Households replacing sugary drinks
If you want a flavoured drink with less sugar, compare the sugars in a glass diluted as directed. A no-added-sugar label alone does not tell you the drink’s total sugar content.
Who is this for?
The useful choice depends on how often you make a drink and which label details matter to your household.
Weekly-shop planners counting servings
If several people use cordial regularly, check the stated servings and dilution ratio alongside bottle size. A smaller, more concentrated bottle can make more prepared drink than its size suggests.
Shoppers checking ingredients
If particular sweeteners or sulphites matter to you, read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack. Recipes can differ between flavours and ranges.
What matters when choosing?
Start with the prepared drink’s nutrition, then check how many glasses the bottle makes and whether its ingredients suit you.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars in the glass | Read “of which sugars” and energy for the drink diluted as directed. Compare equivalent prepared volumes where possible; a no-added-sugar claim does not mean zero total sugars. | I want to compare what I will actually drink, rather than rely on the word “diet” or a fruit image on the bottle. |
| Servings and dilution | Check bottle size, the stated serving count and the mixing instructions. Tesco Groceries states that its 750ml Quadruple Strength Orange Squash makes 50 servings at a ratio of 1 part squash to 19 parts water. | Cordial is used often at home, so I need to know how many glasses the bottle makes when mixed as instructed. |
| Ingredients | Read the sweetener declaration and allergen information on the current pack, particularly if sulphites are relevant to you. | I may prefer one sweetener to another, or need to check a specific ingredient before changing brand or flavour. |
| Fruit flavour | Compare flavour and fruit ingredients with the prepared-drink nutrition. Waitrose & Partners lists 1.1g sugars per 100ml for its Belvoir Cherries & Berries cordial diluted 1:6, despite its no-added-sugar claim. | I want a fruit-led flavour, but still need to check the sugars in the finished drink. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
Fruit ingredients can contribute sugars to a drink with no added sugar. Waitrose & Partners lists 1.1g sugars per 100ml for its Belvoir Cherries & Berries cordial diluted 1:6.
Check “of which sugars” for the prepared drink, then decide whether its flavour and ingredients suit you.
-
Comparing concentrate with a diluted glass
Mixing instructions and stated glass sizes differ. Tesco Groceries gives nutrition for a 300ml prepared glass of its Quadruple Strength Orange Squash; other cordials give figures for 250ml servings.
Follow each bottle’s dilution instructions and compare prepared drinks on a similar volume basis.
-
Overlooking sweeteners and sulphites
No-added-sugar products can contain sweeteners, and the reviewed supermarket lime cordials list sodium metabisulphite or sulphites.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information, especially when switching flavour or retailer.
-
Assuming a fruit-led description settles the sugar question
Descriptions such as “natural flavours” do not tell you the sugars in a prepared glass.
If reducing sugar is your aim, check the current pack’s nutrition and dilution instructions before choosing a cordial for its flavour description.
Brands and ranges to compare
These examples show how bottle formats, dilution and prepared-drink figures can differ; check the particular flavour and pack you intend to buy.
Robinsons
A familiar no-added-sugar squash range with single-bottle and larger-format examples.
- Waitrose & Partners lists Robinsons no-added-sugar 1L and 1.75L squash formats.
- Check the dilution and prepared-drink nutrition for the specific flavour and bottle.
Tesco
Own-label squash and cordial examples with different concentrations.
- Tesco Groceries states that its 750ml Quadruple Strength Orange Squash makes 50 servings at a 1:19 dilution, with 5kcal and 0.5g sugars per stated 300ml glass.
- Use its mixing instructions when comparing it with less concentrated cordials.
Sainsbury's
An own-label 1L no-added-sugar lime cordial with nutrition stated per prepared serving.
- Sainsbury's lists 13kcal and less than 0.5g sugars per 250ml serving.
- Check the current ingredients if its sweetener or sulphite content matters to you.
ASDA
An own-label 1L lime cordial for shoppers comparing conventional bottle formats.
- ASDA Groceries states 20 servings and 5kcal per diluted 250ml serving for its lime cordial.
- Read the current ingredient and allergen label before treating it as interchangeable with another lime cordial.
Waitrose
A retailer range that includes no-added-sugar squash and fruit-led cordial options.
- Waitrose & Partners lists 1L no-added-sugar squash options and a Belvoir Cherries & Berries cordial.
- The Belvoir cordial lists 1.1g sugars per 100ml diluted 1:6; compare the finished drink, not the claim alone.
M&S
A flavour-led cordial range that includes Sicilian Lemon and Mexican Lime.
- Marks & Spencer lists several cordial flavours in its range.
- For a lower-sugar choice, check the particular pack’s claim, nutrition and mixing instructions rather than relying on its flavour description.
Joybuy squash options for a weekly shop
These Joybuy options are no-added-sugar squashes to dilute at home. Compare their pack sizes, current labels and prepared-drink nutrition according to how often your household makes a glass.
No image available
Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 6 × 1L
The six-bottle pack is an option if your household regularly makes squash at home. Dilute each glass as directed, and check the current ingredient and allergen label if sweeteners or sulphites matter to you.
No image available
Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
This single 1L bottle suits a shopper who wants orange squash without committing to a multipack. Joybuy states 3kcal per 250ml diluted glass; check the current pack’s sugar figure and dilution instructions when comparing it with other drinks.
No image available
Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar 1.5L
The 1.5L bottle offers a larger home-dilution format. Follow the mixing instructions and check the current pack for nutrition stated for the prepared drink before comparing its sugars or calories with another squash.
No image available
Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit No Added Sugar Squash 850ml
This 850ml squash provides a pineapple and passion fruit flavour option. For a sugar comparison, use the current pack’s dilution directions and nutrition for the prepared drink rather than figures for undiluted squash.
Questions about no-added-sugar cordial
Does “no added sugar” mean a cordial contains no sugars?
No. Fruit ingredients can contribute naturally occurring sugars: Waitrose & Partners lists 1.1g sugars per 100ml for its Belvoir Cherries & Berries cordial diluted 1:6. Check “of which sugars” for the drink prepared as directed.
Should I compare cordial nutrition per bottle or per glass?
Compare the prepared drink at each product’s stated dilution, using a similar volume where possible. Tesco Groceries gives values for a 300ml glass of its Quadruple Strength Orange Squash, while the reviewed ASDA and Sainsbury's lime cordials state 250ml servings.
Can I assume a no-added-sugar cordial is free from sulphites?
No. The reviewed ASDA, Sainsbury's and Tesco examples list sodium metabisulphite or sulphites. If you need to avoid sulphites, read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack rather than relying on the no-added-sugar label.