Food & Ingredients
4 min read
How do juice, nectar, and beverage differ from one another?
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We often wonder what precisely sets juice apart from a beverage. To supply the body with the most valuable nutrients, it is essential to understand the distinctions between these types of drinks, their composition, and their calorie and vitamin content.
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Juice and nectar
EU law explicitly states that a juice is a fermentable beverage, but not a fermented (very important) drink, produced from fresh or preserved fruits or vegetables with a flavor and aroma that is natural. It is permissible to enrich the juice with vitamins, minerals, citric acid, natural herbs and spices and add sugar up to 15 g/l of juice. However, the content of the juice must be between 85% and 100% of the fruit or vegetable flavor. Most juice is made from concentrated fruit juice from grains of vegetable juices or from fermented fruit juices to anything else.
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Juice and a drink
It is true that beverage producers, in order to reduce costs, often produce beverages with 35% fruit juices, so the proportion of the drink base is small and at the same time much lower than that of nectars. Beverages containing 20% juices are also present. Artificial additives: flavourings, natural and artificial colours, artificial sweeteners and preservatives are allowed in this group.
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Juice, nectar and a drink of calories and vitamins
Of course, what is known is that juices from freshly squeezed fruits and vegetables are most beneficial. They contain a lot of fiber and vitamins and minerals. Taste values are also not insignificant. Juices made from concentrates are not additionally sweet (the addition of natural sweeteners does not exceed 15g/l of juice), which does not increase their caloric content, and may contain additional minerals and vitamines.
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Scientifically reviewed by a clinical dietitian
• 24.09.2026
mgr Max Müller
Diets Premium Expert
Diets Premium team expert. Specializes in nutrition plans, strength sports, and training plans.
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