We’ve Already Got A Verdict In Our Very Own Oj Trial

You can get your citrus fix the healthy way, by drinking fruit juices just like nature intended them. Or you can go the not-so-natural route, by swilling some fruit-flavored soft drinks.

The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel recently sampled three types of orange juice, along with a trio of grapefruit-flavored sodas.

Two of the OJ’s came in cartons: a pasteurized, not from concentrate offering from Sunkist, and a Tropicana juice pre-mixed from concentrate. The third was a frozen Minute Maid concentrate, straight out of the can.

Not surprisingly, Sunkist’s pricey premium version, with its deep orange color and lively flavor, got the top taste marks. But the canned, country style (more pulp) Minute Maid came in a close second, at a more manageable cost.

Even the slightly lower-rated Tropicana proved to be an acceptable alternative, particularly for people too preoccupied to mix it themelves.

If you’re ambitious, of course, you can get truly fresh flavor by squeezing your own (or, if your pocketbook isn’t squeezed too thin, by buying it in some stores).

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the citrus soft drinks, which received a decidedly chillier reception.

Squirt shot to the top of the pack, but only because it was relatively less offensive than the calorie-free Fresca and a diet grapefruit soda from Shasta.

As Maria Ranniger said of the Squirt: “No clue as to the origin, though I’m grateful for the real sugar.”

The message seems clear: It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature.

Sunkist Premium Orange Juice (Pasteurized, Not From Concentrate)

Price: $2.59 for 64 fluid ounces.

Nutrition: 110 calories, 10 milligrams sodium in 1 cup.

Taste: ****

Value: **

Comments:”Has a nice, strong orange taste, low pulp so there’s nothing left on your teeth.” - Paul Norris.

“Good orange mouth taste, sour aftertaste.” - Jim McGinty.

“A premium brand?” - Susi Faville.

Minute Maid Country Style Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice

Price: $1.19 for a 12-ounce can (enough concentrate to make 48 fluid ounces).

Nutrition: 110 calories, no sodium in 1 cup.

Taste: ***

Value: ****

Comments: “This is the brand I use all the time. Excellent!” - Jarretta Manning.

“Very good taste. Nice amount of pulp.” - Mike Lax.

“Lots of ‘bits’ floating around, very bland and watery. Nothing special about this one.” - Maria Ranniger.

Tropicana Season’s Best Orange Juice from Concentrate

Price: $1.79 for 64 fluid ounces.

Nutrition: 110 calories, 5 milligrams sodium in 1 cup.

Taste: ***

Value: ***

Comments: “Has a tart flavor, some pulp.” - Mary Lou Crouter.

“I don’t like pulp - this has a small amount. Nothing spectacular, yellowish.” - Meagan Coffey.

“This isn’t orange juice in anything but name.” - Mary Aegerter.

Squirt, Citrus

Price: $1.09 for 2 liters (about 68 ounces).

Nutrition: 100 calories, 25 milligrams sodium in 8 ounces.

Taste: ***

Value: ****

Comments: “Not bad … tastes like club soda with a twist.” - Paul Norris.

“Light, nice sugar - this will sell great.” - Larry Kelly.

“Not a lot of taste, which isn’t all bad.” - Mary Aegerter.

Diet Shasta, Grapefruit

Price: $1.61 for six 12-ounce cans.

Nutrition: No calories, 30 milligrams sodium in 1 cup.

Taste: **

Value: **

Comments: “Good flavor; not bad aftertaste for a diet drink.” - Meagan Coffey. “Funny aftertaste. Tastes like Fresca.” - Jan Robison.

“No good. You can tell it’s diet.” - Jarretta Manning.

Fresca, Grapefruit Flavored

Price: $1.19 for 2 liters (about 68 ounces).

Nutrition: No calories, 25 milligrams sodium in 1 cup.

Taste: **

Value: **

Comments: “Kind of flat-tasting. Needs more fizz.” - Jan Robison.

“Very sweet and cloying … Smell is very strong, as is the aftertaste. Most unpleasant.” - Maria Ranniger.

“Not a good drink.” - Jim Eggers.

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