Hosts serving ready-to-pour juice
Chilled, smooth 100% orange juice needs no dilution. For a larger table, Tesco Groceries lists nine 150ml servings in Innocent’s 1.35L bottle; Sainsbury’s lists about 11 in its 1.75L carton.
Who is each drink for?
The useful starting point is whether guests expect orange juice poured straight from a carton or a squash mixed with water.
Shoppers avoiding added sugar
Check the sugars figure as well as the no-added-sugar wording: pure orange juice still contains fruit sugars. For serving size, the NHS advises a combined daily limit of 150ml for juice and smoothies.
Hosts considering a diluted drink
Orange squash may fit a table where guests are happy to mix their drink with water. ASDA’s no-added-sugar high-juice squash contains sweeteners and sulphites, so check the ingredients if either matters to your guests.
What should you check before buying?
Decide on the drink type first, then compare the amount in a glass and whether the pack suits your table and fridge.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Drink type | Check whether the label says 100% orange juice or squash. Squash needs diluting; ASDA directs one part of its high-juice squash to four parts water. | If I want to pour drinks straight into glasses, I’ll choose juice. If guests are happy to mix a squash, I’ll check its dilution instructions and ingredients. |
| Sugars | Read the sugars figure and its serving size. Tesco lists 15g per 150ml for its 100% Pure Orange Juice; Sainsbury’s lists 11.4g per 150ml for its 100% Pure Squeezed Smooth Orange Juice. ASDA lists 2.5g per prepared 250ml serving for its squash, a different drink and serving size. | “No added sugar” matters to me, but I also want to know how much sugar is in the glass. The NHS advises limiting juice and smoothies to 150ml a day combined. |
| Pack size | Estimate the number of 150ml juice servings. Tesco Groceries lists six for Tropicana 900ml and nine for Innocent 1.35L; Sainsbury’s lists about 11 for its 1.75L carton. | For a small table, I’d rather open a pack I can finish. For more guests, I need enough servings without assuming everyone wants a refill. |
| Storage | Check the refrigeration instructions and the period for use after opening on the particular pack. The listed chilled juices give different periods, from three to five days. | If brunch leaves juice in the fridge, I need a carton size that fits when we can use the remainder. |
Common brunch-buying mistakes
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Reading “no added sugar” as “no sugar”
Pure orange juice can contain sugars without any being added. Tesco lists 15g sugars in a 150ml serving of its 100% Pure Orange Juice, while Sainsbury’s lists 11.4g for the same serving size of its pure squeezed juice.
Check sugars per serving rather than relying on the front-of-pack claim. The NHS advises a combined daily limit of 150ml for fruit juice and smoothies.
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Bringing squash when guests expect juice
ASDA’s no-added-sugar orange high-juice squash is a drink to dilute, not ready-to-pour 100% orange juice. It also contains sweeteners and sulphites.
Choose the drink type before choosing the flavour. If you serve that squash, provide water and follow its one-part-squash-to-four-parts-water directions.
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Choosing a carton by size alone
A larger carton can leave more juice after a small brunch. The listed chilled juices have different instructions for how soon to use them once opened.
Estimate the number of 150ml glasses, then check the chosen pack’s refrigeration and after-opening instructions.
Juice left beyond the pack’s stated period may go unused.
Brand and product-line references
These examples illustrate different packs and drink types; check the label of the specific product you pick.
Tropicana
Tesco Groceries lists a 900ml smooth, chilled orange juice described as 100% pure pressed and not from concentrate.
- The pack lists six 150ml servings and no added sugar.
- It lists 13g sugars per 150ml; refrigerate and use within five days after opening.
Innocent
Tesco Groceries lists a 1.35L smooth orange juice bottle with nine 150ml servings.
- The product is described as 100% fruit juice with no sugar added.
- It lists 12g sugars per 150ml; keep refrigerated at 0–8°C and use within four days after opening.
Tesco
Tesco’s 1L 100% Pure Orange Juice is a smooth, chilled, ready-to-pour option.
- Tesco describes this juice as never from concentrate, with nothing added.
- It lists 15g sugars per 150ml and says to use it within three days after opening.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists a 1.75L smooth, 100% squeezed orange juice carton with about 11 servings.
- Orange juice is the listed ingredient, and the juice is described as not from concentrate.
- It lists 11.4g sugars per 150ml; refrigerate and use within five days after opening.
Asda
ASDA’s no-added-sugar orange high-juice squash is a diluted-drink option, not a 100% juice equivalent.
- ASDA lists 2.5g sugars per prepared 250ml serving when the product is diluted as directed.
- Mix one part squash with four parts water; the product contains sweeteners and sulphites.
M&S
M&S describes its 1L smooth orange juice as squeezed from oranges with nothing else added.
- It is a ready-to-pour pure squeezed juice option.
- Keep refrigerated at 0–5°C and use within four days after opening; its nutrition figure is given per 100g, so check the label before comparing it with figures per 150ml.
Joybuy product options
The Joybuy option here is an orange squash to dilute for brunch, rather than a ready-to-pour 100% orange juice.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
For a brunch where guests are happy with a diluted drink instead of pure juice. This 1L orange squash contains acesulfame K, sucralose and sulphites; do not serve it undiluted. Check the pack for its dilution directions and sugars per prepared serving. The product information says it is not suitable for children under 36 months.
Questions about juice and squash
Does “no added sugar” mean orange juice is sugar-free?
No. For example, Tesco Groceries lists no added sugar for Tropicana Smooth Orange Juice, but its nutrition information gives 13g sugars per 150ml serving. Check the sugars figure on the pack as well as the claim.
How much orange juice should I plan for each brunch guest?
A 150ml glass is a useful planning measure: the NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to a combined 150ml a day. Multiply that serving size by the number of guests who want juice, then check the carton’s stated servings.
Is no-added-sugar orange squash the same as orange juice?
No. ASDA labels its product as orange high-juice squash with sweeteners and directs mixing one part squash with four parts water. It is not a ready-to-pour 100% orange juice; check its ingredients if guests avoid sweeteners or sulphites.
How long can I keep orange juice after brunch?
Follow the particular pack’s refrigeration and after-opening instructions. Tesco states three days for its 1L pure juice; the listed Innocent and M&S products state four days, while the listed Tropicana and Sainsbury’s products state five days.