Taste-Off: The best apple cider at Bay Area supermarkets

Walking through an apple orchard and biting into freshly picked orbs of juicy sweetness is a memorable autumn adventure. If you don’t have time for that, a glass of freshly pressed apple cider summons fall flavors as well, and that seasonal favorite is stacked on store shelves this time of year.

Sweet cider — not to be confused with alcoholic hard cider or concentrated apple juice — is not only a tangy, fruity treat in a glass, but it’s also a key ingredient in hot spiced cider, doughnuts, syrups, jelly, and other treats.

But, before you reach for that jug of apple cider, it’s important to understand what cider is — or should be. Apple cider (and some apple juice) are made solely from pressed, smashed, pureed, or otherwise pulverized apples. Cider is typically light brown in color, cloudy due to apple pectin, and available refrigerated or shelf-stable. Apple juice, on the other hand, is typically fully filtered, made from apple concentrate, and may contain added sugar.

We tasted every unfiltered cider and cider-like juice we could find for this competition. All are made from juice rather than concentrate and contain no artificial ingredients. Because fresh, refrigerated cider comes in only a few varieties, we also included pasteurized, shelf-stable versions.

Fresh-pressed apple cider is pasteurized with UV light and is never boiled, steamed, or otherwise cooked. It packs a refreshingly bright punch of juicy goodness and a hint of tannin. Due to over-ripe apples, bad apple cider can be cloyingly sweet, or it can taste like old, overcooked apples.

Here’s the skinny on the bright, juicy ciders that taste like freshly picked apples — and the brands that taste like a half-eaten apple three days later. The nutrition information is for 8 ounces.

Flash Pasteurized Apple Juice from Trader Joe’s

This jug of apple deliciousness is pressed from six apple varieties grown in the Northern California foothills and is as juicy and fresh as cider pressed at an apple orchard. The end result is a well-balanced, extremely refreshing blast of fresh apple. 120 calories, 10 mg sodium, and 29 grams of sugar. 64 ounces for $4.29. (4 stars)

Cold Pressed Apple Juice Apple-A-Day

This deep red-brown juice made from Sebastopol apples tastes like a mouthful of Red Delicious. It’s bright and refreshingly sweet, with a hint of tannin. 117 calories, 5 milligrams of sodium, and 26 grams of sugar. Whole Foods charges $3.49 for 16 ounces. (4 stars)

Barsotti Apple Cider, Freshly Pressed

This category leader’s cider is luscious and fresh, if a little too sweet. A few more tart-flavored apples in the mash would complete the picture. 115 calories, 7.5 milligrams of sodium, and 24 grams of sugar. Whole Foods charges $3.49 for 16 ounces. (3½ stars)

100% Honeycrisp Apple Cider from Trader Joe’s

This is without a doubt the best pasteurized, shelf-stable apple cider on the market. It has a bold, zesty apple-pear flavor and is made with Honeycrisp apples. 120 calories, no sodium, and 29 grams of sugar. The price is $3.99 for 64 ounces. (3½ stars)

Honeycrisp Apple Cider Blend Signature Select

Talk about an anomaly. The contents of this plastic jug appear to be mass-market slosh, but they are not. The juice is bright and crisp, with a pleasant tang. 120 calories, 15 milligrams of sodium, and 28 grams of sugar. Safeway charges $6.99 per gallon. (3 stars)

Martinelli’s Organic Honeycrisp Cider

This bright, extra-fresh juice is almost as sweet as apple syrup. It’d be ideal as a cocktail mixer. Take note that the company’s apple juice is far superior. 140 calories, no sodium, and 31 grams of sugar. Raley’s charges $5.28 for 33.8 ounces. (3 stars)

Just Apple Pure Pressed

While this juice has a burst of fresh apple flavor, it lacks the tart kick of a freshly picked apple. 110 calories, 5 milligrams of sodium, and 25 grams of sugar. Whole Foods charges $5.29 for 52 ounces. (2½ stars)

Organic 100% Gravenstein Apple Juice Nana Mae’s

With so many companies focusing on Honeycrisp, it’s refreshing to come across a juice made from Gravenstein apples grown in Sebastopol. Regrettably, the juice is watery.110 calories, 10 milligrams of sodium, and 24 grams of sugar. Whole Foods sells 10 ounces for $2.99. (2 stars)

100% Honeycrisp Apple Juice Tree Top

The refreshing tang of freshly picked apples has been completely cooked out of this super cloudy juice, which is pleasant and full of rich apple flavor. 120 calories, 10 milligrams of sodium, and 27 grams of sugar. Raley’s sells 64 ounces for $3.99. (2 stars)

North Coast Organic Apple Juice

This tastes like baby or toddler juice. It tastes like honey with a hint of apple. 110 calories, 10 milligrams of sodium, and 24 grams of sugar. Whole Foods charges $3.29 for 10 ounces. (1½ stars)

Raley’s Organic Apple Juice

Good & Gather Original Apple Cider Limited Edition

It’s not good just because it’s in a farm-style plastic jug. Avoid this pricey vat of flavorless apple cider. It falls short on all counts. 120 calories, no sodium, and 27 grams of sugar. Target charges $7.19 per gallon. (1 star)

Sun Harvest Organic Unfiltered Apple Juice

What a disappointing pour. This tastes like sugar with a tin-infused apple flavoring. 110 calories, 10 milligrams of sodium, and 24 grams of sugar. Smart & Final charges $4.49 for a quart. (There are no stars.)

This newspaper’s reviews are based on product samples purchased or provided by manufacturers.