Ingredient guide · dossier № 7
Pomegranate Juice
MB1 · Tonic Awakeningoptionaljuice
100% pure pomegranate (no pear/grape filler juices), not-from-concentrate, and ideally certified organic in glass — Lakewood is the only widely available juice that checks all three.
Where to buy
- Lakewood Organic (Pure Pomegranate)$41.00 / six 32 oz glass bottles (~$6.83/bottle); ~$6.99 single bottle at grocersCertified organic, fresh-pressed from whole fruit (seeds and pulp), not from concentrate, glass bottles
- POM Wonderful (100% Pomegranate Juice)$10.89 / 48 fl oz (Target price, verified)Not from concentrate, single-variety Wonderful pomegranates grown on their own California orchards; conventional (not organic); refrigerated section everywhere
- R.W. Knudsen (Just Pomegranate)$8.49 / 32 fl oz (Target price, verified)100% juice, no added sugar, but reconstituted from concentrate — the organic version (Organic Just Pomegranate) is also from concentrate
Role in the beverage
Pomegranate juice brings the deep tart-sweet fruit note that makes MB1 drinkable, and it is one of the recipe’s best-supported health ingredients from both mainstream and alternative perspectives: pomegranate is exceptionally rich in polyphenols (punicalagins, anthocyanins) with reasonable human evidence around antioxidant capacity and cardiovascular markers. A small pour goes a long way — it anchors the flavor and colors the whole tonic.
Quality criteria
- 100% pomegranate, nothing else: many “pomegranate” juices are blends stretched with apple, grape, or pear. The ingredient list should be one item.
- Not from concentrate (NFC): reconstituted concentrate loses volatile aromatics and some heat-sensitive polyphenols; NFC juice tastes brighter. Notably, R.W. Knudsen’s Just Pomegranate — often assumed to be premium — is from concentrate (confirmed on the label), while Lakewood and POM are not.
- Whole-fruit pressing: Lakewood presses seeds and pulp, which carries more of the astringent tannin character the fruit is prized for.
- Certified organic and glass-bottled where possible; pomegranates are moderately pesticide-exposed, and glass avoids plastic leaching in an acidic juice.
- No added sugar, ever — pure pomegranate is sweet enough.
Where to buy
Lakewood Organic Pure Pomegranate is the best fit for this recipe: USDA Organic, fresh-pressed from the whole fruit, not from concentrate, in glass. Direct from lakewoodorganic.com it is $41.00 for a 6-pack of 32 oz bottles (verified July 2026, ~$6.83 each); single bottles run about $6.99 at grocers like Central Market and Whole Foods. POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice is the mainstream NFC standard — single-variety fruit from their own California orchards, $10.89 for 48 oz at Target (verified July 2026) — an excellent conventional option when organic isn’t required. R.W. Knudsen Just Pomegranate is $8.49 for 32 oz at Target (verified July 2026) and comes in an organic version, but be aware both are reconstituted from concentrate; it’s the acceptable pantry-shelf fallback rather than the first choice.
Backpacking form
Freeze-dried pomegranate juice powder is a genuinely good substitute: 100% fruit, shelf-stable, and it dissolves readily. Look for single-ingredient organic pomegranate (juice) powder from bulk suppliers such as Micro Ingredients or Terrasoul on Amazon (roughly $20-25 per 8 oz pouch, prices approximate as of July 2026). Use 1-2 teaspoons per cup of warm water; it reconstitutes to a slightly less bright but recognizably pomegranate note. Avoid “pomegranate flavor” drink powders with maltodextrin as the first ingredient.