Hosts serving a group
Squash and sparkling water let you mix drinks at different strengths. Plan for enough chilled water as well as the concentrate, particularly if you are serving both children and adults.
Who is each option for?
Picnic guests who prefer cordial
A cordial specifically suggested for sparkling-water dilution may suit guests who want that style of fruit drink. Check its dilution directions, prepared-drink nutrition, ingredients and storage instructions before choosing it for the group.
Shoppers who want to serve drinks immediately
Ready-to-drink sparkling fruit drinks remove the measuring and mixing step. Consider the number of bottles or cans you will carry and check each drink’s label rather than assuming similar-looking options have the same ingredients.
What should you check before choosing?
Decide whether you are willing to mix drinks at the picnic, then compare labels and the practicalities of carrying and storing your choice.
Squash with sparkling water
Choose it when: You want to adjust the strength of individual drinks for a group.
Allow for: Separate chilled sparkling water and time to mix each drink.
Cordial with sparkling water
Choose it when: You want a cordial drink and can follow the selected bottle’s dilution directions.
Allow for: The water needed to mix it and any instructions for storing the opened bottle.
Ready-to-drink sparkling fruit drink
Choose it when: Serving without measuring or mixing matters most.
Allow for: Carrying the individual bottles or cans needed for your guests.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sparkle and serving | Check whether the drink is ready to serve or must be diluted. If mixing squash or cordial, check that the selected product can be paired with sparkling water and follow its directions. | I want a fizzy drink at the picnic without assuming the squash bottle itself is carbonated. |
| Sugars and strength | Compare the nutrition information for a prepared serving, using the stated dilution ratio where applicable. Check the specific bottle’s ingredients as well as any no-added-sugar wording. | I may want to make drinks at different strengths, or compare the sugars in the drinks I am serving. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current pack’s ingredient and allergen information for the exact drink. Do not rely on a flavour or fruit description to establish suitability. | If a guest has an allergy or intolerance, I need to check the drink they will actually be served. |
| Transport and leftovers | Count the water, bottles or cans you will need to carry. Check whether an opened drink needs refrigeration and when it must be used. | I want enough to serve at the picnic without overlooking what happens to an opened bottle afterwards. |
What can catch picnic shoppers out?
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Assuming the squash bottle contains the fizz
Squash and cordial are concentrates; a sparkling serve needs sparkling water added separately.
Check the selected product’s mixing directions, bring chilled sparkling water and mix close to serving.
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Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
The phrases do not give the same information about a prepared drink’s total sugars.
Check the current nutrition panel and the dilution directions for the exact product rather than relying on the front-of-pack wording alone.
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Overlooking ingredients in a fruit drink
A fruit description does not establish whether a drink is suitable for someone with an allergy or intolerance. Asda notes that product and allergy information can change.
Read the current physical pack before serving, particularly when a guest needs to avoid an ingredient.
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Forgetting about the opened bottle
Storage instructions matter if some cordial will remain after the picnic.
Check the selected bottle’s refrigeration and use-after-opening directions, and plan how you will follow them.
An opened bottle that cannot be stored as directed may leave you with unused drink.
Which brands and retailers are relevant?
These are references for comparing drink types and labels, not a list of products available in the Joybuy selection below.
Robinsons
Robinsons describes its core squash range as having no added sugar; Sainsbury’s lists a Double Strength Summer Fruits variant.
- A summer-fruit squash is an option for mixing drinks at the picnic.
- Bring sparkling water separately for a fizzy serve, and check the chosen bottle’s ingredients and dilution directions.
M&S
M&S suggests pairing its squash with still or sparkling water and also presents ready-to-drink pressé-style options.
- The two drink types offer a choice between mixing and serving immediately.
- Check the individual drink’s label; squash and a ready-to-drink option are not interchangeable formats.
Waitrose
Waitrose suggests serving its No.1 Raspberry & Pomegranate Cordial with ice and sparkling water.
- The named cordial has directions for a sparkling-water serve.
- Check its dilution, sugars, ingredients and post-opening storage instructions before buying it for guests.
Tesco
Tesco’s summer-fruit and berry squash listings provide a place to compare squash formats and labels.
- Compare the exact bottles’ ingredients, pack sizes and dilution directions.
- A squash listing does not mean the drink is carbonated or ready to serve.
Asda
Asda lists squash and cordial options and cautions that product, ingredient and allergy information can change.
- Its listings can help identify drink types to compare before a picnic.
- Use the current product pack when checking ingredients or allergens for a guest.
Ready-to-drink options on Joybuy
These sparkling drinks represent the serve-without-mixing choice for a summer picnic. If you prefer squash or cordial, plan separately for the sparkling water and mixing directions those concentrates require.
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Tango Sugar Free Apple 8 × 330ml
An apple-flavoured fizzy drink in individual cans for serving without dilution at the picnic. Check the current pack for sweeteners and handling directions for the pressurised cans.
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Tango Cherry Sugar Free 8 × 330ml
A cherry-flavoured fizzy drink in individual cans, with no mixing step at the picnic. Check the current ingredients for sweeteners and handle the pressurised cans according to the pack directions.
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De Vina Sparkling Peach 750ml
A bottled sparkling peach drink for serving without diluting a concentrate. Check its sugars and sulphite information for your guests, and follow the pack’s directions for storing any drink left after opening.
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Appletiser 100% Apple Juice Lightly Sparkling 6 × 250ml
A lightly sparkling apple juice in individual servings, ready to drink without mixing. Check the sugars per serving and the current pack instructions if you expect to keep any drink after opening.
Picnic drink questions
Is squash sparkling straight from the bottle?
Squash is a concentrate rather than a ready-made fizzy drink. M&S suggests pairing squash with sparkling water; check the selected bottle’s dilution directions and bring the water separately.
Does “no added sugar” mean a squash is sugar-free?
No: do not treat those descriptions as interchangeable. Robinsons describes its core squash range as having no added sugar, but check the exact bottle’s ingredients and nutrition information if its total sugars matter to your choice.
How much cordial should I add to sparkling water?
Follow the directions on the cordial you buy. Waitrose gives a one-part-cordial to four-parts-water suggestion for its No.1 Raspberry & Pomegranate Cordial; another bottle may have different directions.
What if a picnic guest has an allergy or intolerance?
Check the current physical pack’s ingredients and allergen information for the exact drink before serving it. The Waitrose raspberry and pomegranate cordial is identified as containing sulphites, and Asda cautions that product and allergy information can change.
Can I keep an opened cordial after the picnic?
Follow that cordial’s storage and use-after-opening instructions. The Waitrose No.1 Raspberry & Pomegranate Cordial has a refrigeration instruction after opening; do not assume every squash or cordial has the same requirements.