Hosts serving a small viewing group
A stated serving count and dilution ratio help you work out whether one bottle will make enough glasses for the match.
Who is this for?
Shoppers choosing a no-added-sugar soft drink
Compare sugars for the drink as prepared: no added sugar does not mean the finished drink contains no sugars.
Households serving guests with ingredient preferences
Check the current bottle for sweeteners and allergens before making a jug, particularly if a guest has a known sulphite sensitivity.
What should you check?
Start with the number of glasses you expect to serve. Then compare the prepared drink, flavour and ingredients on the exact bottle you plan to buy.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Enough glasses | Check servings per bottle and the stated dilution ratio. Sainsbury's lists 20 servings at 1:4 for its 1L lime cordial; Tesco and Waitrose list 14 servings at 1:6 for the respective 500ml Belvoir cordials. | I'm serving several people and want to know how many prepared drinks a bottle makes, rather than judging by bottle size alone. |
| Prepared-drink sugars | Read the sugars value and its serving basis. Sainsbury's lists less than 0.5g per prepared 250ml of its lime cordial; Tesco lists 1.1g per prepared 250ml of Belvoir Lemon & Lime; Waitrose lists 1.1g per diluted 100ml of Belvoir Cherries & Berries. | I want to compare what goes into a glass, without assuming that a no-added-sugar label means sugar-free or treating unlike serving sizes as equal. |
| Flavour and sweeteners | Choose among lime, lemon and lime, or cherries and berries; read the sweetener named on the pack. Sainsbury's lime lists sucralose, while the Belvoir listings identify steviol glycosides. | Our group may have different flavour preferences, and I want to check the sweetener before making a jug for everyone. |
| Allergens and storage | Read the current ingredient and allergen information, then the after-opening instructions. Sainsbury's lime lists sodium metabisulphite (sulphites); Waitrose says to refrigerate Belvoir Cherries & Berries after opening and use it within 3 weeks. | If a guest has a known sensitivity, I need to check the exact bottle. I also want to know how to store any cordial left after the match. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming no added sugar means sugar-free
No-added-sugar fruit cordials can still list sugars in the prepared drink. The Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose product listings use different values and serving bases.
Read the sugars line for the drink as prepared, keeping the stated volume beside each figure when you compare bottles.
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Judging yield by bottle size alone
Concentrates have different dilution instructions. Sainsbury's lists 20 servings at 1:4 for its 1L lime cordial, while the two listed Belvoir 500ml cordials each state 14 servings at 1:6.
Count the glasses you expect to pour and use the serving count and mixing instructions for that particular product.
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Overlooking ingredients when serving guests
Sweeteners differ between these products, and Sainsbury's lime cordial lists sulphites. A shared no-added-sugar claim does not mean the bottles have the same ingredients.
Ask about known ingredient concerns and check the current pack's highlighted allergens before serving.
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Relying on a product page instead of the bottle
The pack in hand is the one you will dilute and store; its instructions matter when preparing drinks for guests or keeping leftovers.
Before mixing, confirm the bottle's ingredients, dilution ratio and after-opening directions.
Brand and retailer references
These examples show how the no-added-sugar choices differ; a brand name alone does not establish the ingredients or nutrition of every variant.
Sainsbury's
Its Lime Cordial No Added Sugar 1L is a lime option with a stated yield for planning group drinks.
- Sainsbury's lists 20 servings, a 1:4 dilution and less than 0.5g sugars per prepared 250ml serving.
- The same listing names sucralose and sodium metabisulphite (sulphites); check the pack for your guests.
Belvoir Farm
The listed no-added-sugar cordials offer citrus or berry-and-cherry flavours.
- Tesco's Lemon & Lime listing and Waitrose's Cherries & Berries listing each state 14 servings and 1:6 dilution.
- Their sugars figures have different volume bases: 1.1g per prepared 250ml for Lemon & Lime and 1.1g per diluted 100ml for Cherries & Berries.
Robinsons
Waitrose lists no-added-sugar Robinsons squash in several flavours and bottle formats.
- The Waitrose category listing includes 1L orange and apple-and-blackcurrant bottles, alongside selected 1.75L double-strength formats.
- Check the exact variant's product label for its ingredients, nutrition and dilution instructions.
Tesco
Tesco listings include its own no-added-sugar lime cordial and Belvoir No Added Sugar Sicilian Lemon & Lime Cordial.
- The Belvoir listing states that the cordial can be mixed with still or sparkling water.
- Compare the exact products' labels rather than assuming an own-label and a Belvoir cordial have the same recipe.
M&S
Its Sicilian Lemon and Mexican Lime Cordial is a conventional citrus cordial, not a no-added-sugar option.
- The Marks & Spencer listing identifies lemon and lime flavours.
- The ingredient list includes sugar, so this product does not meet a no-added-sugar requirement.
Joybuy squash options
These Robinsons no-added-sugar squashes offer orange, lemon and summer-fruit options for drinks during the match. Check each pack's serving yield and dilution instructions when planning how much to make.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 6x1L
The six-bottle pack gives a group several 1L bottles of summer-fruit squash. Its product description states up to 25 prepared 250ml servings per bottle; check the current label for the mixing ratio and sugars in the prepared drink, particularly before making a large jug.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Real Fruit Lemon Juice Squash 6x1L
This six-pack is an option when you want several 1L bottles rather than a single bottle. Check the exact pack's dilution instructions and prepared-drink nutrition before deciding how many glasses it will make.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Real Fruit Lemon Juice Squash 1L
The single 1L bottle suits a lemon-flavour choice without buying a multipack. The product description identifies 10% lemon juice from concentrate; follow the current pack's dilution and after-opening instructions.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
This 1L orange squash offers a familiar flavour for a match-day jug. Its product details identify sulphites, so check the current ingredient label if a guest has a known sensitivity; also check the dilution instructions and prepared-drink sugars.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 1L
The single 1L bottle offers a summer-fruit flavour without the six-bottle pack. Its product details identify sulphites; check the current pack for allergens, the mixing ratio, prepared-drink sugars and after-opening instructions.
Common questions
Does no added sugar mean the cordial is sugar-free?
No. Sainsbury's lists less than 0.5g sugars per prepared 250ml serving of its no-added-sugar lime cordial; Tesco lists 1.1g per prepared 250ml for Belvoir Lemon & Lime, and Waitrose lists 1.1g per diluted 100ml for Belvoir Cherries & Berries. Check both the number and the serving size on the bottle you buy.
How much water should I add to cordial?
Follow the ratio for the exact product. Sainsbury's states one part cordial to four parts water for its no-added-sugar lime cordial; the Tesco and Waitrose listings for the two Belvoir options state one part cordial to six parts water.
Can I use sparkling water?
Belvoir No Added Sugar Sicilian Lemon & Lime Cordial can be mixed with still or sparkling water, according to its Tesco listing. For another cordial, check that product's serving directions.
What if a guest has a sulphite sensitivity?
Read the current pack before serving: Sainsbury's Lime Cordial No Added Sugar lists sodium metabisulphite (sulphites). Check each alternative separately rather than assuming that all no-added-sugar cordials have the same ingredients.
How should I store an opened bottle?
Use the instructions on that bottle. Waitrose says to refrigerate Belvoir Cherries & Berries after opening and use it within 3 weeks; do not apply that period to a different cordial without checking its label.