Simply Orange and Tropicana are two of the favorite 100% orange juice brands found in the United States. We have bought each brand many times but never took the time to evaluate which one is superior in taste. That is, until now!
Below are the results of our blind taste test of Simply Orange vs Tropicana. We found one clear winner which may surprise some people!
If you have a favorite between Simply Orange vs Tropicana, be sure to vote for your favorite in the poll at the end of this article.
Blind Taste Test
Two adults and one child participated in the blind taste test of Simply Orange vs Tropicana. Both products were pulp-free as shown in the picture above.
Simply Orange was said to have a freshly squeezed orange juice taste. One adult commented that it seemed more filtered than the Tropicana with no noticeable flakes. Everyone agreed that the Simply Orange seemed like it was produced from better quality oranges than the Tropicana.
The Tropicana was indicated to have a more sweet and sour taste compared to the Simply Orange. It was said to be more bitter and tangy than Simply Orange. One adult stated that the Tropicana tasted slightly better than frozen concentrated orange juice. The child taste tester noticed some natural orange flakes that weren’t present in the Simply Orange.
Overall, the Simply Orange was the clear winner in our taste test because of its fresh-squeezed orange juice taste. The quality of oranges used to create this orange juice seemed superior to what was used for the Tropicana. In our opinion, it is worth paying slightly more for Simply Orange for a better quality orange juice.
Nutrition
The two products are very similar in regard to their nutrition facts. There are not any noteworthy differences in terms of nutrition.
| Simply Orange (Pulp Free) | Tropicana (No Pulp) | |
| Serving Size | 8 fl oz | 8 fl oz |
| Calories | 110 | 110 |
| Total Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0mg |
| Sodium | 0mg | 0mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 26g | 26g |
| Total Sugars | 23g | 22g |
| Protein | 2g | 2g |
| Calcium | 2% | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 90% | 100% |
| Niacin | 2% | 4% |
| Folate | 10% | 15% |
| Potassium | 10% | 10% |
| Thiamin | 8% | 15% |
| Vitamin B6 | 4% | 6% |
| Magnesium | 6% | 6% |
Ingredients
Both beverages are made from 100% orange juice. There are no other ingredients but orange juice.
Prices
We paid $3.58 for a 52 fluid ounce container of Simply Orange and $3.28 for the same size of Tropicana. Both were purchased from Walmart for these prices.
Below are the prices we found at a selection of other stores. Generally, Tropicana is a bit cheaper at many stores. Based on our average of all prices, Tropicana was 10 cents cheaper than Simply Orange.
| Store | Simply Orange (Pulp Free) | Tropicana (No Pulp) |
| Kroger | $3.50 | $3.00 |
| Target | $3.79 | $3.59 |
| Meijer | $3.79 | $3.69 |
| Whole Foods | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| Giant | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| HEB | $3.69 | $3.38 |
| Average | $3.71 | $3.61 |
Ownership
Simply Orange is a brand of The Coca-Cola Company that launched in 2001 by Minute Maid. It started as a regional brand in the Northeast and the Southeast United States. It went national in 2003. The company expanded from orange juice in 2006 with the launch of Simply Lemonade and Limeade. Today Simply produces a wide variety of beverages including Strawberry Banana, Mango Pineapple, Apple, Almond, and many more flavors.
Tropicana is a subsidiary of PepsiCo as of 1998. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1947 in Bradenton, Florida by Anthony Rossi. While orange juice is Tropicana’s primary product, they also produce a nice selection of other premium drinks. Some of these products are Raspberry Limeade, Island Punch, Raspberry Lemonade, and Strawberry Peach.
Poll – Simply Orange vs Tropicana
Do you have a favorite between Simply Orange and Tropicana? Vote for the one you like best in the poll!