Hosts setting up a self-serve drinks table
Work out the prepared volume from the bottle's dilution instructions or stated servings before deciding how many bottles to buy.
Who is this for?
Hosts choosing drinks without added sugar
Check the ingredients as well as the front label. A no-added-sugar fruit cordial may contain naturally occurring sugars and may use sweeteners.
Hosts serving guests with ingredient sensitivities
Read the current label on each exact variant before serving it, particularly for declared allergens and sweeteners.
What should you check before buying?
Start with prepared volume for the expected guest count, then narrow the choice by ingredients and flavour.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared volume | Sainsbury's lists 20 × 250ml servings from its 1L lime cordial at a 1:4 dilution, making 5L. Waitrose lists 14 servings for each assessed 500ml Belvoir cordial at 1:6, making about 3.5L. | For a self-serve table, I need enough diluted drink for the guest count, not simply the largest bottle. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Read the no-added-sugar claim, ingredients and nutrition figures for the drink as prepared. The Food Standards Agency's 2023–24 surveillance report notes that a product with this claim can still contain naturally occurring sugars. | I want to know what is in the finished drink, including any fruit-derived sugars or sweeteners. |
| Ingredient suitability | Sainsbury's lists sodium metabisulphite (sulphites) in its assessed lime cordial. The assessed Belvoir cordials use steviol glycosides from stevia; check the current pack for the exact variant. | With different guests sharing the drinks table, I need to check ingredients before mixing and serving. |
| Flavour and serving style | Consider whether lime, lemon and lime, berry or a familiar squash flavour will be used. Waitrose describes the assessed Belvoir Lemon & Lime cordial as suitable for mixing with still or sparkling water. | One flavour may not suit everyone, so I may want a second option rather than more of the same cordial. |
Party-drink planning mistakes
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Assuming no added sugar means sugar-free
Fruit ingredients can contribute naturally occurring sugars, and the assessed cordials use different sweeteners.
Compare the nutrition figures for the diluted drink and read the ingredients if guests have a sugar or sweetener preference.
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Buying by bottle size alone
A 500ml concentrate and a 1L concentrate can have different dilution instructions, so their bottle volumes do not show how much drink they will make.
Use the stated servings or dilution ratio to calculate prepared litres before deciding how many bottles the party needs.
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Relying on an old ingredient listing
The assessed Sainsbury's lime cordial lists sulphites, while retailer product information cautions that recipes and allergen details can change.
Check the physical pack of the exact product before serving guests with allergies or intolerances.
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Opening more bottles than guests will use
The assessed Belvoir Lemon & Lime and Cherries & Berries listings instruct shoppers to refrigerate opened bottles and use them within three weeks.
Open a second flavour when it is needed, and follow the storage instructions on the bottle you buy.
Brands and retailer ranges to consider
These examples show why dilution and ingredients need checking by variant, even within a familiar range.
Sainsbury's
Its assessed 1L no-added-sugar lime cordial is listed as making 20 × 250ml servings when diluted 1 part cordial to 4 parts water.
- The stated serving basis makes it straightforward to plan 5L of prepared drink from this bottle.
- This lime variant uses sucralose and lists sodium metabisulphite (sulphites).
Belvoir Farm
Waitrose lists assessed no-added-sugar Lemon & Lime and Cherries & Berries cordials in 500ml bottles.
- Each assessed listing states 14 servings at a 1:6 dilution; Lemon & Lime is described for still or sparkling water.
- These fruit cordials contain naturally occurring sugars and use steviol glycosides from stevia.
Robinsons
Robinsons says it has removed added sugars from its core squash range; Tesco and Waitrose list no-added-sugar variants.
- The listed variants offer a choice of familiar fruit flavours and bottle formats.
- Check the exact bottle for its dilution, sweeteners and allergens rather than applying one variant's details to the range.
Tesco
Tesco lists own-label no-added-sugar squash alongside branded options, including larger-bottle formats.
- Its range provides several fruit-flavour options to compare for a group occasion.
- A strength description alone does not establish servings; use the chosen bottle's preparation instructions.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists own-label no-added-sugar High Juice varieties and branded squash and cordial options.
- Its listings include different flavours and formats for comparing possible party drinks.
- Check individual product labels for dilution, nutrition and allergens rather than relying on a category listing.
Joybuy no-added-sugar squash options
These concentrates offer blackcurrant, pineapple and passion fruit, orange, and summer-fruit options for a street-party drinks table. Check each bottle's dilution instructions when planning quantities.
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Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar 1.5L
A blackcurrant concentrate to consider if guests want that flavour at a self-serve table; follow its dilution instructions when planning portions.
Contains sweeteners and sodium bisulphite. The product guidance calls for extra water for toddlers and does not recommend the drink for children under 3; check the current pack before serving.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit Squash No Added Sugar 850ml
An 850ml concentrate for guests who prefer pineapple and passion fruit; check the pack's dilution guidance before working out party quantities.
Contains sweeteners and sulphites, and the product information identifies a source of phenylalanine. Read the current pack for guest-specific ingredient requirements.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
A 1L orange squash for a familiar flavour; use the exact bottle's dilution guidance to plan how much prepared drink you need.
Contains sulphites and sweeteners. Check the current pack if guests need to avoid particular ingredients.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 1L
A 1L summer-fruit squash that could provide a second flavour; check the bottle's dilution instructions before estimating servings.
Contains sweeteners and sulphites. The product guidance advises extra dilution for toddlers; follow the current pack's serving and ingredient information.
Questions about party cordial
Does no added sugar mean a cordial is sugar-free?
No. Fruit-based cordials can contain naturally occurring sugars, as the Food Standards Agency's 2023–24 surveillance report notes for products bearing a no-added-sugar claim. Read the nutrition figures for the diluted drink and check the ingredients for sweeteners.
How much prepared drink will one bottle make?
Follow the exact bottle's serving and dilution instructions. Sainsbury's lists 20 × 250ml servings, or 5L, for its assessed 1L lime cordial at 1:4; Waitrose lists 14 servings, or about 3.5L, for each assessed 500ml Belvoir cordial at 1:6.
Can I mix cordial with sparkling water?
The assessed Belvoir Lemon & Lime No Added Sugar Cordial is described by Waitrose for mixing with still or sparkling water. Check the preparation guidance on other cordials rather than assuming they carry the same instructions.
What if a guest has an allergy or avoids a sweetener?
Read the current physical pack of the exact variant before serving it. The assessed Sainsbury's lime cordial lists sulphites and sucralose, while the assessed Belvoir varieties use steviol glycosides from stevia; recipes and declarations can change.
How should I store an opened Belvoir cordial?
The assessed Belvoir Lemon & Lime and Cherries & Berries listings say to refrigerate after opening and consume within three weeks. Follow the storage instructions on the bottle you buy.