If you’re curious about tart cherry juice sugar content, you’re not alone. Many people want the incredible benefits of tart cherries, like improved recovery, reduced inflammation, and better sleep, without worrying about consuming too much sugar. Fortunately, there’s good news: tart cherry juice can absolutely be part of a healthy lifestyle, even if you’re watching your sugar intake.

Understanding Tart Cherry Juice Sugar Content

Let’s start by breaking it down: one 8-ounce serving of 100% pure tart cherry juice typically contains around 25 grams of naturally occurring sugar. That’s the key phrase here—naturally occurring. These sugars (mainly fructose and glucose) are found in the cherries themselves, not added in during processing. This means you’re getting sugar the way nature intended, along with antioxidants, and essential nutrients.

Unlike sodas and many fruit juice blends, Cheribundi’s Pure Tart Cherry Juice contains no added sugars, no artificial sweeteners, and no preservatives. The sugar content reflects the fruit’s natural sweetness, plus all the powerful compounds that support recovery and performance.

Why Is There Sugar in Tart Cherry Juice?

Tart cherries are naturally rich in fructose and glucose, both of which are simple sugars that the body uses for energy. These sugars are not added—they're an integral part of the fruit’s cellular structure and contribute to tart cherries' natural taste and functional benefits.

In fact, the same cherries that deliver those 25 grams of sugar per 8-ounce glass also pack an antioxidant punch. Each serving of Cheribundi Pure contains the juice of approximately 60 Montmorency tart cherries, carefully processed to retain as much of the natural nutritional profile as possible through a proprietary gentle juicing process developed by scientists at Cornell University.

Lower Sugar Options Without Sacrificing Benefits

If you're looking for ways to enjoy the benefits of tart cherry juice while managing sugar intake, Cheribundi has you covered:

• LIGHT Cheribundi: With only 18 grams of sugar and 80 calories per serving, it’s a lower-sugar option that still offers many of the same recovery and anti-inflammatory benefits.
  
  

• Tart Cherry Juice Gummies: These are a portable, fun way to get your tart cherry fix with just 3 grams of sugar and 20 calories per serving. Ideal for travel or quick recovery after a workout.
  
  

These alternatives are great for athletes, wellness seekers, or anyone wanting to optimize their recovery and sleep routine with less sugar.

The Science Behind Tart Cherry Juice Benefits

Tart cherries are rich in anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that give the cherries their deep red color and have been linked to reducing inflammation, supporting joint health, and decreasing muscle soreness.

Tart Cherries also contain naturally occurring melatonin, which is why so many users—and over 500 professional and collegiate sports teams—rely on Cheribundi for better sleep. The natural sugar content works in synergy with these compounds to help fuel your body and support recovery.

How Much Sugar Is Too Much?

The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 25 grams per day for women and 36 grams per day for men. However, naturally occurring sugars from fruits and vegetables are not included in this guideline because they come with fiber, water, and beneficial compounds.

When comparing tart cherry juice to other juices, it’s fairly standard: