Curry-night hosts serving a group
A concentrate can be mixed by the glass or jug. Check its dilution instructions and stated servings before deciding how many bottles you need, and consider whether guests would prefer citrus or fruit-led flavours.
Who is this for?
Shoppers looking for no-added-sugar drinks
Look for an explicit no-added-sugar label, then read the sugars value for the diluted drink and the ingredients. Fruit-based cordials may contain naturally occurring sugars and use sweeteners.
Hosts checking ingredient restrictions
Check the current pack for sweeteners and sulphites rather than assuming concentrates have the same recipe. The NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with phenylketonuria (PKU).
What should you check?
Start with a flavour your guests will drink, then compare the prepared drink, mixing instructions and ingredient label.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour | Compare lemon and lime with orange, berry or other fruit blends. Check the product description for the actual juices used. | I would offer citrus if my guests prefer lemon or lime; a berry or mixed-fruit drink gives them a different flavour choice. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Read the no-added-sugar label, sugars per 100ml of prepared drink and sweeteners in the ingredients. Tesco Groceries lists 0.4g sugars per 100ml diluted for Belvoir Farm Sicilian Lemon & Lime; Waitrose & Partners lists 1.1g for its Cherries & Berries cordial. | No added sugar matters to me, but I also want to know what is in the glass once the concentrate is diluted. |
| Dilution and servings | Check the mixing ratio and stated servings rather than bottle size alone. Tesco Groceries gives 50 servings and a 1:19 dilution for Tesco Quadruple Strength Lime. | If several guests will have a glass, I need to know how much finished drink the bottle makes. |
| Ingredient restrictions | Check the current pack for aspartame, other sweeteners and sulphites. The NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with PKU; Tesco Groceries lists it in Robinsons Double Concentrate Orange. | Before serving guests with an ingredient restriction, I want to check the exact drink rather than rely on its no-added-sugar claim. |
| After opening | Read the storage instructions and use period for the exact bottle. Tesco Groceries and Waitrose & Partners each state refrigeration and use within three weeks after opening for their listed Belvoir cordials. | If I am unlikely to finish a bottle on curry night, I want storage instructions that fit how I will use the rest. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Treating no added sugar as sugar-free
Fruit-based concentrates can still contain naturally occurring sugars, and a no-added-sugar drink may use sweeteners.
Check the ingredients and the sugars figure for the diluted drink. Use the same prepared-drink basis when comparing bottles.
-
Choosing by bottle size alone
Concentrates have different mixing ratios, so bottle volume alone does not tell you how many glasses you can serve.
Read the stated servings and dilution instructions. Tesco Groceries lists 50 servings for Tesco Quadruple Strength Lime when mixed as directed.
-
Missing an ingredient restriction
Tesco Groceries lists sulphites in its Robinsons Orange and Tesco Lime products, and aspartame in the Robinsons Orange product. The NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with PKU.
Ask guests about relevant ingredient restrictions and check the current package before serving.
Brand and retailer references
Robinsons
Its Double Concentrate Orange is a no-added-sugar squash option for guests who prefer orange to lemon, lime or berry flavours.
- Tesco Groceries lists 20% orange fruit from concentrate, 3 kcal per 250ml diluted serving and a 1:9 mixing ratio for Double Concentrate Orange.
- That listing also names aspartame, saccharin and sulphites. Check the label of the particular Robinsons variant you intend to serve.
Tesco
Tesco Quadruple Strength Lime is a no-added-sugar squash to consider when planning drinks for several guests.
- Tesco Groceries states 40% lime juice from concentrate, 50 servings and a 1:19 mixing ratio for this product.
- It is labelled squash rather than cordial and lists sucralose, acesulfame K and sodium metabisulphite.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists a Cherries & Berries no-added-sugar cordial for guests who prefer a fruit blend to citrus.
- The listed 500ml cordial contains apple, raspberry, sour-cherry and strawberry juices and uses steviol glycosides.
- Its listing gives 1.1g sugars per 100ml diluted. Check the current pack for ingredients, nutrition and storage instructions.
M&S
M&S presents no-added-sugar squash within its squash range and describes cordials separately.
- M&S says its squash range includes no-added-sugar options.
- Check the individual cordial or squash label for a no-added-sugar claim; the range description does not establish that every M&S cordial has one.
No-added-sugar squash options at Joybuy
These diluting squashes offer orange, lemon, summer-fruit and tropical-fruit options for the curry-night table. Check each pack’s ingredients and mixing instructions before serving.
No image available
Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
An orange-flavoured squash for guests who prefer it to citrus-led lemon or lime. Check the current pack for sweeteners and sulphites, and read its dilution instructions before planning quantities.
No image available
Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 1L
A summer-fruits choice for guests who want a fruit blend rather than orange or lemon. Check the pack for sweeteners, sulphites, the dilution ratio and opened-bottle storage.
No image available
Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit No Added Sugar Squash 850ml
A pineapple-and-passion-fruit option for guests who prefer a tropical fruit flavour. Its listed ingredients include aspartame and sulphites; the NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with PKU. Check the pack’s dilution instructions to plan servings.
No image available
Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash, listed as 6 × 1L
A summer-fruits option if you are considering a multi-bottle pack for a group. Confirm the pack contents before buying: the title says 6 × 1L, while another quantity description says 1L. Check the current label for nutrition, ingredients and dilution instructions.
No image available
Robinsons No Added Sugar Real Fruit Lemon Juice Squash 1L
A lemon-flavoured squash for guests who prefer citrus. Its descriptions identify aspartame, which the NHS says is unsuitable for people with PKU. Check the current pack for its full ingredients, nutrition and dilution instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Does no added sugar mean a cordial is sugar-free?
No. Fruit-based cordials can contain naturally occurring sugars. Tesco Groceries lists 0.4g sugars per 100ml diluted for Belvoir Farm Sicilian Lemon & Lime, while Waitrose & Partners lists 1.1g per 100ml diluted for Cherries & Berries. Check the prepared-drink nutrition panel if total sugars matter to you.
Do no-added-sugar cordials and squashes contain sweeteners?
Some do, and the sweeteners differ by product. Tesco Groceries lists steviol glycosides in Belvoir Farm Sicilian Lemon & Lime, sucralose and acesulfame K in Tesco Quadruple Strength Lime, and aspartame and saccharin in Robinsons Double Concentrate Orange. Read the current ingredients for the bottle you choose.
What should I check if a guest has PKU?
Check whether the drink contains aspartame or carries a phenylalanine warning. The NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with PKU, and Tesco Groceries lists both aspartame and a phenylalanine warning for Robinsons Double Concentrate Orange.
How much squash should I get for a curry night?
Plan from the number of guests, the bottle’s stated servings and its dilution instructions, not concentrate volume alone. Tesco Groceries states that Tesco Quadruple Strength Lime makes 50 servings, with one tablespoon making a 300ml glass when mixed as directed.
How should I store cordial after opening?
Follow the instructions on the exact bottle. The Belvoir Farm Sicilian Lemon & Lime listing at Tesco Groceries and the Cherries & Berries listing at Waitrose & Partners both say to refrigerate after opening and use within three weeks; do not assume the same period applies to other products.