A bottle of cherry concentrate can make 16 drinks, while a single pouch may hold a full serving. The portions matter: adding water changes the strength of the drink, not the sugar in the concentrate. These five picks include four tart-cherry formulas and one blend of tart and sweet cherries.
Written by Tom Miller, CSCS. Updated: November 2026.
Short on time? Choose Cherry Bay Orchards Tart Cherry Concentrate for a 16-serving bottle made from U.S.-grown Montmorency cherries. FruitFast doubles the bottle size; Traverse Bay uses glass. CHERRiSH packs a tart-and-sweet blend into individual pouches.
How We Chose
We compared liquid concentrates intended for mixing into drinks, checking the exact bottle or pouch size, ingredient list, full portion, sugar, calories and dilution directions. Capsules, gummies, powders and ordinary ready-to-drink juice serve different purchases. The four bottled picks contain tart cherry without another fruit juice; CHERRiSH combines Montmorency tart cherries with Bing sweet cherries and water.
Our editorial ratings favor clear preparation, useful package sizes and straightforward ingredients. A larger cherry count, higher concentration number or regional origin does not establish better sleep or recovery. We weighed practical differences rather than treating a serving as a clinical dose. For capsules and softgels instead, use our tart cherry supplement guide.
Our Verdict
Cherry Bay Orchards Tart Cherry Concentrate
A 16-serving bottle, one Montmorency cherry ingredient and 80 calories per ounce make Cherry Bay our first choice for a measured cherry drink.
Best for: Adults wanting a single-ingredient Montmorency concentrate to mix into water or another drink
Check Price on AmazonOur Top Picks
Best Overall: Cherry Bay Orchards Tart Cherry Concentrate
Cherry Bay Orchards Tart Montmorency Cherry Concentrate, 16 fl oz
Best OverallA 16oz bottle of U.S.-grown Montmorency cherry concentrate with 16 one-ounce servings, each containing 80 calories, 18g carbohydrate and 14g naturally occurring sugar.
Pros
- One Montmorency cherry ingredient
- 16 labeled servings
- No added sugar
Cons
- 14g sugar per ounce
- Requires measuring and refrigeration after opening
Cherry Bay is our first pick for a measured, single-ingredient cherry drink. The 16oz bottle contains 16 one-ounce servings and uses U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherries. Each ounce has 80 calories, 18g carbohydrate and 14g sugar, with no added sugar.
The bottle directs two tablespoons per 6-8oz glass of a cold beverage and states that it makes one gallon. Measure the concentrate before adjusting the water. Compared with CNP’s one-ounce portion, Cherry Bay has 30 fewer calories and 8g less sugar. Those numbers describe the labeled portions, not their anthocyanin content.
Skip this if you want individual portions or a sugar-free drink. CHERRiSH removes the tablespoon measurement, but its pouch contains a different fruit blend and 22g sugar. Refrigerate Cherry Bay after opening and follow the date on the cap.
Best Larger Bottle: FruitFast Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate
FruitFast Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate, 32 fl oz
Best Larger BottleFruitFast combines Montmorency and Morello tart cherries in a 32oz concentrate bottle, with 32 servings containing 70 calories, 17g carbohydrate and 14g sugar each.
Pros
- 32 full one-ounce servings
- No added sugar or filler juices
- Maker gives clear dilution options
Cons
- Montmorency and Morello blend
- Refrigerate or freeze on arrival
FruitFast makes sense when you want twice as many full portions as Cherry Bay. Its 32oz bottle contains 32 one-ounce servings. The maker blends Montmorency and Morello tart cherries without adding another fruit juice or sugar. Each ounce has 70 calories, 17g carbohydrate and 14g sugar.
Mix one ounce with about seven ounces of still or sparkling water. At that dilution, the bottle makes roughly two gallons of prepared drink. FruitFast also allows more or less water to suit your preference. Refrigerate or freeze it on arrival, rather than treating the unopened bottle as a cupboard staple.
