Boost Your Vitality with Kiwifruit Juice

Health & Lifestyle
Did You Know
How To's

If you've spent any amount of time on this site — and we hope you have! — you know that we love drinking kiwifruit smoothies. Kiwi smoothies are easy to make and full of flavor. And the versatility of kiwifruit means you can mix and match it with a wealth of other fruits and make a delicious drink that's packed with nutrients — from vitamin C, folate, fiber, potassium and much more.

But smoothies aren't the only way to drink your way to vitality. There's also kiwifruit juice! And just like a smoothie, kiwi-enriched juice is fast, simple and easy to make!

Why Store-Bought Juice is Less-Than Favorable

When it comes to drinking juice, there are plenty of options. The juice aisle in supermarkets and grocery stores are packed full of choices. Orange juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice — just to name three. But unless you're buying really expensive "cold pressed" juice, most store bought juice is made from a combination of juice concentrates (depending on the flavor) and other synthetic vitamins, artificial coloring and loads of sugar and sweeteners.

If you want to know exactly what ingredients are in your juice — and how much — then you're better off making your own. It might not be quite as easy as buying a carton of juice at your local market, but it's not difficult to make kiwi juice. And you don't need to own a juicer to do it!

Why Juice?

Absorb Nutrients Faster. Drinking fresh fruit juices greatly reduces the digestion process. When you juice, you remove most — if not all — of the fruit pulp, leaving the nutrient-dense juice that's must easier to digest.

Improve Energy Levels. Drinking fresh juice delivers vitamin B and C, as well as potassium, to you. These life-enriching nutrients contribute to increased energy, stamina and muscle recovery.

Control Your Sugar Intake. Over the counter juices may have a lot of sugar — more than you want for yourself and your family. But juice, especially kiwifruit juice, made from home has none of the impurities you can find in store-bought juice.

Instead of artificial sweeteners, you're relying on the natural sweetness of kiwifruit for flavor. Need to boost the sweetness level a bit more? Try natural agave syrup. But you'll find that the tropical sweetness of SunGold and the tart, tangy goodness of Zespri Green kiwifruit is all you need for a delightfully sweet and undeniably refreshing drink.

So enough of the "whys." Now let's talk recipes!

Strawberry Kiwi Juice

We already know that kiwi and strawberries work well together. So you can expect this simple Strawberry Kiwi Juice to be full of flavor and nutrients on top of being absolutely refreshing.

What You'll Need

4 cups strawberries, halved
1 cup Zespri kiwifruit, peeled & quartered (about 2 kiwifruit)
1 cup water
2 Tbsp.fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
3 Tbsp. honey
Ice (optional)

What You'll Do

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.
Strain mixture through a sieve into a pitcher, and discard solids.
Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes or until thoroughly chilled.
Serve over ice, if desired.

SunGold Kiwifruit Cider

Warm cider on a cold winter day is just what the doctor ordered — especially if you find yourself fighting a cold. Next time you need a helpful boost to your vitality or soothe a sore throat, try making our SunGold Kiwifruit Cider.

What You'll Need:

10 Zespri SunGold kiwifruit, peeled and sliced
3 whole cinnamon sticks
1 tsp. whole cloves
4 cups of cold water
3 Tbsp. of honey
½ tsp. of turmeric

What You'll Do:

Add the sliced kiwifruit to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Cover with water and set the slow cooker on high for 2 hours.
After 2 hours, use a potato masher or a whisk to break down the fruit.
Stir in the honey and turmeric.
Return heat to low.
After 2 hours, turn the heat off and let cool for about 1 hour. When cool enough to handle, arrange a large bowl underneath a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth.
Strain all of the liquid into a large bowl and discard the solid contents. Garnish with a cinnamon sugar ring and enjoy!

*Getting the sniffles? It's that time of year! We have some tips on how you can Fend Off the Flu with Zespri Kiwifruit.*

For Adults: James Bond-style Kiwi Martini

"Shaken, not stirred." A martini is a simple, classy drink and perfect for grown-up occasions. And a Kiwi Martini isn't just fun to say, it's absolutely delicious!

What You'll Need:

2 Zespri kiwifruit, peeled & chopped (Green or SunGold)
2 oz. vodka
2 oz. gin
2 oz. Lillet Blanc or dry vermouth

What You'll Do:

Combine Zespri kiwifruit, vodka, gin, Lillet Blanc and ice in cocktail shaker.
Shake all ingredients and strain into two martini glasses, rims dipped in egg-white and sugar.
Garnish with unpeeled kiwifruit slice.

Alternate recipe: You can very easily turn this into a mocktail by using 6 fl. oz. of white grape juice and a dash of bitters instead of alcohol. This turns the martini into a flavorful Kiwi Grape Juice that everyone — young or young-at-heart — will enjoy.

*Take your Kiwi Martini to the next level with our Misty Kiwifruit Elixir recipe — perfect for entertaining guests.*

Difference Between Making Smoothies and Juicing

It might seem like making a smoothie and making juice are mechanically similar. But unlike making a smoothie in a blender, juicing extracts liquid from raw fruits and vegetables rather than pulverizing the whole plant. So homemade juice might have less fiber than a smoothie with the same ingredients, juicing still has a high amount of concentrated nutrients.

Now It's Your Turn!

Kiwifruit juice is without a doubt a fresh, nutrient-rich, fruit lover's delight that's both good and good for you. And the versatility of kiwifruit lets you easily come up with your own favorite fruit combination, whether it's kiwi mango or kiwi apples. Or you can simply enjoy kiwifruit juice on its own.

Either way, don't be afraid to experiment. Combine different kinds of fruits — and even vegetables — for taste and nutrition. You're sure to love what you come up with. Sound off on social media with your own favorite kiwi juice recipes. Don't forget to tag @ZespriKiwiFruit when you do. Your recipe might be featured!