Best Juice Combinations: 20 Fruit and Vegetable Pairings That Taste Great

The best juice combinations balance a juicy base, a sweet fruit and a bright accent. Easy winners are carrot + apple + ginger, cucumber + green apple + lemon, pineapple + cucumber + mint, orange + carrot + turmeric, and watermelon + lime. Start with about 2 parts base to 1 part fruit, add a small amount of lemon, lime, ginger or herbs, and adjust to taste.

Below are 20 tried-and-true fruit and vegetable pairings grouped by flavor, with simple amounts for one glass, plus a mix-and-match formula so you can create your own.

The Simple Formula for Great Juice

Almost every good juice follows the same pattern:

• Base (about 50%): watery, mild produce that gives volume. Cucumber, celery, carrot, apple, watermelon or romaine lettuce.
• Sweet or main flavor (about 30 to 40%): pineapple, orange, pear, grapes, beet, berries or mango (in a blender).
• Accent (about 10%): lemon, lime, ginger, fresh turmeric, mint, basil or a pinch of cayenne.

Stick to three to five ingredients. More than that and the flavors start to muddy. If you are new to making juice, our juicing for beginners guide covers tools and prep.

Sweet and Easy Combinations

These are the best place to start. Each makes about one 10 to 12-ounce glass.

1. Carrot + apple + ginger

4 carrots, 1 apple, 1/2-inch ginger. The classic: sweet, warm and smooth.

2. Orange + carrot

3 oranges (peeled), 3 carrots. Bright, sunny and very family-friendly.

3. Apple + pear + lemon

1 apple, 2 pears, 1/2 lemon. Soft, mellow and lightly tart.

4. Strawberry + apple + lime

1 cup strawberries, 2 apples, 1/2 lime. Pink, fruity and fresh. Works best in a slow juicer or blender.

Green Juice Combinations

5. Cucumber + green apple + lemon

1 cucumber, 1 green apple, 1/2 lemon. Crisp and clean, the gentlest green juice.

6. Spinach + pineapple + cucumber

2 handfuls spinach, 1 1/2 cups pineapple, 1 cucumber. Pineapple hides the green taste completely.

7. Celery + apple + lime

5 celery stalks, 1 green apple, 1/2 lime. Savory-sweet and refreshing.

8. Kale + pear + ginger

4 kale leaves, 2 pears, 1/2-inch ginger. Stronger and earthy, for when you are used to greens.

For a full recipe with method and swaps, see our green juice recipe.

Tropical Combinations

9. Pineapple + cucumber + mint

1 1/2 cups pineapple, 1 cucumber, 6 mint leaves. Cool and tropical.

10. Pineapple + orange + ginger

1 cup pineapple, 2 oranges, 1/2-inch ginger. Sweet, tangy and warming.

11. Mango + orange + lime (blender)

1 cup mango, 2 oranges, 1/2 lime, a splash of water. Blend and strain lightly. Thick, sunny and rich.

12. Pineapple + carrot + turmeric

1 cup pineapple, 3 carrots, 1/2-inch fresh turmeric. Golden, sweet and slightly peppery.

Root and Earthy Combinations

13. Beet + apple + carrot

1 small beet, 1 apple, 3 carrots. Sweet, earthy and deep red. Start with a small beet.

14. Beet + orange + ginger

1 small beet, 2 oranges, 1/2-inch ginger. Bright citrus lifts the earthy beet.

15. Carrot + orange + turmeric

4 carrots, 1 orange, 1/2-inch fresh turmeric, a pinch of black pepper. Warm, golden and smooth.

16. Sweet potato + apple + cinnamon

1 small sweet potato, 2 apples, a pinch of cinnamon stirred in. Unusual, but sweet and cozy. Best in a strong juicer.

Refreshing Summer Combinations

17. Watermelon + lime + mint

3 cups watermelon, 1/2 lime, 5 mint leaves. The most refreshing juice there is. Works great in a blender with no water.

18. Watermelon + strawberry

2 cups watermelon, 1 cup strawberries. Sweet and pink, a favorite with kids.

19. Grapefruit + orange + mint

1 grapefruit, 2 oranges (both peeled), a few mint leaves. Tangy and bright.

20. Cucumber + honeydew + lime

1 cucumber, 2 cups honeydew melon, 1/2 lime. Light, pale green and very refreshing on a hot day.

