Hosts reducing free sugars in drinks
If snacks and drinks are both part of the evening, you may want a flavoured drink without choosing a sugary squash. The NHS suggests sugar-free, diet or no-added-sugar drinks as alternatives.
Who is this for?
The useful starting point is whether you are choosing for sugar content, the number of glasses to prepare or a guest's ingredient requirements.
Households serving several guests
A concentrate with clear mixing directions makes it easier to prepare a jug consistently. Robinsons directs shoppers to dilute its Apple & Blackcurrant Double Concentrate one part concentrate to nine parts water.
Citrus drinkers checking ingredients
If lime or lemon is your preferred flavour, compare the sweeteners and allergen declarations as well as the sugars figure. The Sainsbury's and Tesco lime cordials list sulphites or sodium metabisulphite; the Belvoir citrus cordial is sweetened with stevia, according to their respective product listings.
What should you check?
Start with the prepared drink rather than the concentrate, then check how you will mix and serve it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars per glass | Read both the no-added-sugar claim and the sugars figure for a prepared serving. Check that products use the same serving size before comparing figures. | I want a flavoured drink while reducing free sugars from drinks. A no-added-sugar label alone does not tell me the total sugars in my glass. |
| Dilution and servings | Follow the bottle's concentrate-to-water ratio and consider how many prepared glasses you need. Robinsons states 1:9 for its Apple & Blackcurrant Double Concentrate; Tesco Groceries states 1:6 for Belvoir Sicilian Lemon & Lime. | Several guests may want refills, so I need to judge the bottle by the drinks it makes, not just its size. |
| Guest suitability | Read the current pack for named sweeteners and allergens. Check the exact product rather than assuming all no-added-sugar cordials share an ingredient list. | Someone coming to movie night may avoid a particular sweetener or need to check for sulphites before I serve the drink. |
| Flavour and serving style | Choose a fruit flavour guests will drink, then check whether the cordial's mixing directions suit a jug or individual glasses. Check storage directions if some concentrate will remain. | I might make one shared jug, or offer citrus cordial for guests to mix with still or sparkling water. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading “no added sugar” as “no sugars”
Fruit juice can contribute sugars to a cordial even when no sugar has been added. Tesco Groceries lists 1.1 g sugars per prepared 250 ml serving of Belvoir's no-added-sugar Sicilian Lemon & Lime cordial.
Check the sugars line for the drink as prepared, alongside the ingredients.
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Comparing nutrition without checking dilution
Concentrates have different mixing directions, and a stronger pour changes what goes into each glass.
Make the first jug according to the bottle directions and compare nutrition figures stated for prepared servings.
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Assuming a diet-labelled drink suits every guest
Sweetener choices vary, while some of the listed lime cordials contain sulphites or sodium metabisulphite. Sugar content cannot answer an ingredient-suitability question.
Ask guests about relevant ingredient requirements and check the current physical pack before serving.
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Relying on an old ingredient listing
A saved product page may not reflect the bottle you receive. Tesco Groceries notes that food products can be reformulated.
Use the label on the actual bottle for the final ingredient and allergen check.
Brand and product-line references
These examples show why the exact variant and its prepared-serving label matter more than the brand name alone.
Robinsons
Its Apple & Blackcurrant Double Concentrate is an example to consider when preparing several fruit-flavoured drinks.
- Robinsons specifies one part concentrate to nine parts water and says this double concentrate provides twice the servings of its single concentrate.
- Check the ingredients of the exact flavour and variant against guests' requirements.
Tesco
Tesco Lime Cordial is a no-added-sugar option for a lime-flavoured mixed drink.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0.2 g sugars and 6 kcal for a glass prepared according to its directions.
- Its listed ingredients include sweeteners and sodium metabisulphite; check the bottle received for current details.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's No Added Sugar Lime Cordial provides another lime option with prepared-serving nutrition stated on its listing.
- Sainsbury's lists under 0.5 g sugars per 250 ml serving.
- The listed ingredients include sucralose and sodium metabisulphite, which matter when checking a guest's ingredient requirements.
Belvoir Farm
Its no-added-sugar Sicilian Lemon & Lime cordial offers a citrus option for mixing with still or sparkling water.
- Tesco Groceries lists 7 kcal and 1.1 g sugars per prepared 250 ml serving, with a 1:6 dilution direction.
- The listing says to refrigerate the bottle after opening and use it within three weeks.
M&S
Its Sicilian Lemon and Mexican Lime Cordial is a traditional sweetened citrus option, rather than a no-added-sugar example.
- M&S describes it as a cordial for water or cocktails.
- Sugar appears in its ingredient list, and M&S lists 4.9 g sugars per 100 g; check the serving basis before comparing it with a prepared drink.
No-added-sugar squash options on Joybuy
These fruit-flavoured concentrates are options for making shared no-added-sugar drinks at movie night. Check each bottle's directions and ingredients before serving.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
An orange-flavoured concentrate to dilute for shared movie-night drinks. Check the bottle's dilution directions when planning glasses, and its current ingredients if a guest needs to avoid particular sweeteners or sulphites.
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Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar 1.5L
A blackcurrant concentrate to consider when making drinks for several guests. Follow its dilution directions, and check the prepared-drink nutrition and current ingredient label if sweeteners or sulphites matter to your guests.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit Squash No Added Sugar 850ml
A pineapple-and-passion-fruit concentrate for guests who prefer a tropical flavour. Check the dilution directions and prepared-serving nutrition on the bottle rather than treating a figure for undiluted squash as the amount in a glass; check the ingredients for relevant sensitivities too.
Frequently asked questions
Does “no added sugar” mean there are no sugars in the cordial?
No. Fruit ingredients can still contribute sugars. Tesco Groceries lists 1.1 g sugars per prepared 250 ml serving of Belvoir No Added Sugar Sicilian Lemon & Lime Cordial, so check the prepared-serving nutrition rather than relying on the front-of-pack claim alone.
How can I compare two concentrates for a movie night?
Compare their nutrition on the same prepared-drink basis and follow each bottle's dilution directions. Robinsons specifies 1:9 for its Apple & Blackcurrant Double Concentrate, while Tesco Groceries specifies 1:6 for Belvoir Sicilian Lemon & Lime; concentrate figures alone do not describe the glass you serve.
What if a guest avoids a particular sweetener?
Check the named sweeteners on the current bottle before serving. The researched cordial listings show different ingredient choices, so a no-added-sugar claim does not identify which sweetener a product uses.
What should I check for a guest with sulphite sensitivity?
Read the allergen and ingredient information on the actual bottle before buying or serving. The Sainsbury's and Tesco lime cordial listings identify sulphites or sodium metabisulphite; do not assume another flavour or brand has the same ingredients.
How should I store cordial after opening?
Follow the directions for the individual bottle. For example, the Tesco Groceries listing for Belvoir No Added Sugar Sicilian Lemon & Lime says to refrigerate it after opening and use it within three weeks.