Campers planning to mix a fizzy drink
If you can bring sparkling water separately, look for a concentrate with explicit sparkling-water instructions. Tesco Groceries lists this preparation for Rocks Blackcurrant squash.
Who is each option for?
Walk-in campers and refillable-bottle users
A small concentrate is easier to fit into a pack than several prepared drinks. Robinsons describes its Summer Fruits Mini as a 20-serving pack designed to be squeezed into a water bottle; its stated instructions do not specifically cover sparkling water.
Groups comparing sugar and sweeteners
Check the exact drink label before buying for several people. Sainsbury's describes Rocks Blackcurrant as made with real sugar rather than artificial sweeteners, while the Waitrose & Partners listing for Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar names sweeteners and includes a phenylalanine warning.
What should you check before packing?
Start with how you want to serve the drink, then work out what you can carry and store after opening.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sparkling-water instructions | Check whether the exact squash label permits sparkling water. Tesco Groceries lists still or sparkling water for Rocks Blackcurrant, at 1 part squash to 8 parts water. | I want to mix a fizzy drink at camp without assuming that instructions for still water also cover sparkling water. |
| Pack format | Compare the concentrate pack with the water you will need to bring. Robinsons describes Summer Fruits Mini as a 20-serving pack; ready-to-drink sparkling water needs no mixing. | If I am walking in, a small flavouring pack appeals to me. If I would rather skip preparation, I can carry the full volume of a ready-to-drink bottle. |
| Ingredients | Read sugars per 100 ml of prepared drink, named sweeteners and any warnings on the current label. The Waitrose & Partners listing for Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar names aspartame and acesulfame K and carries a phenylalanine warning. | I need a drink whose ingredients suit the people sharing it, rather than treating “no added sugar” as meaning sweetener-free. |
| Dilution and quantity | Use the ratio for the exact bottle to plan both concentrate and water. Tesco Groceries gives Rocks Blackcurrant a 1:8 squash-to-water ratio; Waitrose & Partners lists 1:9 for its Essential No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash. | For a group, I want enough water as well as concentrate and a way to mix servings at the campsite. |
| Storage after opening | Check the bottle's refrigeration and use-within instructions before opening it. The Waitrose & Partners listing tells buyers to refrigerate Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar after opening and drink it within 21 days. | If chilling space is limited, I need to decide when to open the squash and where to keep it afterwards. |
Camping drink mistakes to avoid
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Assuming every squash has sparkling-water instructions
Tesco Groceries explicitly lists sparkling water for Rocks Blackcurrant. Robinsons describes water-bottle use for Summer Fruits Mini without specifically naming sparkling water.
If fizz is essential, check the instructions on the exact pack rather than treating water-bottle use as confirmation.
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Equating “no added sugar” with “sweetener-free”
The Waitrose & Partners listing for Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar names sweeteners and includes a phenylalanine warning.
Read the current ingredient panel and warnings for every drink you plan to share.
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Opening squash before arranging chilled storage
The listed Rocks and Ribena Blackcurrant bottles call for refrigeration after opening. A warm tent or vehicle cannot meet that instruction.
Check the pack before departure and open the bottle when you have a way to store it as directed. For camping food that needs chilling, the Food Standards Agency advises storage below 5°C.
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Forgetting that squash does not supply the fizz
A concentrate still needs separately packed sparkling water if you want a carbonated drink. Ready-to-drink sparkling water avoids that mixing step but requires you to carry the drink itself.
Plan the water alongside the squash, and mix an explicitly sparkling-compatible concentrate when serving.
Brand and product-line references
These examples illustrate different pack formats and label instructions; check the exact product rather than applying one variant's details to a whole brand.
Rocks
Blackcurrant squash for campers seeking a concentrate with stated sparkling-water instructions.
- Tesco Groceries lists still or sparkling water and a 1:8 squash-to-water dilution for the 740 ml Blackcurrant bottle.
- Sainsbury's describes a real-sugar recipe; the bottle calls for refrigeration after opening and use within three weeks.
Robinsons
Summer Fruits Mini is a portable squash concentrate for use in a water bottle.
- Robinsons describes 20 servings in the Mini pack.
- Its stated water-bottle instructions do not specifically confirm sparkling-water preparation.
Ribena
Blackcurrant No Added Sugar is a larger concentrate to consider for shared drinks.
- The Waitrose & Partners listing gives a dilution of at least 4 parts water to 1 part squash.
- The listed ingredients include aspartame, acesulfame K and sodium bisulphite, with a phenylalanine warning; refrigerate after opening and drink within 21 days.
Waitrose Essential
An own-label double-strength Summer Fruits squash for groups planning multiple servings.
- Waitrose & Partners lists 60 servings for the 1.5 L No Added Sugar bottle and suggests 1 part squash to 9 parts water.
- Check the current pack's ingredients and warnings before buying; the listed recipe includes sweeteners.
Joybuy drinks for this camping choice
These options cover ready-to-drink sparkling beverages and larger squash concentrates. For the concentrates, check the exact pack instructions if mixing with sparkling water is essential.
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Chi Forest Wanglin Green Apple Flavour Sparkling Water 480 ml × 3
A ready-to-drink sparkling option if you do not want to mix squash at camp. The pack contains three 480 ml bottles; you will carry the full drink volume.
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Genki Forest White Peach Sparkling Water 480 ml
A single ready-to-drink sparkling bottle avoids preparation at the campsite. It is not a squash concentrate, so the full 480 ml needs to be carried.
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Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Concentrate 1.5 L
A larger squash concentrate for mixing drinks for a group. If you specifically want fizz, check this 1.5 L bottle's instructions for sparkling-water use; also check its ingredient warnings and storage directions before the trip.
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Robinsons Summer Fruits No Added Sugar Squash 1 L
A 1 L concentrate to dilute for shared drinks, rather than the Robinsons Mini pack described above. Check this bottle's instructions before mixing it with sparkling water, and plan for refrigeration after opening.
Common questions
Can I mix squash with sparkling water at a campsite?
Yes, if the exact product's instructions allow it. Tesco Groceries lists Rocks Blackcurrant for still or sparkling water at 1 part squash to 8 parts water; check other squashes individually rather than assuming they have the same instructions.
Is a mini concentrate or a large squash bottle easier to take camping?
A mini concentrate suits limited pack space and individual refillable bottles: Robinsons describes its Summer Fruits Mini as a 20-serving pack. A larger bottle may suit drinks shared by a group, provided you can carry it and follow its storage instructions after opening.
Does “no added sugar” mean a squash has no sweeteners?
No. The Waitrose & Partners listings for Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar and Essential No Added Sugar Summer Fruits name sweeteners. Read the exact product's current ingredient panel and any warnings before packing it for a group.
How should I store opened squash while camping?
Follow the instructions on its bottle: the listed Rocks and Ribena Blackcurrant squashes require refrigeration after opening. For food that needs chilling, the Food Standards Agency advises storage below 5°C and suggests packing drinks separately from perishable food when using more than one cool box.