People swapping a sugary TV-night drink
A no-added-sugar cordial or squash offers a fruit-flavoured alternative. Check sugars in the drink as prepared: the claim does not mean the finished glass contains none.
Who is this choice for?
The useful starting point is whether you want a flavoured concentrate at all, then which label details matter for the drinks you make at home.
Shoppers who check sweeteners
If you have an ingredient preference, read the list on the exact bottle. No-added-sugar concentrates can contain sweeteners, and their ingredients differ.
Households making drinks from concentrate
Dilution instructions help you make each glass consistently. Storage and use-within directions also matter if a bottle will be opened only occasionally.
What should you check before buying?
Pick the drink type and flavour you want, then compare labels using the same prepared-drink basis.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars as served | Check the no-added-sugar claim on the exact bottle, then read sugars per 100ml or per serving as prepared. Use the same dilution basis when comparing drinks. | I want a fruit-flavoured option without mistaking “no added sugar” for “sugar-free”. The Advertising Standards Authority and Committee of Advertising Practice explain that the claim concerns sugars or foods used for sweetening that have been added; fruit ingredients can still contribute sugars. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredient list for sweeteners and any ingredients you wish to avoid. Do not assume products with the same front-of-pack claim have the same recipe. | Knowing which sweeteners are in my drink matters more to me than choosing by the sugar claim alone. |
| Dilution and storage | Follow the bottle’s mixing directions. Check whether nutrition is stated for concentrate or the diluted drink, along with refrigeration and use-within instructions. | I want to make a glass at the strength I prefer and choose a bottle I can use according to its storage directions. |
| Flavour or water | Decide whether a fruit-flavoured concentrate suits the evening or whether you would rather have water. If choosing a concentrate, check the specific flavour and range. | Some evenings I want a flavoured drink with snacks; on others, I would rather skip flavour and sweeteners altogether. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Reading “no added sugar” as “no sugar”
Fruit ingredients can contribute naturally occurring sugars to a no-added-sugar drink. The front-of-pack wording alone will not tell you the sugars in your glass.
Compare the sugars line for drinks prepared according to their respective dilution instructions. Waitrose & Partners lists 1.1g sugars per 100ml diluted 1:6 for its Belvoir Cherries & Berries no-added-sugar cordial listing.
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Assuming every cordial from one brand has the same claim
Robinsons distinguishes its core squash range from its classic Barley Waters and Fruit Cordials, which the brand says contain added sugar.
Check the full name and claim on the bottle you intend to buy, not just the brand or the shelf category.
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Overlooking the ingredient list
A no-added-sugar claim does not identify which sweeteners or other ingredients a particular drink contains.
Read the exact product’s ingredients if sweeteners, preservatives or other listed ingredients affect your choice.
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Choosing by bottle size alone
Concentrates can have different mixing and post-opening instructions, so bottles of similar size need not fit the same pattern of use.
Check the stated dilution ratio and storage directions, particularly if you make these drinks only on occasional TV nights.
Which brands and ranges are relevant?
These brand and retailer examples show why the exact range matters; a brand name alone does not establish a no-added-sugar claim.
Robinsons
Robinsons says it removed added sugars from its core squash range.
- Its core squash range includes familiar fruit flavours such as orange.
- The brand says its classic Barley Waters and Fruit Cordials contain added sugar; check the particular range.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label no-added-sugar quadruple-strength squash in several flavours.
- Listed flavours include lemon, apple & blackcurrant, cherries & berries, summer fruits and orange.
- Check the chosen bottle’s ingredients and preparation directions rather than assuming the flavours share a recipe.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a Lime Cordial No Added Sugar 1L.
- This is a named cordial option rather than a general squash-category claim.
- Read its bottle label for ingredients, nutrition and dilution before comparing it with another drink.
Asda
Asda identifies a No Added Sugar 50% Fruit Apple & Elderflower High Juice product.
- It offers a named high-juice route for shoppers considering fruit-flavoured concentrates.
- High juice and cordial are different product descriptions; check the exact label against the type of drink you want.
M&S
M&S describes its cordials as drinks to dilute with still or sparkling water.
- Its cordial range offers a route for considering different fruit and botanical flavours.
- Check the exact bottle for a no-added-sugar claim before treating it as an option for this particular choice.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists own-label no-added-sugar high juice alongside branded no-added-sugar squash.
- Its listings include a Belvoir Cherries & Berries no-added-sugar cordial with nutrition stated for the diluted drink.
- Compare the details on individual products: high juice, squash and cordial labels do not by themselves establish matching ingredients or dilution.
No-added-sugar squash options on Joybuy
These are fruit-flavoured concentrates for making drinks at home, chiefly squash options. Check each bottle’s claim, ingredients and preparation directions before choosing one for TV nights.
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Ribena Concentrate Blackcurrant 850ml
An 850ml blackcurrant concentrate to consider if you want to mix drinks at home. Check the bottle for its no-added-sugar claim, ingredients, dilution directions and sugars as served.
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Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar 1.5L
A 1.5L no-added-sugar blackcurrant concentrate for home dilution. Follow its mixing and storage instructions, and compare sugars using the prepared-drink values on the pack.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit Squash No Added Sugar 850ml
An 850ml pineapple and passion fruit option if you prefer those flavours to blackcurrant. Check the pack’s dilution directions and prepared-drink sugars when comparing it with another squash.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Squash Orange 1L
A 1L orange squash for making fruit-flavoured drinks at home. Read its ingredient list and follow the pack’s dilution instructions when using its prepared-drink nutrition values.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Squash Summer Fruits 1L
A 1L summer-fruits alternative to the orange squash. Check the bottle for its mixing, storage and sugars-as-served information if you plan to keep it open across several TV nights.
Questions about cordial and squash
Does “no added sugar” mean there is no sugar in the drink?
No. The Advertising Standards Authority and Committee of Advertising Practice explain that the claim concerns sugars or foods used for sweetening that have been added. Fruit ingredients can still contribute sugars, so check the nutrition panel for the drink as prepared.
Is no-added-sugar squash an option instead of a sugary TV-night drink?
Yes, if you want a flavoured replacement. The NHS identifies no-added-sugar drinks as an option when swapping sugary drinks; water is also an option when you do not want flavour.
How do I compare two concentrates fairly?
Compare sugars and other nutrition information on the same prepared-drink basis, then check each product’s dilution directions and ingredients. A value for undiluted concentrate is not directly comparable with one for a diluted glass.
Do no-added-sugar cordials and squashes contain sweeteners?
Some do. Read the exact ingredient list if a particular sweetener matters to you; the no-added-sugar wording does not identify which sweeteners a drink uses.
What should I do with a bottle after opening?
Follow that bottle’s refrigeration and use-within instructions. These directions can differ between concentrates, so check them before choosing a larger bottle for occasional use.