Hosts serving children and adults
Set out water and milk for children, following NHS advice, alongside an optional diluted drink for older children and adults. Keep the cordial separate so guests can see what is being served.
Who is the drinks table for?
Hosts choosing no added sugar
Look for the claim on the exact bottle, then read the nutrition information for the prepared drink. No added sugar does not necessarily mean no sugars.
Hosts catering for ingredient-sensitive guests
Check each current pack for sulphites, sweeteners and other ingredients that matter to your guests rather than assuming two no-added-sugar drinks have the same recipe.
What should you check before buying?
Start with drinks for younger guests, then compare the prepared drink, its ingredients and the number of servings you need.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Children’s drinks | Plan water and milk as children’s main options, in line with NHS advice. Check age-appropriate drink and cup guidance for babies. | Young children will be there, so I want their usual drinks available without making cordial the default. |
| Prepared drink | Confirm the no-added-sugar claim on the bottle. Compare sugars and energy for the diluted drink, noting the serving size and mixing instructions. | I want to know what is in a served glass, not just what the concentrate’s label says. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredient and allergen information. Check for sulphites and the types of sweetener where these matter to a guest. | Someone may need to avoid a particular ingredient, so I need the actual bottle label available to check. |
| Servings | Check bottle size, stated servings and dilution ratio together. Tesco lists 14 servings for its 500ml Belvoir Sicilian Lemon & Lime cordial at a one-to-six dilution. | For a larger gathering, I need enough prepared drink without assuming every bottle makes the same number of glasses. |
| After opening | Read the storage instructions if bottles may remain after the party. Waitrose says its listed Belvoir Cherries & Berries cordial should be refrigerated after opening and used within three weeks. | If I expect leftovers, I want to know where an opened bottle needs to go. |
What can go wrong when planning the drinks?
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Assuming no added sugar makes cordial a baby’s drink
No-added-sugar drinks can contain naturally occurring sugars and sweeteners. The NHS recommends water and milk for children and says bottles or trainer cups should contain only breast milk, formula milk or water.
Plan drinks for babies separately. Keep diluted cordial as an optional choice for older guests rather than putting it in an infant’s bottle or trainer cup.
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Counting glasses without checking the dilution ratio
A stated serving count applies to the product’s mixing directions. Making the drink stronger changes how many glasses the bottle provides.
Read each bottle’s directions before planning quantities, and use a measured jug if guests will serve themselves.
Using more concentrate per glass can leave fewer servings for later guests.
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Treating no-added-sugar recipes as interchangeable
The checked ASDA and Sainsbury’s lime cordials list sulphites and sweeteners. That matters when a guest needs to avoid a particular ingredient.
Check the current pack before serving and keep it available for guests who want to read the ingredients.
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Relying on a small cordial bottle for the whole party
A 500ml Belvoir cordial listed by Tesco has 14 stated servings at its specified dilution. That may suit a second flavour without necessarily covering every guest.
Estimate how many people may choose cordial, then use the labelled servings to decide whether one bottle is enough.
Which brands and retailers are relevant?
These references help distinguish squash and cordial formats; check the particular bottle rather than relying on a brand or retailer name.
Robinsons
A family squash brand with a core no-added-sugar range.
- Robinsons says it removed added sugars from its core squash range.
- Check the claim on the specific bottle; the brand’s statement does not cover every cordial-format product.
Tesco
A retailer listing a smaller-format no-added-sugar Belvoir cordial.
- Its Belvoir Sicilian Lemon & Lime listing gives a 500ml bottle, 14 servings and a one-to-six dilution.
- Use that product’s own serving instructions when planning quantities; another cordial may mix differently.
Sainsbury’s
An own-label option for no-added-sugar lime cordial.
- Its listed 1L lime cordial is labelled no added sugar and contains 30% fruit juice from concentrate.
- Check the current ingredient and allergen label when serving guests with specific requirements.
Asda
An own-label route for a 1-litre no-added-sugar lime cordial.
- The listed ASDA Lime Cordial states no added sugar and notes that it contains naturally occurring sugars.
- Do not read “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”; check the prepared-drink nutrition and ingredients.
Waitrose
A retailer listing Belvoir Cherries & Berries no-added-sugar cordial.
- The listing provides a berry-flavoured alternative to lime or citrus cordial.
- Waitrose says to refrigerate this product after opening and use it within three weeks.
M&S
A retailer with cordials intended for dilution with still or sparkling water.
- M&S describes its cordial range as made with natural flavourings.
- Check the selected bottle for an explicit no-added-sugar claim; the range description alone does not establish one.
Joybuy squash options for the drinks table
These Robinsons no-added-sugar squashes are options for an optional diluted drinks station alongside water and milk. One is a multipack; the other is a single orange bottle.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 6x1L
The six 1L bottles provide a multipack option for a party drinks station. Follow the pack’s dilution directions when estimating servings, and check the current label for sweeteners and sulphites.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
This single 1L orange squash offers another diluted flavour for the drinks table. Check the bottle’s mixing instructions before planning servings, and read its current ingredient label for sweeteners and sulphites.
Questions about serving cordial
Does no added sugar mean the drink contains no sugar?
No. ASDA’s listed no-added-sugar lime cordial says it contains naturally occurring sugars. Read the nutrition panel for the drink prepared according to the bottle’s directions.
What should I offer babies at a christening party?
Follow age-appropriate feeding guidance rather than offering cordial in a bottle or trainer cup. The NHS says these should contain only breast milk, formula milk or water.
How much water should I add to the cordial?
Use the directions on the exact bottle. Tesco lists Belvoir Sicilian Lemon & Lime cordial at one part cordial to six parts water; do not assume that ratio applies to another product.
How can I check for sulphites or sweeteners?
Read the current bottle label before serving and leave it available for guests to inspect. The checked ASDA and Sainsbury’s lime cordials list sulphites and sweeteners, but ingredients can differ between products.
Does an opened cordial bottle need refrigeration?
Follow the instruction on that bottle. Waitrose says its listed Belvoir Cherries & Berries cordial should be refrigerated after opening and used within three weeks; other products may have different directions.