The best tomato juice should be refreshing, savory, and have a deep tomato flavor. It should also strike the perfect balance of being not too thick (this ain’t soup, pal) and not too thin (no one wants Tomato Gatorade). Good tomato juice is all about nuance, quality tomatoes, and a wonderful, natural texture.
During two separate taste tests, we tried as many brands of tomato juice we could find (and yes, for all the doomsday preppers out there, that includes canned tomato juice, too). Both times, the experience was surprisingly enjoyable. Tomato juice has a similar vibe to red sauce—it’s tart, seasoned, spiced, and deliciously vegetal. (No, “deliciously vegetal” is not an oxymoron. Veggies are delicious. Eat more veggies!) Tomato juice is nutrient rich and, in many cases, sodium rich, too. It’s a versatile ingredient for marinades, stews, and of course, savory cocktails. From the best tomato juice for a Bloody Mary to the best low sodium tomato juice (good on ya for watching your sodium intake), let’s take a look at our top picks—straight off the vine and ripe with potential.
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- Clamato
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Clamato juice is so effing salty, but I’m all the way into it, man. It also has high fructose corn syrup and MSG in it, so it’s extra savory and tasty. More than anything, though, I was surprised at how not clammy Calmato juice was. Clam juice is way down on the list of ingredients, which would explain why there isn’t very much clam flavor in Clamato at all. If anything, it tastes vegetal like celery. Clamato also uses garlic, onion, and spices. All those ingredients combine to create a great flavor that’s ready to go for Bloody Marys. Or, if you’re a freak like me, just drink the stuff straight because it’s salty, savory, and satisfying. Clamato rules. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Clamato Picante Tomato Cocktail
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Clamato’s Picanto Tomato Cocktail takes everything we already love about their regular tomato juice (the extra salty and savory taste) and adds a rich, rounded heat perfect for Bloody Marys, Micheladas, and spicing up your favorite seafood dishes. The heat level is great—not too mild, but tolerable enough for all palates to enjoy. It might not be the healthiest option of the bunch thanks to all the sodium, but you really can’t beat that rich flavor. It’s like V8, but better, cleaner tasting, and bolder. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Sacramento Tomato Juice
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If you’re looking for a balanced, not-too-salty, evenly sweet tomato juice, grab Sacramento tomato juice. The consistency is on the thicker side, making it a great base for soups and simmer sauces. I consider it the healthier alternative to Clamato, since it still offers a rich savory flavor without all the additives (like high fructose corn syrup) and less sodium per serving. While you can buy it in a giant jug, this is also some of the best canned tomato juice you can find, too! —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Market Pantry 100% Tomato Juice
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Target’s products are sneaking up on more lists lately, and Market Pantry’s tomato juice makes the list because it has the perfect combination of salt and sugar. Market Pantry’s tomato juice is balanced, flavorful, and deeply red in color. This is perfectly thick without being too much like soup. It’s not tomato “drink” but rather tomato juice—a little more viscous and more natural tasting. If you’re shopping at Target and you’re on the hunt for the best tomato juice, you should pick this up. It’s a surprisingly high quality juice that I’d put up against other grocery store brands. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- R.W. Knudsen Organic Tomato Juice
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Maybe it’s the textured glass bottles they come in, but I love Knudsen’s juice products. But, packaging aside, this R.W. Knudsen tomato juice has the best pure tomato flavor of the tomato juices we tasted. It’s tangy, slightly sweet, bright, and flavorful. It tastes like actual tomatoes that have been blended up into juice form, not a flavorless concoction of tomato juice concentrate and water. That said, this is actually made with tomato juice concentrate (and lemon concentrate for tanginess), but it somehow doesn’t taste like it. Perhaps it’s the use of organic tomatoes. Regardless, there’s truly no replacement for pure, unadulterated tomato flavor. And that’s why Knudsen’s makes this list of the best tomato juice. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Pomì Tomato Juice
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Heed my warning, reader: Pomi is not your traditional tomato juice. This is pure, unaltered, freshly squeezed juice straight off the vine. The only ingredient is “Italian tomatoes.” Due to the complete lack of additives, it has a very thin consistency, acidic taste, and only 30 mg of sodium per 8 ounce serving (compared to other brands, which average around 600 mg). The quality of the tomatoes here make it an excellent base for sauces, soups, and smoothies—but on its own, it’s not very pleasant to drink. (Especially if you’re used to sippin’ on Clamato.) Pomi is the best brand of tomato juice for people who are trying to be health conscious or who simply want real tomato juice for their recipes. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Kroger 100% Tomato Juice
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Boy, I’m a big proponent of this giant can of tomato juice from Kroger. Kroger’s tomato juice is thick and lovely. It borders on soupy, but it doesn’t cross the line. Instead, it’s viscous and creamy without being something you have to consume with a spoon. It’s also deliciously seasoned. The flavor itself is salty (“sea salt” is the second ingredient), so much so that it’s slightly addicting. It’s a little bit like drinking marinara, which for me, is a dream. I love the tomato flavor here, too. Use this for a soup or just drink it straight up. Kroger’s tomato juice is delightful and narrowly missed being the best tomato juice overall. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- O Organics 100% Tomato Juice
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I believe this is the first time an O Organics product has taken the number one spot, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with their tomato juice. It’s deeply refreshing and has a delicious, sweet and savory tomato flavor that feels natural. After having several disappointing tomato juices that were overly tart and acidic, O Organics felt natural, smooth, and, well, organic. It’s got far less salt than its competitors, and only 6 grams of sugar per serving. It’s all tomato flavor, and I’m here for it. It’s the best tomato juice for our money. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Vons
Best for Bloody Mary’s
Best Spicy
Best Balanced
Best Seasoning
Best Tomato Flavor
Best Low Sodium Tomato Juice
Best for Soup
Best of the Best
Other products we tried: V8, Signature Kitchens, Sprouts, Wild Harvest, Campbell’s, Great Value, Simple Truth, First Street 100% Tomato Juice, Nature’s Nectar 100% Tomato Juice Bottle, Stater Bros. 100% Tomato Juice, Tuscanini Premium Italian Tomato Juice, 365 by Whole Foods Market, V8 Spicy Hot