Hosts serving drinks in cups
A bottle of concentrated cordial or squash suits a party where you can provide water, jugs and cups. Check the bottle’s mixing directions before deciding how much to prepare.
Who is each format for?
Hosts handing out individual drinks
Ready-to-drink packs avoid mixing and give each guest a separate portion. Check whether the pack contains cans, bottles or pouches rather than assuming that every multipack is cordial.
Families checking ingredients
If a no-added-sugar option matters to you, read the full label as well as the front of the pack. Ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions still need checking for the particular drink being served.
What should you check?
Decide how drinks will be served before comparing flavours and labels: a concentrate needs preparing, while an individual pack is ready to hand out.
Cordial or squash from a bottle
Choose it when: You want a drink to dilute and can serve it from jugs into cups.
Allow for: Water, mixing and the exact bottle’s dilution instructions; it will not provide sealed individual portions.
Individual ready-to-drink packs
Choose them when: Handing out unopened portions without mixing is the priority.
Check: A can, bottle or pouch may contain a different type of drink from the cordial you had in mind.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Drink format | Check whether the drink is concentrated or ready to drink. For a multipack, confirm whether its portions are cans, bottles or pouches. | I want to know whether I’ll be mixing a jug or handing out individual drinks. Tesco lists squash and cordial separately, while Sainsbury’s groups multipack cans with fizzy drinks. |
| Dilution | Follow the exact concentrate’s directions and check whether its nutrition information refers to the diluted drink. The Robinsons Summer Fruits Double Strength label says 1 part concentrate to 9 parts water; Waitrose Lime Juice Cordial suggests 1 part cordial to 4 parts water. | If I’m making drinks in advance, I need the bottle’s own mixing ratio rather than a ratio remembered from another cordial. |
| Portions | Check the pack count and portion size for individual drinks. For a concentrate, use its stated serving guidance together with its dilution directions when planning quantities. | Will there be enough portions for the guests, and do I want to pour drinks into cups or give each child a separate pack? |
| Ingredients and sugar | Compare the current ingredient list and nutrition information for each drink. Check for sweeteners even on products labelled no added sugar. | I’d like a flavoured choice without assuming that cordial and ready-to-drink soft drinks have the same ingredients. The NHS identifies too much sugary food and drink as a contributor to tooth decay, so I’ll keep water available too. |
| Allergen information | Read the current pack’s ingredient and allergen information before serving, particularly when a guest has an allergy or intolerance. Keep the packaging available for their parent or carer. | For a child with an allergy or intolerance, I need to check the actual drink being served, not rely on its flavour or a no-added-sugar label. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Buying cans when the plan calls for cordial
Cordial or squash concentrates need diluting; a ready-to-drink multipack changes both preparation and serving.
Put the required format on your shopping list: either a concentrate to serve in cups or individual drinks that need no mixing.
-
Using one dilution ratio for every bottle
Product directions differ. Waitrose lists a suggested 1:4 cordial-to-water mix for its Lime Juice Cordial, while the reviewed Robinsons Summer Fruits Double Strength squash specifies 1:9.
Follow the label on the bottle you buy. Where it gives separate directions for toddlers, follow those too.
-
Treating ‘no added sugar’ as a complete ingredient check
That wording does not tell you everything in the drink or establish its suitability for a child with an allergy or intolerance.
Check the current pack’s full ingredients and allergen information before serving, and let a parent or carer inspect it where needed.
-
Making flavoured drinks the only option
Guests may prefer water. The NHS also identifies too much sugary food and drink as a contributor to tooth decay.
Keep plain water available throughout the party alongside any cordial or ready-to-drink options.
Brand references
These examples illustrate concentrated drinks and their label differences; the brand name alone does not establish the format or directions of every product in a range.
Robinsons
A squash option to consider when you want a concentrate to dilute rather than individual cans.
- Waitrose lists Robinsons no-added-sugar squash, including Double Strength variants.
- The listed Summer Fruits Double Strength bottle specifies 1 part concentrate to 9 parts water. Check the directions on the particular flavour and size you buy.
Waitrose
Its No Added Sugar Lime Juice Cordial is a concentrated bottle, not a canned multipack.
- The product directions suggest 1 part cordial to 4 parts water.
- Its ingredient information lists sodium metabisulphite; check the current pack for anyone with an allergy or intolerance.
Vimto
The reviewed No Added Sugar Squash is another concentrate to prepare before serving.
- The listed product gives a 1-part-squash-to-4-parts-water dilution direction.
- It is a bottle-to-dilute option, not an individual ready-to-drink can; check its current label before preparing it.
Joybuy drink options
These options cover one concentrated squash and several individual ready-to-drink formats, including bottles, pouches and cans. Choose the serving format first; the individual packs are not substitutes for cordial when the plan is to mix drinks in a jug.
Image unavailable
Fruitshoot Apple and Blackcurrant 24 × 200ml
A 24-pack for handing out individual drinks without mixing cordial. These are ready-to-drink bottles, not cans or concentrate. The product information warns that the caps pose a choking hazard for children under 36 months; check the current pack and keep the bottles away from younger children.
Image unavailable
Capri-Sun Tropical 20 × 200ml pouches
Individual ready-to-drink pouches suit a party where you do not want to prepare a jug. They are neither cordial nor cans. Check the current ingredients and allergen information before serving.
Image unavailable
Tango Apple Sugar-Free 24 × 330ml cans
This is an individual-can option when you deliberately want a ready-to-drink fizzy soft drink rather than cordial. Check whether the 330ml portion suits your serving plan and review the current ingredients before offering it to guests.
Image unavailable
Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar 1.5L
This bottle fits a plan to dilute squash and serve it from a jug; it is not a multipack of individual drinks. Follow its current mixing directions. The product information says it is not recommended for children under 3 and identifies sodium bisulphite, so check the current pack before serving.
Image unavailable
Poppi Raspberry & Rose 4 × 330ml
A small ready-to-drink multipack rather than a cordial concentrate. Check whether four 330ml portions cover the guests you intend to serve, and read the current ingredients before including it in the party drinks.
Questions about party drinks
Is cordial the same as a multipack can of fizzy drink?
No. Cordial and squash concentrates are diluted before serving, while a multipack can is ready to drink. Tesco lists squash and cordial separately, and Sainsbury’s groups multipack cans with fizzy drinks; check the particular product rather than relying on the word ‘multipack’.
Can I use the same dilution ratio for every squash?
No. Follow the bottle you are serving. The listed Robinsons Summer Fruits Double Strength squash specifies 1 part concentrate to 9 parts water, while Waitrose Lime Juice Cordial suggests 1 part cordial to 4 parts water.
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean a cordial suits every child?
No. The wording does not replace a check of ingredients, allergens or preparation directions. Read the current pack, particularly if a child has an allergy or intolerance, and keep it available for their parent or carer.
Should I offer water as well as party drinks?
Yes. Keep water readily available alongside cordial or individual drinks so guests have a plain option. The NHS identifies too much sugary food and drink as a contributor to tooth decay.