Cranberries have a sour taste due to the abundance of concentrated tannins, a substance that makes cranberries sour. Generally speaking, the water content of fresh cranberries is about 85%, and the sugar content is about 3.5%, so the taste is more sour. Dried cranberries, on the other hand, commonly found in the market, are harvested by soaking fresh cranberries in water, which is one of their specialties.

To improve the taste, cranberries are often processed into products such as juices, jams, and baked pastries, where sugar is typically added to neutralize the tartness, resulting in a sweeter and more tart taste.