Skip this if you want only Montmorency cherries or a smaller bottle to finish. Cherry Bay keeps the variety to Montmorency and halves the bottle size. Compare checkout cost per full ounce of concentrate before assuming that the larger bottle is cheaper.
Best Glass Bottle: Traverse Bay Farms Fruit Advantage
Traverse Bay Farms Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate, 16 fl oz
Best Glass BottleA 16oz glass bottle of Montmorency tart cherry concentrate with 16 one-ounce portions, each containing 80 calories, 19g carbohydrate and 15g sugar.
Pros
- 16oz glass bottle
- Montmorency cherry concentrate only
- One ounce makes an 8oz drink
Cons
- Glass needs care during transport
- 15g sugar per ounce
Choose Traverse Bay if a glass bottle is important to you. The selected Fruit Advantage bottle holds 16oz of Montmorency tart cherry concentrate, with no additional ingredients. One ounce contains 80 calories, 19g carbohydrate and 15g sugar.
The maker’s mixing panel pairs one ounce of concentrate with seven ounces of water for an 8oz drink. Its 68 Brix description concerns soluble solids, not a standardized anthocyanin dose. Compared with Cherry Bay, the labeled ounce has the same calories, 1g more carbohydrate and 1g more sugar.
Skip this if you want a container to carry loose in a gym bag or prefer premeasured portions. Glass requires more care. Keep the opened bottle refrigerated and follow its storage instructions; do not borrow another maker’s opened-bottle shelf life.
Best Utah-Grown Option: Complete Natural Products Tart Cherry Concentrate
Complete Natural Products Tart Cherry Concentrate, 16 fl oz
Best Utah-Grown OptionCNP's 16oz Utah-cherry concentrate contains 16 two-tablespoon portions, with 110 calories, 27g carbohydrate and 22g sugar per serving and no other ingredients listed.
Pros
- Single Montmorency cherry ingredient
- 16 portions in the selected bottle
- Mixes with water or juice
Cons
- 22g sugar per ounce
- 110 calories per full portion
CNP suits readers who want a single-ingredient concentrate made from Utah-grown Montmorency cherries. The selected bottle is 16oz, not the separate 12oz size. Two tablespoons contain 110 calories, 27g carbohydrate and 22g sugar, with 16 portions per bottle.
Follow the printed bottle directions: add two tablespoons to 6-8oz water, juice or another liquid, then adjust to taste. Refrigerate after opening. Against Cherry Bay’s full ounce, you get 30 more calories and 8g more sugar. CNP’s regional origin does not establish that it has more useful plant compounds.
Skip this if you want the smaller sugar portion in Cherry Bay or FruitFast. A single ingredient does not make a concentrate sugar-free. Do not choose CNP expecting it to treat uric-acid problems or replace medical care.
Best Individual Pouches: CHERRiSH Original Cherry Concentrate
CHERRiSH Original Cherry Juice Concentrate, 12 x 3oz Pouches
Best Individual PouchesTwelve 3oz pouches combine Montmorency tart cherry, water and Bing sweet cherry concentrates, with 110 calories, 24g carbohydrate and 22g sugar per pouch.
Pros
- Twelve premeasured pouches
- Mixing directions printed on the pouch
- No added sugar
Cons
- Includes Bing sweet cherry and water
- 22g sugar per pouch
CHERRiSH is the pick for premeasured portions. Each 3oz pouch contains Montmorency cherry concentrate, purified water and Bing cherry concentrate. That makes it a tart-and-sweet cherry blend rather than a pure Montmorency concentrate. The selected pack contains 12 pouches.
Mix a pouch into 6-8oz water, as its directions state, or add it to a smoothie. One full pouch contains 110 calories, 24g carbohydrate and 22g sugar, with no added sugar. It has the same sugar quantity as CNP’s labeled ounce, but the different portions and recipes are not interchangeable doses.
