Prune juice is a healthy but bitter drink made from dried plums. Many people find the taste of plain prune juice to be unappealing. Luckily, there are many options for making prune juice more palatable by mixing it with other ingredients.
Making Prune Juice Taste Better
If you want to enjoy the many health benefits of prune juice but can’t stand the taste, try mixing it with sweeter and more flavorful ingredients. Here are some of the best options for pruning up your prune juice:
- Fruit juices like orange, apple, or grapefruit
- Vegetable juices like carrot or tomato
- Milk or non-dairy milk like almond or soy
- Yogurt or kefir
- Honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, or other spices
- Lemon or lime juice
- Chia seeds or flaxseed
- Green tea or herbal tea
- Protein powders like whey or pea protein
- Granola, oats, or bran cereal
Mixing prune juice with any of these options will help mellow out the bitter taste. Be creative and come up with your own preferred prune juice blends. Keep reading for some delicious prune juice recipes to try.
Fruity Prune Juice Recipes
Adding fruit juice is one of the easiest ways to make prune juice taste better. The natural sweetness helps balance out the bitterness. Here are some tasty fruity prune juice blends:
Prune Orange Juice
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 cup orange juice
Instructions: Mix together the prune juice and orange juice. Serve over ice.
Prune Apple Cider
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 cup apple cider
- Cinnamon stick
Instructions: Mix together prune juice and apple cider. Heat gently over medium heat until warm but not boiling. Add cinnamon stick and serve.
Prune Grapefruit Fizz
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 cup grapefruit juice
- 1 tbsp honey or agave nectar
- Seltzer water
Instructions: Stir together prune juice, grapefruit juice and sweetener. Fill a glass halfway with ice. Add juice mixture then top off with seltzer. Stir gently and serve.
Prune Juice Smoothies
Smoothies are thicker and creamier than juice, making them another tasty option for diluting bitter prune juice. Blend prune juice with yogurt, milk or ice cream plus your favorite fruits and flavorings. Here are some delicious prune juice smoothies to try:
Prune Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 banana
- 1 cup milk or non-dairy milk
- 2 tbsp yogurt
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Prune Berry Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1 cup yogurt
- 2 tbsp honey or agave nectar
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and serve.
Prune Peach Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 peach, sliced
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until creamy and smooth.
Savory Prune Juice Recipes
Prune juice doesn’t always have to be sweet. For a change of pace, try mixing it into one of these savory recipes:
Vegetable Prune Juice
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 cup tomato juice or carrot juice
- Dash of hot sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions: Whisk together prune juice, vegetable juice and hot sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
Prune Juice Tonic
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 cup sparkling water
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions: Stir together all ingredients over ice and serve.
Green Machine Prune Juice
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 1/2 cucumber, chopped
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 tbsp ginger, grated
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth and green. Serve chilled.
Spiced Prune Juice Recipes
Warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves can help mellow the flavor of prune juice. Try these tasty spiced prune juice recipes:
Prune Chai
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 cup milk or non-dairy milk
- 1 inch knob ginger, minced
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- Pinch cardamom
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions: Heat prune juice, milk and spices gently in a small pot until steaming but not boiling. Sweeten if desired. Strain into mugs and serve.
Pumpkin Prune Latte
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch ground cloves
- Pinch ground ginger
- 1 cup milk, steamed
Instructions: Heat prune juice, pumpkin puree and spices gently until warmed through. Pour into a mug and top with steamed milk.
Prune Cider
Ingredients:
- 1 cup prune juice
- 1 cup apple cider
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Pinch nutmeg
Instructions: Gently heat prune juice, cider and spices in a small pot until warm but not boiling. Let stand for 10 minutes to allow flavors to blend before straining into mugs.
Other Tasty Prune Juice Blends
Don’t limit yourself to just fruit, veggies and spices when mixing up prune juice drinks. Consider adding these ingredients too:
- Protein powders: Whey, pea and other protein powders can add thickness and creamy texture.
