Prune juice

Prune juice is a fruit juice derived from prunes (dried plums) that have been rehydrated.^[3] It is mass-produced, usually via hot extraction, though juice concentrate is typically produced using a low-temperature method. It may be used as a dietary supplement to act as a laxative. It is also sometimes used as a flavor enhancer in tobacco products. It is an ingredient in many cocktails, such as the Purple Dragon,^[4] or Constipolitan.^[5]

Prune juice

Bottles of prune juice
Nutritional value per 100 g
Energy	71 kcal (300 kJ)
Carbohydrates	17.4 g
Sugars	16.4 g
Dietary fiber	1 g
Fat	.03 g
Protein	.61 g
Vitamins and minerals Vitamins Quantity %DV† Thiamine (B1) 1% .016 mg Riboflavin (B2) 5% .07 mg Niacin (B3) 5% .785 mg Vitamin B6 13% .218 mg Vitamin C 5% 4.1 mg Vitamin E 1% .12 mg Vitamin K 3% 3.4 μg Minerals Quantity %DV† Calcium 1% 12 mg Copper 8% .068 mg Iron 7% 1.18 mg Magnesium 3% 14 mg Manganese 7% .151 mg Phosphorus 2% 25 mg Potassium 9% 276 mg Selenium 1% .6 μg Sodium 0% 4 mg Zinc 2% .21 mg
Other constituents	Quantity
Water	81.2 g
Link to USDA Database entry
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[1] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies[2]

Composition

Prune juice is 81% water, 17% carbohydrates, 0.6% protein, and contains negligible fat.

In the United States, bottled or canned prune juice contains "not less than 18.5% by the weight of water-soluble solids extracted from dried plums".^[6]

Nutrition

In a reference amount of 100 grams (3.5 oz), canned prune juice supplies 71 calories, and is a moderate source of vitamin B6 (13% of the Daily Value), with no other micronutrients in significant content (table).

Phytochemicals

Prune juice and plums contain phytochemicals, including phenolic compounds (mainly as neochlorogenic acids and chlorogenic acids) and sorbitol.^[7]

Production

Prune juice is often produced using hot extraction methods, whereby the prunes are cooked in hot water, becoming a liquid extract, which is then processed into juice.^[3] The process of heating and extraction may occur several times with the same batch of prunes, with the collective extracts from each processing then mixed together to create the final product.^[3] Prune juice is a mass-produced product.^[8]

Prune juice is also produced as a concentrate, whereby low temperature water is used to create a liquid extract.^[6] The concentrate has a high sugar content, and is used by food processors to enhance the flavor of and sweeten products, as a humectant to retain moisture in cookies and cakes, and as an ingredient in cereal bars to bind the ingredients.^[9]

History

United States

Duffy-Mott began producing prune juice in 1933, which was purveyed under the Sunsweet brand name.^[10]

The commercial distribution of prune juice in the United States first occurred in 1934, which "began with an output of only 40,000 cases".^[8]

Other uses

Prune juice concentrate, prune extracts and plum extracts are sometimes used as an additive in tobacco products to enhance flavor.^[9]

In popular culture

In the Star Trek : The Next Generation episode "Yesterday's Enterprise", the Klingon character Worf is introduced to prune juice by Guinan.^[11] He declares that it is a "warrior's drink" and begins to drink it regularly in subsequent episodes, even carrying the habit over to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.^[12]

In the series Suits, the character Louis Litt (played by Rick Hoffman) drinks prunies, which are prune juice smoothies.

Gallery

• 
  A prune juice label from 1870: "French Prune Juice – For giving age to and improving liquors"

See also

• Drink portal

• Chocolate-covered prune
• Juicing
• List of juices
• List of plum dishes
• List of additives in cigarettes
• Suanmeitang – (sour prune drink), a traditional Chinese beverage made from smoked plums, rock sugar, and other ingredients