If reducing sugar is the priority, compare squashes by the sugars in a prepared serving: no added sugar does not necessarily mean zero sugars, and a high-juice squash may contain added sugar. For a road trip, a concentrate is practical when you can carry drinking water and follow its dilution instructions; check the pack for sweeteners, sulphites and any instructions for children.
Compare sugars and energy in the drink after dilution, rather than relying on “no added sugar” or “high juice” on the front of the bottle. Tesco Groceries lists 0g sugars and 5 kcal per prepared 250ml serving for one Robinsons Double Strength squash; Sainsbury's lists 2.0g sugars per prepared 250ml serving for its no-added-sugar Pink Grapefruit High Juice.
A concentrate can make several drinks if you bring water and follow the particular bottle's mixing instructions. Check instructions for children too: Marks & Spencer says its Orange Squash is not suitable for babies and should be diluted further for older children.
A mini concentrate is an option when bottle size matters. The 66ml Robinsons Mini listed by Waitrose & Partners must be mixed with water; its label says not to drink it undiluted or refill its bottle.
Start with the nutrition values for the prepared drink, then check what you will need to carry and how the squash must be mixed.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared-drink sugars | Compare sugars and energy for the same prepared volume, using each bottle's stated dilution. Tesco Groceries lists 0g sugars and 5 kcal per prepared 250ml for Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits; Sainsbury's lists 2.0g sugars per prepared 250ml for its no-added-sugar Pink Grapefruit High Juice and 18.4g for its sweetened Summer Fruits High Juice. | I want a flavoured drink with less sugar alongside road-trip snacks. A no-added-sugar claim alone will not tell me the sugars in the drink I mix. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredient list for added sugar, syrups, particular sweeteners and sulphites. Check the individual product's warnings if an ingredient matters to a passenger. | Someone travelling with me needs to avoid a particular ingredient, so I need to check the actual pack rather than assume all no-added-sugar squashes use the same recipe. |
| Bottle and dilution | Check bottle size, the mixing ratio and whether you can carry enough drinking water. Tesco Groceries states that its listed 1L Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits makes 40 servings when diluted 1 part concentrate to 9 parts water; Waitrose & Partners lists a 66ml Robinsons Mini with a warning not to drink it undiluted. | Space in the bag is limited, but I still need water and a container in which to mix the drink at a stop. |
| Children's instructions | Check the chosen bottle for age-related warnings and any instruction to add extra water. Marks & Spencer gives both instructions for its Orange Squash: it is not suitable for babies, and older children should have it with extra water. | I'm packing drinks for children and need to follow the instructions for the exact squash I buy. |
Fruit juice can contribute sugars to a no-added-sugar squash. Sainsbury's lists 2.0g sugars per prepared 250ml serving for its Pink Grapefruit High Juice, while Tesco Groceries lists 0g for the same prepared volume of its Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits.
Compare the sugars line for a prepared serving at the dilution stated on each bottle.
Fruit content does not establish whether sugar has been added. Sainsbury's lists sugar and glucose-fructose syrup in its Summer Fruits High Juice, alongside 18.4g sugars per prepared 250ml serving.
If reducing sugar is your aim, read both the ingredient list and the prepared-drink nutrition panel.
Squash nutrition values are stated for a particular mixing method, and some small formats carry an explicit warning against drinking them undiluted. Waitrose & Partners lists that warning for Robinsons Mini.
Bring drinking water, follow the ratio on your bottle and mix the drink while stopped.
Recipes and ingredient information can change, which matters when checking sweeteners, sulphites or instructions for children.
Before setting off, read the pack's ingredients, warnings, dilution instructions, date marking and any storage instructions.
These product examples show why the prepared-drink panel and the instructions on the chosen bottle matter more than the brand name alone.
Robinsons has no-added-sugar squash in larger bottles and a mini concentrate format.
Tesco Groceries lists own-label no-added-sugar squash, including quadruple-strength varieties.
Sainsbury's lists both no-added-sugar and sweetened high-juice squashes.
Marks & Spencer lists a no-added-sugar Orange Squash and a no-added-sugar Lemon and Lime High Juice.
Waitrose & Partners lists an Essential No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash in a larger double-strength bottle.
These no-added-sugar concentrates are options for mixing with water during a road-trip stop. Compare the current packs for dilution instructions, ingredients and sugars in the prepared drink.
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This 1L orange squash is a concentrate to mix with water at a stop, not to drink undiluted.
Check the pack for its dilution instructions and sugars per prepared serving. The product information calls for extra water when serving it to toddlers; check the current ingredients if sweeteners or sulphites matter to you.
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This 1.5L blackcurrant concentrate is an option when you have water available to mix drinks during the journey.
Check the pack's mixing instructions and nutrition for the prepared drink. The product information advises against serving it to children under 3 and lists sweeteners and sodium bisulphite.
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This 850ml pineapple and passion fruit concentrate offers a different flavour to mix with water at a stop.
Follow the dilution instructions on the pack and compare its sugars per prepared serving. Check the current ingredients if aspartame or sulphites matter to a traveller.
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This 1L summer fruits concentrate can be mixed with water for drinks during a journey.
Use the current pack's dilution instructions and prepared-serving nutrition for sugar or energy comparisons. Check its ingredients for sweeteners and sulphites, and follow any instructions for children.
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This 1L lemon squash is a no-added-sugar concentrate for mixing with water at a stop.
Check the current pack's sweetener ingredients, dilution instructions and sugars and energy per prepared serving before comparing it with another variety.
No. Sugars from fruit can remain even when no sugar has been added. Sainsbury's lists 2.0g sugars per prepared 250ml serving for its no-added-sugar Pink Grapefruit High Juice; check the prepared-drink nutrition panel for the bottle you choose.
Bring drinking water and a suitable container for mixing, then use the ratio on your bottle while stopped. Tesco Groceries specifies 1 part Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits to 9 parts water; Sainsbury's gives 1 part Ribena No Added Sugar Summer Fruits to 4 parts water for that different product.
No. The Robinsons Mini No Added Sugar Summer Fruits listed by Waitrose & Partners says not to drink it undiluted and not to refill the bottle. Mix the concentrate with water according to its label.
Read the ingredient and allergen information on the current pack before packing the drink. For example, Sainsbury's lists aspartame and sodium bisulphite for its Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar squash, but ingredients should be checked for the exact product being bought.
Follow the instructions for the particular product rather than treating all no-added-sugar squashes alike. Marks & Spencer says its Orange Squash is not suitable for babies and should be mixed with extra water if given to older children.