Juice
Liquid extracted from fruits and vegetables, consumed worldwide.
Juice is a drink made from the extraction or pressing of the natural liquid contained in fruit and vegetables. It can also refer to liquids flavored with concentrate or other biological food sources like meat or seafood. Juice emerged as a popular beverage choice after the development of pasteurization methods enabled its preservation without using fermentation.
- first regularly produced juice
- lemonade, 16th-century Italy
- largest consumers
- New Zealand (nearly 8 oz/day) and Colombia (more than 3/4 cup/day)
- US per capita consumption (2015)
- approximately 6.6 US gallons
Lore & Background
The use of 'juice' to mean the watery part of fruits or vegetables was first recorded in the early 14th century. Since the 19th century, the term has also been used figuratively for alcohol or electricity. One of the first regularly produced juices was lemonade, appearing in 16th-century Italy after its conception in the Middle East. Orange juice originated in the 17th century. Welch developed a pasteurization method that allowed juice storage without fermentation, selling it as 'Dr. Welch's Unfermented Wine'.
Reader's Guide
Juice is significant as a widely consumed beverage and ingredient, with its modern popularity enabled by pasteurization. Its history spans from ancient grape pressing to regulated modern production. Consumption patterns show higher intake in wealthier countries, with New Zealand and Colombia as top consumers. Processing methods include washing, extraction, filtration, concentration, pasteurization, and packaging. Pulsed electric fields offer a nonthermal alternative to heat pasteurization, preserving flavor and nutrients. Juice's role in preventing scurvy highlights its historical nutritional importance. The term's etymology reflects its long linguistic evolution, and its figurative uses show cultural penetration. Commercial juice production ranges from 1 to 20 tonnes per day per plant.
Did You Know?
- The largest fruit juice consumers are New Zealand (nearly 8 ounces each day) and Colombia (more than three quarters of a cup each day).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Juice?
Juice is a beverage created by extracting or pressing the natural liquid found inside fruits and vegetables. It can also describe liquids flavored with concentrate or derived from other biological food sources such as meat or seafood.
What was the first juice produced on a regular basis?
Lemonade holds that distinction, having been first regularly produced in 16th-century Italy.
Which countries drink the most juice per person?
New Zealand leads with nearly 8 ounces consumed daily per capita, followed closely by Colombia at more than three-quarters of a cup per day.
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