The Best Store-Bought Lemonade, Tasted & Ranked by a Food Editor

A high fructose corn syrup-sweetened number, Turkey Hill is made with both lemon and orange juices instead of just the former. Not only do I think it’s obvious that they cut the lemon (it sort of tastes like a bland orange that lacks juice, which I ate countless of in my college dining hall), but I also think its flavor has an unpleasant, almost metallic aftertaste. I’d skip this one—sorry!

Dole lists water, sugar and citric acid before lemon juice concentrate in the ingredients and includes Yellow #5. It makes me think they skimp on the ingredients a bit, making it sourer without needing to add more lemon. However, perhaps that’s why you can get such a big bottle for less than other brands. Its color wasn’t as off-putting as Minute Maid’s for me (more on that next), but it was close, and the taste somehow wasn’t as lemonade-y. It reminded me more of Snapple Orangeade, which I adore…but that’s not lemonade.

Personally, I like when lemonade’s color falls somewhere between a cloudy white (because it reminds me of freshly squeezed lemon juice) and a sunny yellow (because nostalgia). This bargain pick’s appearance stood out to me as a bit odd, almost with a tinge of neon green, which brought me to the ingredients that include Yellow #5. This inclusion isn’t inherently a con (nor is the fact that it was sweetened with high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar); the flavor wasn’t bad, but the dye isn’t ubiquitous across brands, so you needto buy if you don’t want to. That said, I like this one for large crowds because of its affordability.

Florida’s Natural has minimal ingredients in its lemonade, with nothing but water, sugar, lemon juice, concentrated lemon juice and natural flavors on the label. The color was appetizing, and it tasted crisp and citrusy. However, I’d say it has a rounder flavor than you may anticipate. If you want a lemonade that’s minimally tart without being excessively sweet, this is just the ticket.

I was pleased to see that this major brand keeps their lemonade basic: filtered water, cane sugar, lemon juice, lemon pulp and natural flavor. Its pale color is exactly what I like to see, like limeade. The mouthfeel was refreshing and silky with strands of pulp in every sip—that’s a plus in my book. The flavor was what I’d call a flawless 50/50 of sour and sweet, so I’m betting everyone at the party (even finnicky kids) will enjoy it. Alternatively, I’d argue it’s a great shortcut for cocktails, since it looks and feels homestyle with pulp, but doesn’t require any hands-on squeezing.

This gem is made with organic sugar, lemon juice concentrate and lemon flavor. But does the higher price point and fancy-sounding category actually make it better? It depends what you’re looking for. It’s sweeter than some others on the list but still has a balanced tartness that will check your lemonade box for sure. However, it also has a unique bitter note (think lemon rind or pith) that you may not want to serve to picky kids. The ingredients are solid, and I definitely enjoyed this Sprouts product, but you’ll need to taste it for yourself to find out how it stacks up for your palate.

The ingredients here are identical (and in the same order) as the Sprouts variety. The two products are similar in color too, with a browner shade of yellow than more neon alternatives. But side by side, this store-bought lemonade won me over. It was sweet and sour (more the latter, I’d say) with a nuance that sets it apart from big-brand lemonades without making it taste unapproachable or too unlike what you’re used to.

It contains lemon juice concentrate, lemon pulp and lemon oil, along with filtered water and cane sugar. So, it’s not the simplest…but it isn’t anywhere near artificial. Its flavor is refreshing and vibrant, but not really sour. If you like a carnival lemonade, which tends to lean a bit sweeter and diluted than straight-up lemon juice, you’ll adore this pick. Did I mention 100 percent of the brand’s proceeds go to kids in need?

I appreciate how concise the ingredients are—filtered water, lemon juice, cane sugar, natural flavors—but want to note that the other no-frills lemonades have a higher juice percentage. (Simply’s is 10 percent lemon juice, while TJ’s takes the crown at 19 percent, then Tropicana with 13, Newman’s and Florida’s Natural with 12 and Whole Foods with 11.) In terms of flavor, this is my favorite big-brand pick of the lot. It’s affordable, but still delivers sour zing with gusto, along with rustic-looking lemon pulp.

Water, cane sugar and lemon juice concentrate unite to create this summer must-have. I appreciate how easy the bottle’s shape makes it to pour and hold. The flavor of this store-bought lemonade is very balanced—sweet-tart without being in State Fair territory in terms of sugar. Yeah, you’ll have to pay more at Whole Foods Market than at your usual grocery store, but in this case, it’s worth the extra dollar.

Made with nothing but water, lemon juice and sugar, this TJ’s pick is an easy win. The color is on point, and the quality is there. (The bottle also sports a cutesy label, but I digress.) It smells and tastes like freshly squeezed lemon juice—tart and bright with just enough sweetness to make it chuggable. It may cost more per ounce at $4 for seven small servings, but you can certainly taste the difference.