How to make fruit juice?

     It can also refer to liquids that are flavored with concentrate or other biological food sources, such as meat or seafood, such as clam juice. Juice is commonly consumed as a beverage or used as an ingredient or flavoring in foods or other beverages, as for smoothies. Juice emerged as a popular beverage choice after the development of pasteurization methods enabled its preservation without using fermentation (which is used in wine production). The largest fruit juice consumers are New Zealand (nearly a cup, or 8 ounces, each day) and Colombia (more than three-quarters of a cup each day). Fruit juice consumption on average increases with country income level.

History

Groups of grape pits dated to 8000 BCE show early evidence of juice production; although it is thought that the grapes may have been alternatively used to produce wine. One of the first regularly produced juices was lemonade, appearing in 16th-century Italy, as an import, after its conception in the Middle East. Orange juice originated in the 17th century. In the 18th century, James Lind linked citrus fruits to the prevention of scurvy, which, a century later, led to the implementation of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1867, requiring all Ocean-bound British ships to carry citrus-based juice on board.

In 1869, a dentist by the name Thomas B. Welch developed a pasteurization method that allowed for the storage of juice, without the juice fermenting into alcohol. His method involved filtering squeezed grape juice into bottles, sealing them with cork and wax, and then placing them in boiling water. This method kills the yeast responsible for fermentation. He then sold his new product as "Dr. Welch's Unfermented Wine".

The problem with fruit juice

Lack of fiber is the key problem. Juicing releases the sugars in fruit and removes the insoluble fibre; blending also releases the sugars and tears apart theinsoluble fibre. Most of the sugar in fruit is fructose, which can only be processed by the liver. A small amount of fructose, in an apple, for example, does us no harm because we consume it along with the fibre. Fibre protects us against the effects of fructose by slowing its absorption, and also makes us feel full. Fruit juice, on the other hand, is absorbed immediately, like all sugary drinks, as the fibre has been removed.

Some experts say that drinking fructose in liquid form stops the liver from doing its job properly, which is linked to a range of health problems, including obesity, type-2 diabetes and increased fat production, including in the liver itself.

Experts also maintain that fructose fools our brains into thinking we are still hungry – causing us to overeat – and is addictive, making us crave more. And the British Dental Association confirms a link between fruit juice consumption and tooth decay.

Some matching methods

1. Lighter styles of Chardonnay/Chenin Blanc: apple or pear juice, white cranberry juice

2. Richer styles of Chardonnay: peach, mango, passionfruit or tropical fruit juice

3. Semillon: pineapple juice, tropical fruit juice

4. Sauvignon Blanc: elderflower cordial, traditional lemonade

5. Riesling: white grape juice, lime cordial, sparkling apple juice

6. Rosé and light reds such as Beaujolais: cranberry juice, red grape juice, strawberry cordial, watermelon juice

7. Pinot Noir: pomegranate, raspberry or raspberry, and cranberry juice

8. Merlot, Carmenère and Shiraz: forest fruits, plum juice

9. Cabernet Sauvignon: blackcurrant juice/cordial, blackberry, elderberry

10. Champagne/sparkling wine - elderflower spritzer, sparkling apple juice

Some tips for making the healthiest juice:

- Blending is better than juicing as it retains the pulp and skin of the fruit and veg

- Include vegetables in the mix and only use a small handful each of just two types of fruit, such as berries and a small banana.

- Add the juice of half a lemon or a splash of apple cider vinegar. This will mask the taste of vegetables and make the juice taste sweeter without adding more fruit or sweeteners.

- Add fats, such as chopped walnuts or flaxseeds, to slow the absorption of the sugars.

No matter whether the juice is healthy or not, we should not drink too much, a healthy diet can lead a happy life.