Learn how to make refreshingly tart and tangy cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Juice. It’s perfect for sipping straight and adding to smoothies for a burst of nutrients and refreshing flavor.
If you aren’t familiar with sea buckthorn juice, you’ve come to the right place!
In this post, we’ll dive headfirst into a sea of buckthorn berries and discuss how to transform them into an extraordinary elixir using my failproof cold-pressed juicing method.
When it comes to juicing, this method is the gold standard because, unlike traditional methods that use heat, cold-pressing preserves the precious nutrients, enzymes, and antioxidants that make sea buckthorn juice popular among health-conscious individuals.
What are Sea Buckthorn Berries?
Before we go any further, what in the world are sea buckthorn berries (also known as hippophae rhamnoides), anyway?
Sea buckthorns are deciduous shrubs with silver-green leaves and densely packed orange berries.
This miracle plant is mostly known for sea buckthorn oil used in the skincare industry.
Sea buckthorn berries are about the size of small blueberries. The fresh berries are plump and burst easily, releasing rich juice. Each fruit contains one tiny seed.
Sea buckthorn berries are taking the wellness world by storm because they’re a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and beneficial fatty acids.
As for taste, sea buckthorn berries have a unique flavor profile, boasting a blend of citrusy zing and a hint of tropical fruity flavor that’s both tangy and sweet.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here are three reasons why this recipe is a keeper:
- Easy to make without fancy equipment. You don’t need a juicer to make sea buckthorn juice at home. All you need are a food processor or blender and a fine mesh sieve. But if you do have a juicer, you can use it too!
- Sea buckthorn berry is very nutritious. Making homemade juice is the easiest way to enjoy its health benefits.
- This simple sea buckthorn drink is delicious. Sea buckthorn berries have a unique flavor that you won’t find in other fruit juices.
Ingredient Notes
Here is a brief overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make fresh sea buckthorn juice:
- Sea buckthorn berries – Availability may vary, but you can typically find frozen buckthorn berries at health food stores and online retailers. Some grocery stores also sell them. Remember, the riper they are, the more juice they’ll yield, and the sweeter the flavor.
- Water – Due to the high oil content, cold-pressed buckthorn juice is very rich with a somewhat oily mouthfeel, so you may want to dilute it with water before drinking.
- Sweetener – This is optional, but you may need it to balance the intense tartness. Natural sweeteners like maple syrup or honey work great.
How to Make Sea Buckthorn Juice
Here’s how to make homemade sea buckthorn juice without a juicer:
Step 1: Prep the berries for juicing.
If using fresh buckthorn berries, remove the leaves and wash them to remove any dirt or debris. If using frozen berries, let them thaw completely.
Step 2: Puree the berries.
Place the berries in a food processor or blender. Add water and quickly pulse a few times before blending continuously until smooth.
Step 3: Strain the pureed berries.
Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl, then pour the pureed berries into the strainer. Using a rubber spatula, gently press to separate the juice from the puree.
Alternatively, you can use a nut milk bag.
Step 4: Dilute with water (optional).
At this point, you can sip on the sea buckthorn juice as is or add more water to dilute it a bit. Add a natural sweetener to taste.
Recipe Tips
Here are a few tips to help you make the best sea buckthorn juice:
- To wash the berries, let them soak briefly in cool water. This also softens them slightly for a smoother cold-pressed juicing process.
- Don’t discard the pulp after straining the pureed berries. You can steep the pulp with teas like green tea or hibiscus tea for a hint of fresh berry flavor.
- You can drink the juice right away, but it tastes even better if chilled before serving. This allows the flavors to fully develop and makes the juice more refreshing.
Variations
Now that you know how to juice sea buckthorn berries without a juicer, consider blending them with other fruits and flavoring agents to find your perfect balance of flavors:
- Puree with other fruits. Tart and tangy sea buckthorn berries pair well with pineapple, mango, kiwi, orange, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and watermelon.
- Make “Green Goddess” juice. Puree buckthorn berries with spinach, cucumber, green apple, celery, and fresh lime juice.
- Make it creamy. Try blending it with banana, Greek yogurt, or coconut cream to thicken the juice and give it a silky mouthfeel.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Store leftover juice in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator, and drink it within a day or two for the best flavor and nutritional value.
Freezing: To extend the shelf-life, freeze the juice in an ice cube tray, then transfer the cubes to a zip-top bag and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can use the cubes in smoothies, cocktails, and even salad dressings!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few related questions about sea buckthorn juice:
What does sea buckthorn juice taste like?
Often described as an irresistible combination of tangy, tart, and slightly sweet with underlying notes of citrus and tropical fruits, sea buckthorn juice is unlike any other fruit juice flavor.
Should you sweeten sea buckthorn juice?
I don’t typically add any sweetener to freshly made juices to reduce my added sugar intake.
However, this juice is so tart that you’ll probably want to add some sweetener, like honey, maple syrup, or your go-to natural sweetener.
Can I use a fruit juicer for this recipe?
If you have a fruit juicer, by all means, use it! Otherwise, following the recipe as written using a reliable food processor or blender will do the trick.
Can I mix sea buckthorn juice with other juices?
Yes, you can mix it with apple or orange juice.
More Refreshing Drink Recipes
Here are a few other healthy drink recipes for you to try:
Sea Buckthorn Juice Recipe
Make homemade sea buckthorn juice in just a few easy steps! No fancy equipment is needed! You can make it from frozen or fresh berries.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh or frozen sea buckthorn berries
- 1/3 cup of water
Instructions
- If using fresh berries, remove any leaves or dirt and thoroughly wash them. If using frozen berries, let them thaw completely.
- Place the berries into a food processor or blender and add the water. Pulse a few times and then process until smooth.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Transfer the pureed sea buckthorn into the strainer and strain the sea buckthorn juice. Use a rubber spatula to squeeze the juice out of the puree gently.
- Serve as is or dilute with more water. Add a natural sweetener to taste if desired.