ingredient list is crucial.

Reconstitution is the process of adding water back to a juice concentrate to restore it to a single-strength juice before bottling. The water is added in the same proportion that was originally removed during the concentration phase.

Juice that is not from concentrate typically has a fresher, more authentic fruit flavor. The heat involved in making concentrate can sometimes produce a slightly cooked, less complex taste.

Eating the whole fruit offers the added benefit of dietary fiber, which is removed during the juicing process. The fiber helps regulate blood sugar spikes that can occur from drinking juice, even 100% juice.