Hosts making a jug for several players
Look for a clear dilution ratio and enough stated servings for refills. Tesco Groceries lists 50 servings from its 750ml Quadruple Strength Lime squash when mixed at one part concentrate to 19 parts water.
Who is this for?
Hosts serving a citrus drink with still or sparkling water
A cordial may suit a smaller gathering where lemon and lime flavour matters more than making a large number of glasses. Tesco Groceries lists Belvoir’s 500ml no-added-sugar cordial at 14 servings, diluted one part cordial to six parts water.
Households checking ingredients for guests
Read the exact bottle’s sweetener and allergen information before mixing a shared drink. The NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with phenylketonuria (PKU); the Food Standards Agency notes a higher risk of reaction to sulphur dioxide for people with asthma.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the prepared drink: its dilution instructions, stated servings and nutrition are more useful for planning a game night than the concentrate’s bottle size alone.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars in the drink | Find sugars for the diluted serving and note its size. Check that products are mixed as directed before comparing their figures. | I want to know what is in the glass, not assume a no-added-sugar label means the drink contains no sugars. |
| Servings and dilution | Compare stated prepared servings and mixing ratios. Tesco Groceries lists 50 servings at 1:19 for Quadruple Strength Lime; its Belvoir lemon and lime listing states 14 at 1:6. | There may be several refills during the games, but I can also account for guests choosing another drink. |
| Sweeteners and sulphites | Read the current ingredients and allergen declaration. Check for aspartame or E951 if PKU is relevant, and for sulphites where a guest has a known sensitivity. | I need to know whether the bottle suits the people I’m serving, rather than assuming no-added-sugar products use the same ingredients. |
| Flavour and format | Choose the stated flavour and whether you want a cordial or a squash. Sainsbury’s lists 30% lime juice from concentrate in its no-added-sugar lime cordial; Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar is sold as squash. | A lime or citrus drink would suit still or sparkling water, while a familiar fruit squash may suit a jug for the table. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming every cordial has no added sugar
The product type does not establish its sugar claim. Robinsons says its classic Cordials are among its ranges with added sugar, even though much of its squash range has no added sugar.
Look for the claim on the exact bottle, then read its ingredients and prepared-drink nutrition.
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Planning drinks from bottle size alone
Concentrates have different dilution instructions. Tesco Groceries lists 50 servings for its 750ml Quadruple Strength Lime squash, while its Belvoir listing states 14 for the 500ml lemon and lime cordial.
Use the stated prepared servings to plan for players and possible refills.
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Overlooking the named sweetener or sulphites
No-added-sugar products do not all use the same ingredients. The NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with PKU, and the Food Standards Agency identifies sulphites as a possible concern for people with sensitivity.
Check guests’ known requirements where appropriate and read the current bottle before serving.
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Relying on an older online ingredient list
Tesco, Asda and Waitrose advise that product information can change, including ingredients or allergen details.
Use a listing to narrow your options, but make the final ingredient check against the bottle you buy.
Which brands are relevant?
These brand and retailer examples illustrate different drinks to check; a cordial range does not necessarily meet a no-added-sugar requirement.
Robinsons
Its no-added-sugar Orange Squash is a fruit-flavoured squash option, distinct from its classic Cordials.
- The Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar listing at Tesco Groceries gives a 1:9 dilution ratio.
- Robinsons says its classic Cordials have added sugar; check the specific product name and label rather than relying on the brand.
Tesco
Its own-label lime options include a no-added-sugar cordial and a quadruple-strength squash.
- Tesco Groceries lists 50 servings and a 1:19 dilution ratio for Quadruple Strength Lime No Added Sugar.
- Check the exact bottle’s sweeteners and sulphite declaration before serving guests with ingredient requirements.
Sainsbury’s
Its 1L Lime Cordial No Added Sugar is an own-label lime option.
- Sainsbury’s lists 30% fruit juice from concentrate and 20 servings for this product.
- Its ingredient list includes sucralose and sodium metabisulphite.
Asda
Its 1L Lime Cordial is labelled no added sugar.
- Asda suggests 20 servings from the bottle.
- The listing includes sucralose, saccharins and sodium metabisulphite; check the current pack.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists a No Added Sugar Lime Juice Cordial.
- Read the bottle for current ingredients, allergens and nutrition before deciding whether it suits your guests.
M&S
M&S lists cordials for dilution with still or sparkling water.
- Check an individual cordial’s label for a no-added-sugar claim before treating it as an option for this occasion.
No-added-sugar squash options at Joybuy
These Joybuy options are no-added-sugar squash concentrates in blackcurrant, orange, pineapple and passion fruit, and summer fruits flavours. Check each bottle’s dilution instructions and ingredients before mixing drinks for guests.
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Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Concentrate 1.5L
The 1.5L blackcurrant concentrate is an option when you are planning a jug and possible refills. Follow the bottle’s mixing instructions, and check the current label for aspartame and sulphites if either matters to a guest.
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Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar Squash 1L
This 1L orange squash suits a table where guests prefer that flavour to lime cordial. It is a squash rather than a Robinsons classic Cordial; check the bottle’s dilution, prepared-drink nutrition and current ingredient list.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit Squash No Added Sugar 850ml
The 850ml squash offers a pineapple and passion fruit flavour for a shared diluted drink. Read the current pack for its mixing instructions, sweeteners and sulphite declaration before serving.
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Robinsons Summer Fruits No Added Sugar Squash 1L
This 1L summer fruits squash is another flavour choice for a jug. Check the bottle for its dilution ratio and sugars in the prepared drink, as well as the sweeteners and sulphites listed for the exact product.
Frequently asked questions
Does no added sugar mean the drink contains no sugars?
No. Sugars naturally present in fruit ingredients can remain in a no-added-sugar drink. Read the nutrition information for the cordial or squash after dilution if the sugars in each glass matter to your choice.
How can I tell whether one bottle will cover game night?
Use the stated number of prepared servings, then allow for likely refills and guests choosing other drinks. Tesco Groceries lists 50 servings at a 1:19 dilution for its Quadruple Strength Lime squash, compared with 14 at 1:6 for the Belvoir lemon and lime cordial it sells.
Why compare nutrition after mixing the drink?
The concentrate and the drink in a glass are different strengths. Check whether a nutrition figure refers to concentrate or a diluted serving, and compare prepared drinks using their stated mixing instructions and serving sizes.
What if a guest has PKU or sulphite sensitivity?
Check the current bottle before serving and choose a product that avoids the ingredient relevant to that guest. The NHS says aspartame, also labelled E951, is unsuitable for people with PKU; the Food Standards Agency notes that sulphites can occur in soft drinks.
Is an online ingredients list enough to choose a bottle?
Use it to narrow the options, then read the bottle you buy. Tesco, Asda and Waitrose advise that product ingredients, nutrition or allergen information can change.