Skip this if you want tart cherries alone or prefer to measure a smaller culinary amount. Buy Cherry Bay for a single Montmorency ingredient or FruitFast for a larger bottle. Do not compare a 3oz pouch with an ounce of another concentrate by volume alone.
Tart Cherry Concentrates Compared
These amounts describe the full labeled concentrate portion before you add water. CHERRiSH’s portion is a 3oz pouch; the bottled products use one ounce. A serving count describes portions in the package, not an established daily treatment schedule.
| Product | Key Spec | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Bay Orchards Tart Montmorency Cherry Concentrate, 16 fl oz | 16 fl oz; 16 servings; 1 fl oz portion; 80 calories; 18g carbs; 14g sugar; Montmorency; no added sugar | Best Overall | Check Price |
| FruitFast Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate, 32 fl oz | 32 fl oz; 32 servings; 1 fl oz portion; 70 calories; 17g carbs; 14g sugar; Montmorency and Morello; no added sugar | Best Larger Bottle | Check Price |
| Traverse Bay Farms Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate, 16 fl oz | 16 fl oz glass; 16 servings; 1 fl oz portion; 80 calories; 19g carbs; 15g sugar; Montmorency | Best Glass Bottle | Check Price |
| Complete Natural Products Tart Cherry Concentrate, 16 fl oz | 16 fl oz; 16 servings; 2 tbsp portion; 110 calories; 27g carbs; 22g sugar; Utah-grown Montmorency | Best Utah-Grown Option | Check Price |
| CHERRiSH Original Cherry Juice Concentrate, 12 x 3oz Pouches | 12 x 3oz pouches; 1 pouch portion; 110 calories; 24g carbs; 22g sugar; Montmorency and Bing blend; no added sugar | Best Individual Pouches | Check Price |
How to Choose
Match the cherry recipe to your preference
Cherry Bay, Traverse Bay and CNP use Montmorency tart cherries. FruitFast blends Montmorency and Morello tart cherries. CHERRiSH combines Montmorency tart cherries, Bing sweet cherries and water. All five contain tart cherry, but only three match a strict Montmorency-only preference. Start there if the fruit variety matters to you.
A blend does not automatically make a worse drink. It changes what you are buying. Choose CHERRiSH for its pouch format with that distinction in mind, rather than assuming it has the same recipe as Cherry Bay.
Compare full portions and prepared drinks
The selected bottles use two tablespoons, or about one fluid ounce, as a full portion. CHERRiSH uses an entire 3oz pouch. Do not compare the package volumes as though the concentrates have identical strength. Start with serving size, then read the carbohydrates and sugars attached to that portion.
FruitFast’s 32oz bottle makes 32 drinks at one ounce each. Cherry Bay and Traverse Bay make 16. At a one-to-seven concentrate-to-water ratio, 16oz concentrate makes about one gallon of finished drink. Adding extra water leaves the sugar and calories unchanged if you finish the whole portion.
Keep no added sugar separate from sugar-free
Cherry Bay and FruitFast both contain 14g sugar per ounce. CNP contains 22g. CHERRiSH has 22g per pouch. The absence of added sugar does not remove the sugars in fruit. Measure before pouring, especially if you track carbohydrate intake or plan to combine the concentrate with juice or a sweetened mixer.
Plain water or unsweetened sparkling water avoids adding another sugar source. That is a mixer choice, not a way to turn the concentrate itself into a sugar-free product.
Buy the bottle size you can store
FruitFast doubles the bottle portions, but the maker says to refrigerate or freeze it on arrival. Traverse Bay uses glass and calls for refrigeration after opening. Cherry Bay and CNP also require refrigeration once opened. Keep space and handling in mind before ordering several bottles.
Follow the current package for opened storage and best-by dates. Different makers give different instructions. A pouch avoids measuring a bottle portion, but it still has storage requirements after opening.
