Families sharing drinks on a long journey
A concentrate can make several drinks from one bottle. Check how much water you will need to dilute it and whether the opened bottle can be stored as directed during the trip.
Who is this for?
Travellers comparing sugar and sweeteners
Look beyond the no-added-sugar wording: check the sugars figure for the prepared drink and read the ingredient list for the sweeteners used.
Travellers avoiding particular ingredients
Check the exact bottle for ingredients the group needs to avoid, including sulphites where relevant. Recipes can differ between products and flavours.
What should you check?
Start with the number of drinks you expect to make, then compare labels using the same prepared-drink basis. Keep the bottle’s storage directions in mind if it will be opened before you arrive.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Label wording | Read the sugars value and ingredients as well as the front-of-pack claim. Waitrose lists a Vimto no-added-sugar squash that contains naturally occurring fruit sugars. | I want no added sugar, but I still need to know whether the drink contains sugars or sweeteners. |
| Prepared-drink nutrition | Check whether figures describe concentrate or diluted drink, the stated serving size, and the dilution used. Compare two products only on a like-for-like basis. | Figures per 100ml of concentrate will not help me compare drinks prepared at different dilutions. |
| Bottle size and dilution | Check pack volume, the mixing directions and any stated serving count. Waitrose lists 14 servings for Belvoir Lemon & Lime No Added Sugar Cordial when diluted one part cordial to six parts water. | For several passengers, I need enough concentrate and water for repeated drinks; for a short trip, I may prefer a bottle that takes up less room. |
| Ingredients | Read the label for the sweetener used and for allergens or other ingredients a traveller must avoid. Check the exact flavour rather than assuming every product from a brand has the same recipe. | Someone travelling with me may need to avoid a particular ingredient, so flavour alone cannot decide the purchase. |
| Opened-bottle storage | Check whether the bottle needs refrigeration after opening and how long its label says to use it. Consider where it will be kept between stops. | If I cannot follow the storage directions on the journey, I need a different plan for when to open it. |
| Drinks throughout the trip | Keep water accessible as well as any concentrate. The NHS identifies water as a hydration choice; Norfolk and Suffolk NHS guidance notes that many fruit drinks, even sugar-free ones, can be acidic. | I want a flavoured option without making it the only drink available or sipping it continuously. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Reading “no added sugar” as “no sugars”
A no-added-sugar drink can still contain naturally occurring fruit sugars, and its ingredient list may include sweeteners.
Read the sugars figure and ingredients, then compare nutrition figures for drinks prepared on the same basis.
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Assuming similar cordials have the same ingredients
Sweeteners and other ingredients can differ between products, including drinks with similar flavours or label claims.
Check the current label of the exact bottle before buying or serving it to someone who needs to avoid an ingredient.
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Choosing a bottle without planning where to keep it
Opened-bottle directions can affect whether a concentrate is practical over several days away.
Check its refrigeration and use-after-opening instructions before deciding when to open it.
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Sipping flavoured drinks continuously
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS guidance notes that many fruit drinks, including sugar-free ones, are acidic and can erode enamel.
Keep plain water available rather than relying on cordial for every sip throughout the journey.
Brand examples to check
Robinsons
Waitrose lists Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar Squash in a 1-litre bottle.
- A familiar squash format to consider if you plan to mix drinks during the trip.
- Check the chosen flavour’s dilution, ingredients and opened-bottle directions on its own label.
Tesco
Tesco lists a 1.5-litre Quadruple Strength Lemon Squash No Added Sugar.
- The stated bottle size and concentration make dilution directions particularly important when planning drinks.
- Check the exact product label for ingredients and prepared-drink nutrition.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a no-added-sugar lime cordial with 30% fruit juice from concentrate and a sweetener.
- A lime option if that flavour is what you want to pack.
- Check its full ingredients and the basis of its nutrition figures before comparing it with squash.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists own-label no-added-sugar High Juice alongside branded squash and cordial.
- Its category includes an Apple & Elderflower No Added Sugar High Juice.
- Use the individual bottle label to check its ingredients, dilution and nutrition.
M&S
M&S describes a cordial range for dilution with still or sparkling water.
- A range to consider if you are comparing cordial flavours.
- Do not assume a cordial in the range is no-added-sugar; check the exact label.
No-added-sugar squash options on Joybuy
These concentrate options suit the squash side of a road-trip drinks plan. Compare their bottle sizes and flavours, then check each label for mixing and storage directions before packing.
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Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Concentrate 1.5L
The 1.5L bottle is an option when you expect to mix drinks for several travellers. Follow its dilution directions and check the label for sulphites and opened-bottle storage instructions.
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Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar Squash 1L
A 1L orange squash for mixing drinks during the journey. Check the pack’s dilution directions, ingredient declaration and any age-related instructions before serving.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit No Added Sugar Squash 850ml
The 850ml bottle is a smaller format if you want a pineapple and passion fruit flavour. Check how to dilute it, and compare nutrition only with figures given on the same preparation basis.
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Robinsons Real Fruit Lemon Juice No Added Sugar Squash 1L
A 1L lemon squash option for travellers choosing by flavour. Read the current bottle for its sweeteners, sulphite declaration, dilution directions and opened-bottle storage.
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Robinsons Summer Fruits No Added Sugar Squash 1L
This 1L option offers a summer fruits flavour for drinks mixed on the trip. Check the pack for its dilution ratio, ingredients and instructions for storing it after opening.
Road-trip cordial questions
Does “no added sugar” mean a cordial contains no sugars?
No. Waitrose describes Vimto No Added Sugar Squash as containing naturally occurring fruit sugars. Read the sugars figure and ingredient list if the distinction matters to your choice.
Should I pack cordial instead of water?
Pack water as the main drink and use diluted cordial as a flavour option. The NHS identifies water as a hydration choice; having it accessible also means you need not mix a flavoured drink at every stop.
What if a traveller needs to avoid sulphites?
Check the exact bottle’s current ingredients and allergen declaration before buying or serving it. The Food Standards Agency identifies sulphites as a possible risk for people with sensitivity, so do not assume that two no-added-sugar cordials have the same formulation.
How do I compare sugars between two concentrates?
Compare figures stated for the same amount of prepared drink, using each bottle’s dilution directions. A value for undiluted concentrate is not directly comparable with a value for a diluted serving.
Can a no-added-sugar fruit drink still be acidic?
Yes. Norfolk and Suffolk NHS guidance notes that many fruit drinks, including sugar-free ones, are acidic and can erode enamel. Keep water available rather than sipping flavoured drinks continuously throughout the journey.