Seasonal Juice Combinations

Using produce that is in season makes juice cheaper and better tasting. Here are ideas for each time of year in most of the US.

Spring

Strawberries, spinach, romaine, mint and early cucumbers. Try strawberry + cucumber + mint, or spinach + green apple + lemon.

Summer

Watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, berries, peaches, cucumbers and basil. Try watermelon + lime + mint, cantaloupe + carrot, or cucumber + honeydew + basil.

Fall

Apples, pears, grapes, beets, carrots and sweet potatoes. Try apple + pear + ginger, beet + apple + carrot, or grape + apple + lemon.

Winter

Oranges, grapefruit, clementines, pomegranates, kale and ginger. Try orange + carrot + turmeric, grapefruit + orange + mint, or pomegranate + apple + lemon.

Frozen fruit such as pineapple, mango and berries is a good backup in any season if you make juice in a blender; thaw it slightly first.

Mix-and-Match Chart

Pick one from each column to build your own juice.

Combinations to Avoid (or Use With Care)

• Too many strong greens. Kale, parsley and dandelion together can be very bitter.
• Too much ginger or turmeric. 1/2 to 1 inch per glass is plenty.
• Bananas and avocados in a juicer. They give almost no juice. Save them for smoothies.
• Citrus with the pith. The white layer is bitter. Peel oranges, lemons and grapefruit first.
• Beet in big amounts. A whole large beet can overpower everything else.
• Melon in mixed juices meant to keep. Melon juice changes flavor quickly; drink it fresh.

Tips for Better-Tasting Juice

• Taste as you go. Juice the base first, taste, then add fruit and accents bit by bit.
• Chill produce first for cold juice without ice.
• Balance sweetness with cucumber or celery if a fruit juice tastes too sugary.
• Use ripe fruit. Underripe pineapple, pears and berries make sour, thin juice.
• Add acid last. A squeeze of lemon or lime at the end brightens almost any juice.
• Drink it fresh. Juice tastes best soon after making. See how long fresh juice lasts for storage times.

How Much Produce to Buy for a Week

If you plan to make juice three mornings a week, a shopping list for three of the combinations above might look like this:

• 2 pounds (900 g) carrots
• 6 apples (mix of sweet and green)
• 2 cucumbers
• 1 small pineapple
• 1 bag of baby spinach
• 3 oranges and 2 lemons or limes
• 1 small piece of ginger

That covers carrot apple ginger, spinach pineapple cucumber and orange carrot, with a little left over. Store carrots, apples and citrus in the fridge, and use the spinach and pineapple first because they spoil fastest.

Juicer or Blender?

Every combination here works in a juicer. Most also work in a blender if you add a little water and strain the result through a nut milk bag. Soft fruits like mango, strawberries and melons are actually easier in a blender. For leafy greens, a slow juicer gives the most juice. Our guides on juicer vs blender and masticating vs centrifugal juicers explain the differences, and how to make juice without a juicer covers the blender method.

Do not throw away the pulp. Carrot, apple and beet pulp is great in muffins and crackers; see our ideas for using leftover juice pulp.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fruits and vegetables go well together in juice?

Carrot and apple, cucumber and green apple, pineapple and spinach, beet and orange, and watermelon and lime are some of the most reliable pairings. Pair a mild, juicy base with one sweet fruit and a small sour or spicy accent.

What is a good juice combination for beginners?

Carrot, apple and a little ginger. It is sweet, familiar and works in any juicer or blender.

Can I mix fruit and vegetable juice?

Yes. Most of the best juices mix both. A common ratio is about 2 parts vegetables to 1 part fruit.

Which fruits should not be juiced together?

There are no strict rules, but some mixes taste poor: strong bitter greens with grapefruit, or large amounts of beet with delicate fruits like melon. Bananas and avocados do not juice well at all.

How many ingredients should a juice have?

Three to five is ideal. Fewer ingredients keep flavors clear and make it easier to work out what you like.

Can I prepare juice combinations ahead of time?

You can wash and cut produce a day ahead and keep it in sealed containers in the fridge. Juice it fresh when you are ready to drink it.

Save this list, pick three combinations for the week, and buy only what you need for those. You will waste less produce and quickly find the juices you want to make again and again.