Separate drink preferences from health claims
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements describes limited, variable results for tart-cherry products and says more research is needed. A bottle’s cherry count or Brix number does not establish equivalence to a clinical preparation. None of these portion comparisons guarantees better sleep, less soreness or faster recovery.
These concentrates also contribute potassium. NIH advises people with kidney disease or medicines that affect potassium to discuss their intake with a healthcare professional. Check the exact portion within your existing plan rather than treating a juice as medical treatment.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Capsules or softgels: Choose a different format if you do not want a cherry-flavored drink or its sugar. Our tart cherry supplement comparison covers those options. Milligrams of extract and fluid ounces of concentrate do not translate into matching doses without more information.
A mineral drink: If your actual goal is replacing sodium during exercise or taking magnesium, cherry concentrate solves a different problem. Compare an electrolyte formula or a magnesium drink powder by its mineral amounts. Do not assume a cherry-based drink replaces either one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tart cherry concentrate should I try first?
Cherry Bay is our first choice for a single-ingredient Montmorency concentrate in a 16-serving bottle. Choose FruitFast for twice as many full portions, or Traverse Bay if you prefer glass. CHERRiSH suits a premeasured pouch preference, but it includes Bing sweet cherry and water. Your format and ingredient preference matter more than the largest cherry count on the label.
How much water do I add?
Follow the selected product’s directions. FruitFast and Traverse Bay pair one ounce with about seven ounces of water. CNP’s printed bottle says two tablespoons in 6-8oz liquid, while CHERRiSH uses one 3oz pouch in 6-8oz water. You can adjust the water to taste where the maker allows it, but a completed full portion retains its sugar and calories.
Does unsweetened concentrate contain sugar?
Yes. These products contain fruit sugars even without an additional sweetener. Cherry Bay and FruitFast have 14g sugar per labeled ounce; CNP has 22g. CHERRiSH has 22g per pouch. More water dilutes the drink without removing that sugar, so account for the measured concentrate rather than counting only the size of the finished glass.
Is concentrate the same as ready-to-drink cherry juice?
No. You normally use a smaller portion of concentrate and add a mixer. A ready-to-drink juice already has its intended drinking strength. Read the product name and preparation directions before buying, because a 32oz concentrate bottle and a 32oz juice bottle can make very different numbers of drinks. The word cherry alone does not identify the format.
Will these improve sleep or workout recovery?
A product label cannot guarantee either result. NIH describes limited research and variable findings for tart-cherry products in exercise settings. Studies use particular preparations, quantities and schedules that do not establish an equivalent portion for every retail concentrate. Choose a product you want to drink, and avoid treating its cherry count as a proven dose or a substitute for medical care.
Do I need to refrigerate the bottle?
Yes, follow the maker’s instructions. The selected bottled products require refrigeration after opening, and FruitFast says to refrigerate or freeze on arrival. Use the current bottle’s best-by and opened-storage guidance rather than applying one brand’s shelf life to another. Keep unopened pouches as directed and follow their instructions once you break the seal.
Bottom Line
Cherry Bay Orchards is our first pick for a single Montmorency ingredient and a 16-portion bottle. FruitFast gives you 32 full portions in a Montmorency-Morello blend; Traverse Bay puts its concentrate in glass. CNP suits a Utah-grown preference, with more sugar per ounce than Cherry Bay. CHERRiSH trades a bottle for individual pouches and blends tart with sweet cherries. Measure the full portion, use the maker’s dilution directions and leave room for storage. Pick the format and portion you will use, without assuming it promises sleep or recovery results. For a non-drink format, compare our tart cherry capsules and softgels.
Sources
- Cherry Bay Orchards tart cherry concentrate ingredients and nutrition
- FruitFast 32oz concentrate: cherry blend, portions, dilution and storage
- Traverse Bay Farms Fruit Advantage concentrate and mixing panel
- CNP tart cherry concentrate ingredients and bottle directions
- CHERRiSH Original Cherry concentrate pouches and full label
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: tart cherry and athletic performance evidence
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: potassium and medication considerations
