Who is each option for?

Households buying squash for regular use

A larger format may suit a household that makes squash frequently. If a no-added-sugar formulation matters to you, check the claim and ingredients on the exact flavour you choose.

Occasional cordial drinkers

A smaller cordial may suit drinks made with still or sparkling water, provided you can follow its dilution instructions and finish it within the stated period after opening.

Shoppers choosing by ingredients

If you prefer a fruit-and-sugar formulation, compare the ingredients of the exact product. Rocks Summer Fruits, for example, is described by Meridian Foods as containing whole summer fruits, spring water and natural cane sugar; that is a different choice from a no-added-sugar squash.

What should you compare?

Start with how the concentrate is prepared, then check whether its ingredients, storage instructions and bottle material fit your household.

Priority What to check Your needs
Prepared yield Compare the label’s dilution ratio and prepared-drink yield. ASDA says Bottlegreen Wild Elderflower Cordial 500 ml makes 32 × 250 ml glasses at 1:15; Tesco gives a 1:8 preparation ratio for Rocks Orange Squash 740 ml. I want to know how much drink a bottle makes at its stated dilution, not just how much concentrate it holds.
Ingredients Check the exact flavour’s ingredients and no-added-sugar claim, if relevant. For a sugar-containing option, compare nutrition figures for the drink diluted as directed. A no-added-sugar squash might suit my ingredient preference. Alternatively, I may specifically want a fruit-and-sugar formulation and need to check what is in it.
After-opening use Check whether refrigeration is required and how soon the product should be used. ASDA gives Bottlegreen Elderflower one month after opening; Tesco gives Rocks Orange three weeks, both refrigerated. If we make squash only occasionally, I want a bottle we are likely to finish within its own storage guidance.
Bottle material Confirm the packaging material on the exact listing or physical bottle; the word “bottle” does not identify glass. For disposal, follow your local authority’s collection instructions. Glass packaging matters to my choice, so I need to establish that the particular bottle I buy is glass.

What is easy to overlook?

  • Comparing concentrates by bottle size alone

    Different dilution instructions change how much prepared drink each bottle makes. ASDA states that Bottlegreen Elderflower 500 ml makes 32 × 250 ml glasses at 1:15, while Tesco gives a 1:8 ratio for Rocks Orange 740 ml.

    Use each product’s stated dilution and yield when comparing bottles. The amount you actually make will vary if you mix the drink more or less strongly.

  • Assuming a fruit-based cordial has no sugar

    Product positioning does not replace the ingredients and nutrition label. Tesco lists 4.5 g sugars per 100 ml for Rocks Orange diluted as directed; ASDA lists 4.4 g per 100 ml for Bottlegreen Wild Elderflower at its stated dilution.

    Check whether you want a no-added-sugar formulation or one made with fruit and sugar, and compare figures on the same diluted basis.

  • Taking a bottle’s appearance as proof it is glass

    Neither a product image nor a general description of a cordial establishes the material of the unit you will receive.

    If glass is essential, look for an explicit packaging description for the exact product or check the physical bottle before relying on it for your weekly shop.

  • Assuming every opened bottle keeps for the same period

    Instructions vary: Marks & Spencer gives its Fragrant British Elderflower Cordial two weeks after opening, Tesco gives Rocks Orange three weeks, and ASDA gives Bottlegreen Wild Elderflower one month. Each listing says to refrigerate after opening.

    Read the instructions on your chosen bottle and consider how often your household will make the drink.

Brand and product-line references

These examples illustrate different formulations and formats; a brand name alone does not establish the bottle material or the details of every flavour.

Bottlegreen

Bottlegreen describes its cordial range as suitable for dilution with still or sparkling water and says it is made with Cotswolds spring water. Check the individual cordial’s label for its ingredients and instructions.

  • ASDA lists Wild Elderflower Cordial in a 500 ml bottle, with a 1:15 dilution and a stated yield of 32 × 250 ml glasses.
  • ASDA lists 4.4 g sugars per 100 ml when diluted as directed and says to refrigerate and use within one month after opening. Confirm the bottle material if glass is required.

Rocks

Meridian Foods describes Rocks Summer Fruits Squash as made with whole summer fruits, spring water and natural cane sugar. Check the particular flavour rather than assuming every Rocks product has identical ingredients.

  • Tesco’s Rocks Orange Squash 740 ml listing gives a preparation ratio of one part squash to eight parts water.
  • Tesco lists 4.5 g sugars per 100 ml for Rocks Orange when diluted as directed and says to refrigerate and use it within three weeks after opening. Check its packaging material separately.

Robinsons

Tesco lists Robinsons Double Strength Orange No Added Sugar Squash in a 1.75 L format, an example of a larger squash for regular household use.

  • The listed Orange variant combines a large format with a no-added-sugar claim.
  • Check the ingredients and packaging of the exact variant; the format and claim do not establish that its bottle is glass.

Joybuy squash option

This larger no-added-sugar squash is an option for regular household use. It is not a glass-bottle cordial.

Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar 1.5L

Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar 1.5L

The 1.5 L concentrated format is relevant if your household regularly makes squash and prefers a no-added-sugar option. Its bottle is described as 100% recycled plastic, so it does not meet a glass-bottle requirement. Check the label if particular sweeteners or other ingredients matter to your choice.

View on Joybuy

Common questions

How long can squash or cordial be kept after opening?

Follow the instructions on the exact bottle. ASDA says to refrigerate Bottlegreen Wild Elderflower Cordial and use it within one month; Tesco gives Rocks Orange three weeks, while Marks & Spencer gives its Fragrant British Elderflower Cordial two weeks, with refrigeration required for both.

Can an empty glass cordial bottle go in household recycling?

Check your local authority’s instructions for packaging glass. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs lists bottles and jars among packaging collected kerbside by at least 75% of local authorities across the four UK nations in its 2026 collection list. In England, the default dry-recyclables collection requirement has included packaging glass since 31 March 2026; it does not extend to non-packaging glass such as drinking glasses.

Will the deposit return scheme apply to glass squash bottles?

Do not assume it will. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs guidance says the scheme scheduled for England and Northern Ireland from 1 October 2027 covers certain single-use PET plastic, steel and aluminium containers from 150 ml to 3 litres, not glass bottles. The guidance also excludes containers used for flavour enhancers or sweeteners added to drinks; check how the rules apply to a particular product when the scheme begins.

Should I check the ingredients when buying a familiar flavour?

Yes, especially if a particular ingredient or allergen matters to you: read the label on the bottle you receive. Marks & Spencer’s Fragrant British Elderflower Cordial listing, for example, identifies sulphites in an ingredient, while Waitrose identifies sulphur dioxide as an allergen in its Rose’s Lime Juice Cordial listing.