Desk workers with access to water
If you can dilute concentrate in a glass or reusable bottle, check the mixing instructions and whether the bottle’s storage directions suit how often you will use it.
Who is this for?
The useful choice depends on how you will mix the drink and which ingredients you need to check.
Shoppers checking more than added sugar
No added sugar does not mean unsweetened or free from naturally occurring sugars. Compare ingredients and nutrition values for the drink prepared as directed.
Shoppers who need to check for sulphites
Read the current label of the exact product. The lime cordials listed by ASDA and Sainsbury’s contain sulphites, which the Food Standards Agency identifies as an allergen.
What should you check?
Start with the claim and ingredients on the exact bottle, then compare nutrition, preparation and storage for the drink you would make at your desk.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| No-added-sugar claim | Check the exact bottle’s claim and ingredients. The Advertising Standards Authority explains that, in Great Britain, a “with no added sugars” claim has conditions; it does not mean there are no naturally occurring sugars. | I want to avoid added sugar without assuming the finished drink is sugar-free or unsweetened. |
| Prepared drink | Compare nutrition at the stated dilution and serving size. ASDA lists 5 kcal and 0.8 g sugars per prepared 250 ml for Vimto No Added Sugar; Sainsbury’s lists 13 kcal and less than 0.5 g sugars per 250 ml for its no-added-sugar lime cordial. | The figures for the drink in my glass matter more to me than figures for undiluted concentrate. |
| Mixing and storage | Check the dilution ratio, suggested servings and directions after opening. ASDA lists one part concentrate to four parts water for its lime cordial and Vimto, but one part Belvoir cordial to six parts water. | I need a drink I can mix during a short break and a bottle I can use within its stated storage period. |
| Ingredients | Read the current sweetener and allergen declarations. The ASDA and Sainsbury’s lime cordial listings include sulphites; the listed products also differ in their sweeteners. | If I avoid a particular ingredient or have a sulphite sensitivity, I need to check the exact recipe before choosing. |
| Flavour and product type | Distinguish cordial from squash and check the specific flavour. Robinsons says its classic Cordials and Barley Waters have added sugar, unlike much of its squash range. | I may prefer lime cordial for a citrus flavour, or choose a no-added-sugar squash for another fruit flavour. The brand name alone will not settle it. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming no added sugar means unsweetened
Fruit can contribute naturally occurring sugars, and the listed no-added-sugar concentrates contain sweeteners. The claim does not tell you the prepared drink’s nutrition or which sweetener is used.
Read the ingredients and compare nutrition for the drink diluted according to each bottle’s instructions.
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Choosing by brand or the word “cordial” alone
Robinsons distinguishes its no-added-sugar squash from its classic Cordials, which it says contain added sugar.
Check the claim on the particular flavour and product type you intend to buy.
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Overlooking the exact ingredients
The listed lime cordials differ in sweetener choice and include sulphites. A description of the product category cannot replace the current label when an ingredient matters to you.
Check the bottle’s ingredients and allergen statement before purchase.
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Comparing bottle sizes without considering use
Concentrates have different dilution and after-opening directions. A larger bottle may not suit someone who makes a desk drink only occasionally.
Use the stated servings and storage instructions to judge whether the bottle fits your routine.
A bottle left unused beyond its stated after-opening period may go to waste.
Brand and product-line references
These examples show why the exact product line and label matter more than the brand name alone.
Robinsons
Its no-added-sugar squash range includes standard bottles and mini concentrates for shoppers considering a squash rather than a cordial.
- Robinsons states that 98% of its squash range contains no added sugar.
- Robinsons also says its classic Cordials and Barley Waters have added sugar; check the particular product.
Vimto
Its listed no-added-sugar squash is an option for a mixed-fruit flavour.
- ASDA lists a one-to-four dilution and 5 kcal with 0.8 g sugars per prepared 250 ml serving for Vimto No Added Sugar 1 L.
- The listing includes sucralose and acesulfame K; no added sugar does not mean no naturally occurring fruit sugars.
Belvoir Farm
Its listed Sicilian Lemon & Lime product is explicitly sold as a no-added-sugar cordial.
- ASDA lists steviol glycosides, a one-to-six dilution and 14 servings from the 500 ml bottle.
- The listing instructs shoppers to refrigerate it after opening and use it within three weeks.
ASDA
Its listed lime cordial offers a no-added-sugar citrus option with straightforward mixing instructions.
- ASDA lists one part cordial to four parts water, 20 suggested servings and 5 kcal per prepared 250 ml serving.
- Its listed ingredients include sucralose, saccharins and sulphites.
Sainsbury’s
Its listed no-added-sugar lime cordial is an option if declared fruit-juice content matters to your choice.
- Sainsbury’s declares 30% fruit juice from concentrate and lists 13 kcal per prepared 250 ml serving.
- The listed ingredients include sucralose and sulphites; check the current pack for the recipe you are buying.
Joybuy squash options
These Robinsons products are no-added-sugar squash concentrates to mix with water at your desk. They are alternatives to cordial, so check the individual flavour and pack directions before choosing.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1 L
An orange squash concentrate for a desk lunch where you can add water. Check the pack’s mixing directions and current ingredients, including sweeteners and allergens.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 1 L
A Summer Fruits squash concentrate for mixing with water at your desk. Use the current pack to check the dilution ratio, prepared-drink nutrition, ingredients and storage directions.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Real Fruit Lemon Squash 1 L
A lemon squash concentrate to consider if you want a citrus flavour and can add water at lunch. Check the current pack for its mixing directions, nutrition, sweeteners and allergen statement.
Questions about cordial and squash
Does “no added sugar” mean a cordial contains no sugar?
No. The Advertising Standards Authority explains that the claim has conditions in Great Britain, but it does not rule out naturally occurring sugars. Check the ingredients and nutrition panel for the drink as prepared.
How can I compare two concentrates fairly?
Compare the prepared drinks at their stated dilution ratios and serving sizes, not an undiluted value against a diluted one. For example, ASDA lists 5 kcal per prepared 250 ml for its lime cordial, while Sainsbury’s lists 13 kcal per prepared 250 ml for its lime cordial.
Will any Robinsons cordial meet a no-added-sugar preference?
Do not assume so from the brand name. Robinsons says much of its squash range contains no added sugar, but its classic Cordials and Barley Waters have added sugar; check the claim on the exact bottle.
What if I need to avoid sulphites?
Check the current ingredients and allergen statement for the exact bottle. The ASDA and Sainsbury’s lime cordial listings include sulphites, which the Food Standards Agency identifies as an allergen.
How long can I keep a bottle after opening?
Follow that bottle’s storage directions rather than applying another product’s period. ASDA’s Belvoir Sicilian Lemon & Lime listing says to refrigerate after opening and use within three weeks; Joybuy’s Vimto No Added Sugar listing says to refrigerate after opening and consume within four weeks.