Cranberry juice is juice pressed from the fruit of the cranberry, an evergreen mat-like shrub native to Eastern North America. There are a number of uses for cranberry juice, ranging from a daily glass to support a healthy body and heart to a mixer in cocktails and juice beverages. Straight cranberry juice is available from many supermarkets, although it may be difficult to find cranberry juice without high fructose corn syrup, and mixed juice beverages which include cranberry juice are also readily available. As is the case with other fruit juices, the health benefits of cranberries are best found in juice without artificial sweeteners.

As a health food, cranberries have several benefits. Drinking cranberry juice makes urine more acidic, which can be highly beneficial for urinary tract infections. While drinking water and juice will also help to flush the kidneys and urinary tract if they are infected, cranberry juice will actually help the body actively fight bacteria. Cranberries also appear to lower bad cholesterol in the body, making them a heart healthy food, and they are loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants. A glass of cranberry juice now and then can, as a result, be highly beneficial.

Many fruit juices use cranberry juice as a mixer, since the juice has a unique tart flavor which can make other juices taste more flavorful and complex. A cranberry juice cocktail may have a high percentage of cranberry juice, using another fruit such as raspberries as a sweetener, or it may have a splash of cranberry juice which is intended to enhance the flavor of the juice, or to temper the sweetness of naturally sweet fruits. White cranberry juice, by the way, is made from cranberries which are picked before they reach full ripeness, and it tends to be a bit sweeter. Look for juices with natural fruit sweetening, honey, or cane sugar if possible.

Many alcoholic beverages also call for cranberry juice, as is the case with cosmopolitans, crantinis, or the simple vodka and cranberry juice. The tart flavor complements a wide range of alcohols, and can help to cut their bitterness and intensity. Since the juice also has a distinctive rich ruby red color, cranberry juice is also used to add a splash of color to otherwise dull drinks. In some cases, a cranberry juice drink may be garnished with candied or fresh cranberries. Virgin drinks can also be made with cranberry juice, for those who prefer to abstain.