Apple Juice

Fruice Pure Apple Juice €1.62 for one litre

Highs:This is widely available and comparatively cheap. It is very clear as all the apple bits have been carefully filtered out. It has a gentle flavour reminiscent of apple drops and a wonderfully fresh appley smell, which almost made us think we were standing in an orchard.

Lows:While the smell might be strong the flavour certainly is not, and it might prove to be too gentle for some tastes. It lacks the tartness and tang you get from a good apple juice and although it tasted very sweet we can't say what the sugar content is because, unlike all the other cartons, Fruice has decided not to break down the carbohydrate content into the naturally occurring sugars, which seems a bit remiss.

Verdict: Not so sharp.

Star rating: **

Squeez Pure Apple Juice €1.55 for one litre

Highs:This is the cheapest of the brands tested and almost certainly the most recognisable. It is very widely available, perfectly refreshing and, like the other brands here, it contains nothing but apples.

Lows:Unfortunately, like the Fruice, this is made from concentrated apple juice. You can really tell the difference both in taste and appearance between this and the not-so-concentrated options. When poured into a glass and set down alongside the competition it looks pale and not at all interesting. Although this will probably make it more appealing to kids, it does take away some of the authenticity.

Verdict:Pale and dull.

Star rating:***

Bunalun Organic Apple Juice €2.53 for 750ml, €3.37 per litre

Highs:This is one of the more upmarket options available, although unlike many of the farm-produced options out there, it is easy to get. So if you acquire a taste for it, and well you might, you should always be able to source it handily enough. It is pressed from organic apples by an Irish company and it tastes all the better for it. The juice comes in easier-to-recycle glass and, with all its cloudiness, it has a distinctly wholesome appearance.

Lows:The wholesomeness and obvious goodness might be a turn off for a picky child - or a very picky adult. It is expensive and comes in small, heavy bottles so if you plan to stock up on it you'll need to bring the car.

Verdict:Filled with fruit.

Star rating:*****

Marks & Spencer Pressed British Apple Juice €2.79 for one litre

Highs:This is the only one of the apple juices that comes in a carton not to have been made from concentrate. It has the cloudiness of the more artisan and more expensive options and has a decent apple kick to it. The juice has a nice sweetness to it, and when served chilled is very refreshing. M&S says that the juice of nine apples goes into every carton.

Lows:Like most of the juices tried, it lacked any real tang. It has the shortest shelf-life of all the supermarket-bought options and, according to Marks & Spencer, it won't last more than a single month unopened. It is also pretty pricey and not that easy to lay your hands on.

Verdict:Good quality and value.

Star rating: ****

Karmine Pure Apple Juice €4.25 for 750ml, €5.66 per litre

Highs:This artisan product comes from Co Tipperary and is the sharpest and tangiest of the juices tasted. It won a Bridgestone Best in Ireland award last year and it's not hard to see why, as it has a wonderfully strong apple flavour that could be described as smooth and full-bodied.

Lows:The big problem with this is the price, which is a definite minus. Even though it is easy to see how a small producer has to charge more, you'd still want to have fairly deep pockets to make this your daily tipple of choice. You'd want to be pretty organised too, as the number of outlets stocking it is limited.

Verdict:Great taste, but pricey.

Star rating: ****