- Nut butters: A spoonful of almond butter, peanut butter or any nut butter makes a nourishing addition.
- Seeds: Chia seeds and flaxseed blend easily into prune juice for extra nutrition.
- Coconut water: For an electrolyte boost, substitute coconut water for half the prune juice.
- Herbal teas: Chamomile, mint, rooibos and other herbal teas complement prune juice wonderfully.
- Leafy greens: Add a handful of baby spinach or kale to your prune juice smoothies.
- Lemon/lime: A squeeze of citrus adds fresh flavor and cuts bitterness.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with whatever ingredients appeal to your taste buds. The key is balancing the potent flavor of prune juice with complements like fruit, spices and creaminess.
Health Benefits of Prune Juice
Now that you have plenty of tasty ideas for making prune juice palatable, let’s examine why it’s worth including in your diet in the first place.
Here are some of the top health benefits of prune juice:
- Relieves constipation: Prune juice is effective at relieving occasional constipation thanks to its natural laxative effects.
- Improves digestion: It promotes regularity and may help improve digestion by stimulating gastric juices.
- Rich in antioxidants: Prunes contain antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin C, polyphenols and chlorogenic acid.
- Supports bone health: The potassium, vitamin K and boron in prune juice helps build and maintain bone mineral density.
- Promotes heart health: The antioxidants in prune juice may help reduce LDL cholesterol oxidation and lower blood pressure.
- Aids iron absorption: Vitamin C in prune juice boosts the body’s absorption of non-heme iron from plant foods.
Prune juice makes an especially smart choice for older adults looking to prevent osteoporosis and reduce constipation. But people of all ages can gain benefits from incorporating some prune juice into a balanced, healthy diet.
Downsides of Drinking Too Much Prune Juice
Despite its many positives, be mindful not to overdo your prune juice consumption. Drinking large amounts can cause some adverse effects like:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain or cramps
- Gas and bloating
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Dependency on laxatives to have bowel movements
Start slowly with 4-8 ounces per day and see how your body responds. Increase your intake gradually if needed to find the right amount. For most people, 10-12 ounces is sufficient for getting constipation relief without side effects.
Who Should Avoid Prune Juice
While prune juice is safe for most healthy adults and children over 1 year old, some people may want to avoid it. You may need to moderate your consumption if you have:
- Diabetes – due to the high carbohydrate content.
- Gastrointestinal disorders like IBS or ulcerative colitis – prune juice can exacerbate symptoms.
- Hemorrhoids – excessive straining from prune juice could aggravate hemorrhoids.
- Dehydration – increased fluid intake is necessary to avoid dehydration.
If you take any prescription medications, check with your pharmacist or doctor about possible interactions with prune juice. People with chronic medical conditions should consult their physician before adding prune juice to their diet.
Tips for Drinking Prune Juice
Here are some tips for safely and effectively incorporating prune juice into your routine:
- Start with 4-8 oz diluted with water or juice then increase as needed.
- Drink prune juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Wait at least 30 minutes before eating breakfast after drinking prune juice.
- Combine prune juice with physical activity like yoga or walking to aid bowel movements.
- Drink a full glass of water for every serving of prune juice to stay hydrated.
- Rinse your mouth after drinking prune juice to prevent damage to tooth enamel.
Pay attention to your body’s signals. Cut back on prune juice if you experience bloating, cramps, diarrhea or other discomfort. With a little trial and error, you can discover the right amount of prune juice to benefit your digestion without unwanted side effects.
Conclusion
Prune juice doesn’t have to be a nauseating, bitter drink. With a myriad of easy mixer options, you can make prune juice downright tasty and enjoyable. It provides a wide range of health benefits, especially for digestion, that make it worth including in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Drink your prune juice blended into a smoothie, spiced warm as a comforting drink, or any way you like with your favorite ingredients. Your gut will thank you.
