Crisp, refreshing apple juice at a tiny price (Sainsbury's Basics Apple Juice)

Member Name: edinburgher

Product:	Sainsbury's Basics Apple Juice
Date:	10/04/09 (158 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Affordable, nutritious, can be frozen

Disadvantages: From concentrate, not from one source

*Budgeting assistance required*

Like all people who like to call themselves 'foodies', I can be a little bit too snobbish about foodstuffs and ingredients. There, I said it.

Late last year my girlfriend and I decided to switch out some of the less necessary luxuries in our weekly grocery shop for own brand equivalents. We did this partially as we struggled to keep with a budget and partially because we're obstinate and refused to compromise on those little luxuries that make life fun. Well, it's hardly a sin to enjoy a good bottle of wine of a Friday night, is it?

*Sainsbury's Basics*

Supermarkets have been doing very well as a result of the recession, as it to be expected as families have - or feel they have - less disposable income to hand. Those who keep up to date with the news (or own shares in 'defensive' companies like supermarkets) will have noticed that profits have been healthy for these businesses of late. Much of these profits can be attributed to the growth in popularity of own brand product ranges.

While it is growing, the Sainsbury's Basics range isn't quite as large as the own brand collections found at some of the competition. That said, I've found it to be good quality, from cling film to bacon and these products have become part of our regular shop. I've already reviewed a few of these products and this will be another positive one.

*Wet your whistle with a crisp, refreshing glass of apple juice*

This apple juice is tasty and has a pleasing, crisp edge to it. It's not nearly as acidic as freshly pressed apple juice, which can be a good thing for those of us with grumble prone stomachs! It's very refreshing, doesn't have any bits in it and is perfectly versatile as a cheap daily use product. I don't see myself moving on to another brand, as this one is good to drink and cheap to buy.

*Packaging and price*

In a fit of cleverness, Sainsbury's have made this available in either a squat Tetra Pack, or a one litre plastic bottle (like a milk bottle). The squat ones are good for bulk storage in the cupboard, while the plastic ones win out as they can be frozen and are typically recyclable. Tetra Packs are best avoided in my opinion, as most councils can't recycle them. They're so bad for the environment, in fact, that the company that invented them has been coerced into providing specific recycling facilities for them in the UK.

The price is currently a bargainous £0.56. This hasn't changed upwards since October when I started using the product.

*Nutrition, source etc.*

Fruit juices are high in naturally occurring fruit sugars and so they're best enjoyed in moderation (apple juice is on a par with Coca Cola). A 200 ml glass of this apple juice contains: 87 calories, 0.2 g of fat and 20.7 g of sugars. This gets a 'yellow' on the nutrition pie chart that features on so many foodstuffs these days, so it's fine in moderation.

It's also worth considering that a 200 ml glass is one of your five a day and it's a very easy way to get it. More than one portion doesn't count, however, so don't glug a litre of this and act like you're being healthy!

This juice comes from a variety of sources, where the apple juice is pressed, frozen, sent back to the UK, defrosted, pasteurised and 'rehydrated' with the addition of more water. For most people this will be viewed as a negative, but Sainsbury's have cunningly tried to sell it as a glamorous thing, with their 'from around the world' line on the front of the packaging. I don't think it's particularly fantastic that I'm drinking apple juice from x different countries with my breakfast, but can't complain as the price, taste and nutritional values are all right.

Summary: While not the prettiest product ever, this offering from Sainsbury's basics is an everyday essential