Oct 1, 2025
What is the Difference Between Fruit Juice and Fruit Drink in India?
In India, fruit juice means 100 percent fruit juice. Fruit drink means less than 100 percent fruit juice with added water, sugar, and sometimes flavors or preservatives. The quickest way to know what you are buying is to read the ingredient label.
The short answer
Fruit juice contains only fruit juice. Fruit drink contains a smaller percentage of fruit juice with added water and sweeteners and may include flavors or preservatives. Labels for fruit drinks often say drink, beverage, cocktail, punch, or made with real juice.
What counts as fruit juice
Fruit juice is obtained from fruit by mechanical extraction. It can also be made from concentrate by adding potable water back to the original strength. Labels must make this clear. In recent guidance, FSSAI cautioned against using “100% fruit juice” claims for reconstituted juices without clear disclosure.
What counts as a fruit drink
Fruit drinks are beverages made from fruit juice and water. They usually include sugar or other sweeteners. FSSAI sets a minimum fruit content of at least 10 percent for most fruits and at least 5 percent for lime or lemon.
What about “nectar”
Nectar is a separate category in many standards and often sits between juice and drink for some pulpy or tart fruits. The allowed fruit content varies by fruit type. If you use a nectar term, follow the specific standard for that fruit.
Fruit juice
Fruit content
100 percent fruit juice.Ingredients
Only fruit juice. No added sugar or other ingredients.Processing
Can be pure juice from fresh fruit or juice made from concentrate by adding back water to original strength.How to spot it on the label
Ingredients list shows only the fruit juice. The front panel uses the term juice.
Fruit drink
Fruit content
A smaller percentage of fruit juice with the majority being water.Ingredients
Added sugar and water and sometimes flavors or permitted preservatives.Labeling terms to watch
Drink, beverage, punch, cocktail, ade, made with real juice. These indicate a fruit drink and not 100 percent juice.How to spot it on the label
Ingredients list includes water and sugar and may list flavors or preservatives.
Read any label in ten seconds
Check the name on the front for juice or drink.
Scan the ingredient list. Only fruit juice means juice. Water and sugar means drink.
Look for words like beverage or cocktail which signal a drink.
For kids and portion control, check the pack size.
Choose what fits your need and budget.
Why this matters for Lasva
Lasva products are pulp based fruit drinks. Clear labeling helps distributors and shoppers understand what they are buying and builds trust. Yemgo is a pulp based mango drink in a handy 180 ml PET bottle. Quico will offer nata de coco flavored drinks when launched.
