For a picnic drink you plan to make with sparkling water, choose a cordial whose serving instructions explicitly allow it: M&S says this of its cordial range and its Fragrant British Elderflower Cordial. Robinsons concentrates offer other flavours for diluted drinks, but check the individual bottle before relying on one for a fizzy serve; compare nutrition as prepared and follow its storage and ingredient information.
If you are bringing sparkling water to mix at the picnic, look for explicit sparkling-water instructions and choose a flavour your guests will want with lunch. Check that the bottle size suits the number of drinks you plan to make.
A concentrate lets you prepare drinks as needed. Check the bottle’s dilution instructions and compare nutrition for the prepared drink rather than the undiluted cordial; Sainsbury’s and Waitrose & Partners list these details for the cited Robinsons cordials.
Read the current pack before serving someone with a sulphite sensitivity. The cited Robinsons cordials list sodium metabisulphite, and the Food Standards Agency identifies sulphites as a possible risk for people who are sensitive to them.
Start with the intended mixer, then check the prepared drink and the practicalities of bringing it to lunch.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sparkling-water guidance | Look for serving instructions that name sparkling water. M&S describes its cordial range and Fragrant British Elderflower Cordial as suitable for dilution with still or sparkling water. | I’m planning a fizzy drink, so I want the intended mixer to be clear before I buy for a group. |
| Prepared-drink nutrition | Compare sugars and energy at each bottle’s stated dilution, using the same serving size where possible. Sainsbury’s and Waitrose & Partners each list 11g sugars per prepared 250ml serving for the cited Robinsons cordials at one part concentrate to six parts water. | If I’m comparing flavours or recipes, the figures for the drink in the glass matter more to me than figures for the concentrate alone. |
| Picnic packing | Check the bottle size and whether it has been opened before the picnic. For foods needing refrigeration, the Food Standards Agency advises a cool box or cool bag with ice or frozen gel packs; where using more than one box, it suggests packing drinks separately from perishable food. | I’d like to mix drinks at the picnic without repeatedly opening the box holding chilled lunch food. |
| Ingredients and storage | Read the current pack for allergens and post-opening instructions. The cited Robinsons labels list sodium metabisulphite; M&S instructs shoppers to refrigerate its Fragrant British Elderflower Cordial after opening and consume it within two weeks. | When a guest needs an ingredient check, or I’m taking a bottle opened earlier, I need the instructions for that exact product. |
Cordial describes a broad range of concentrates. M&S explicitly names sparkling water for its range, while the cited Robinsons Elderflower and Ginger & Orange pages give dilution instructions without specifically naming sparkling water.
If a fizzy serve is central to the picnic, choose a bottle with explicit guidance or try a small serve before making drinks for the group.
The amount in a glass depends on the dilution ratio. The cited Robinsons cordials give nutrition for a prepared 250ml drink at one part concentrate to six parts water.
Use each bottle’s labelled ratio and compare equivalent prepared servings.
The cited Robinsons labels list sodium metabisulphite. The Food Standards Agency says sulphites can pose a risk to people with a sensitivity and notes a higher risk of reaction for people with asthma.
Check the physical pack before serving anyone for whom those ingredients matter.
Drinks can mean repeatedly opening a box that also holds food needing refrigeration. The Food Standards Agency advises keeping such food in a cool box or cool bag with ice or frozen gel packs.
Where you have separate cool boxes, pack drinks apart from perishable food and mix the cordial when serving.
These brand and retailer examples show where to compare serving instructions, flavours and pack information; they do not indicate which products are on Joybuy.
The cited Elderflower and Ginger & Orange cordials are 500ml concentrates with instructions to dilute one part cordial with six parts water.
Tesco Groceries lists own-label quadruple-strength no-added-sugar squash in 750ml and 1.5L formats alongside branded cordials.
M&S says its cordial range is ready to dilute with still or sparkling water, and gives the same guidance for Fragrant British Elderflower Cordial.
Waitrose & Partners lists cordials from its own ranges alongside brands including Belvoir, Bottlegreen and Robinsons.
Sainsbury’s lists Robinsons Ginger & Orange Fruit Cordial 500ml, a branded concentrate rather than a Sainsbury’s own-label example.
These Robinsons concentrates are options for making diluted picnic drinks. If you intend to use sparkling water, check the pack instructions or try a small serve before relying on one for the group.
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An orange-flavoured concentrate to dilute for picnic drinks. For a sparkling serve, check the current pack guidance or try a small glass first; check the ingredient label before serving anyone with a sulphite sensitivity.
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A lemon-flavoured concentrate for guests who prefer a citrus drink. Check the pack before mixing it with sparkling water, and use its current nutrition figures if comparing prepared servings. Check the label for sulphites and phenylalanine information where relevant.
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A pink grapefruit concentrate for a different picnic flavour. Check the pack before using sparkling water and consult its current figures for any nutrition comparison. The ingredient information identifies barley and sulphites; also check the pack for post-opening instructions.
Bring the cordial and sparkling water separately and mix individual drinks when serving. If you want explicit guidance for that mixer, M&S says its cordial range, including Fragrant British Elderflower Cordial, can be diluted with sparkling water.
Compare the prepared drinks at their labelled dilution ratios. Sainsbury’s lists 11g sugars per diluted 250ml serving for Robinsons Ginger & Orange, and Waitrose & Partners lists the same amount per diluted 250ml serving for Robinsons Elderflower; both specify one part concentrate to six parts water.
Keep food that needs refrigeration in a cool box or cool bag with ice or frozen gel packs, as the Food Standards Agency advises. If you use more than one cool box, its picnic guidance suggests packing drinks separately from perishable food.
Check the current pack if someone drinking it has a sulphite sensitivity or related concern. The cited Robinsons cordials list sodium metabisulphite, and the Food Standards Agency identifies sulphites as a possible risk for sensitive people, with a higher risk of reaction for people with asthma.
Follow the instructions on the exact bottle. M&S says to refrigerate its Fragrant British Elderflower Cordial after opening and consume it within two weeks; the cited Robinsons Elderflower and Ginger & Orange listings say they taste best within four weeks of opening.