Although products at the Dollar Tree have gone up a quarter to $1.25, I must say that seems to have open the door to a variety of new products. And one such product appears to be Nature’s Goodness 100% pomegranate juice. According to the packaging there is one whole pomegranate per bottle. It also consists entirely of pure pomegranate juice, concentrated pomegranate juice, and water. 

Nature’s Goodness packs this juice inside a glass bottle, which makes the presentation a little more upscale than Dollar Tree’s usual products. It is quite a bit on the small side coming in at 8.5 fluid oz., but pomegranate juice as a whole is pretty expensive. It’s definitely cheaper than the most well-known pomegranate juice brand, which is also from concentrate.

It had been a long time since I had pomegranate juice, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But the initial whiff instantly provided me with mixed feelings: I don’t recall what pomegranate supposed to smell like, but this smelled kind of expired. Like there’s a hint of moldiness in there. That’s probably not the best way to describe something, but that’s the impression that I got. It was well within it’s expiration date, though, and was still completely sealed, so I went ahead with it anyway.

The taste, however, did not give off hints of post-expiration disappointment. There’s an initial blast of sour that gives way to finishing notes of slight sweetness. I’m talking the initial swig is almost enough to make one pucker. It’s all finished off with a strong, tart aftertaste that clings to the back of the throat. It’s not exactly a drink that I would turn to in order to quench my thirst. In fact, I have to be honest and say I don’t know exactly who it’s for. It’s one of those drinks where the taste isn’t something that one derives a lot of joy from. I guess it all comes down to the perceived benefits of ingesting the fruit. I’m talking from heart issues to erectile dysfunction, urinary health to cancer, inflammation to digestive health…pomegranate cures it all.

Now, these are just exaggerated claims: Very few (if any) are scientifically proven. (And, for the record, it doesn’t cure cancer, but is believed to possibly slow its growth, or help to prevent it altogether.) But there’s no denying that it certainly can’t be bad for you, at least in moderate, healthy quantities. So I guess when viewed from this angle, we could all use a little pomegranate in our lives.

Honestly, this is probably as healthy a juice as you’re going to find inside a dollar store. Unlike some brands, which have “natural flavors” or other additives (Kroger’s Simple Truth, I’m looking at you), the only thing added here is water (which is what “from concentrate” means anyway). The small bottles are also handy to take in lunches, or other instances where portability is a factor. 

While I’m not sure I’m sold on all – or maybe even half – of the possible benefits, I’d still get these again in a heartbeat. And I will, once in a while. It’s a nice alternative to the normal juice, and at a price that you really can’t argue with. 

Overall: 8/10. This isn’t the type of drink you’d use to quench your thirst, but Nature’s Goodness packs in a lot of pomegranate goodness for an affordable price tag. The taste is strong and sour, with some slight sweetness in the finish. Basically, it delivers what you would expect from a 100% pomegranate juice. The glass bottle is also a nice touch, giving it a more upscale presentation, especially for a dollar store. And all this for $1.25? That’s not too shabby at all, given the myriad of (potential) health benefits the fruit provides. I would get this again in a heartbeat, although it’s not something I could drink all the time.