Hosts comparing sugars per glass
If you are making a jug for a long game, compare the prepared drinks rather than assuming every fruit squash has the same sugars or energy. A no-added-sugar claim does not mean the finished drink contains no sugars.
Who is this for?
Groups with different ingredient needs
One shared jug may not suit everyone. Check the current bottle for sweeteners, sulphites and any other ingredients relevant to your guests, and leave water available as an alternative.
Households making several rounds of drinks
If the bottle will be used throughout the evening or afterwards, compare the stated dilution and prepared servings. Bottle size alone does not show how many drinks it makes.
What should you check?
Choose what to put on the table first; then compare squash labels using the same prepared-drink basis.
No-added-sugar squash
Choose when: You want a flavoured jug and are comparing sugars and energy in the diluted drink.
Bear in mind: Fruit can contribute naturally occurring sugars, and ingredients such as sweeteners or sulphites may matter to guests.
Higher-juice squash
Choose when: A stated higher fruit-juice content is important to your group.
Bear in mind: No added sugar does not establish the sugars per prepared glass; read the nutrition panel.
Water alongside squash
Choose when: Guests need an unflavoured option or would rather avoid the squash’s ingredients.
Bear in mind: Guests who want a flavoured drink will need a separate option. The NHS describes water as a hydration choice and says lower-sugar or sugar-free drinks can also count towards fluid intake.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared-drink nutrition | Check sugars and energy per diluted serving, preferably on the same 250ml basis. Check whether any figure instead describes undiluted concentrate. | I want to know what is in the glass I will actually pour, not just whether the front label says no added sugar. |
| Fruit content | Read the stated fruit-juice percentage alongside sugars in the prepared drink. A no-added-sugar claim does not rule out naturally occurring sugars. | Fruit content matters to our group, but I do not want to assume a higher-juice bottle has the same sugars per glass as another squash. |
| Dilution and servings | Follow each bottle’s concentrate-to-water directions and compare stated prepared servings. Waitrose & Partners lists 1 part squash to 9 parts water and 60 servings for Essential Summer Fruits. | We may refill the jug during the game, so I need to know how to mix it and how far the bottle goes at its stated dilution. |
| Ingredients and warnings | Read the current ingredient and allergen information for sweeteners and sulphites; check for a phenylalanine warning where a product contains aspartame. | Before making one jug for everyone, I need to know whether any guest should choose a different drink. |
| After-opening use | Check the bottle’s storage instructions and period after opening, especially if much of a large bottle will remain after the game. | If we only use squash occasionally, I want a bottle we can use according to its pack instructions after game night. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
Fruit ingredients can contribute naturally occurring sugars even when no sugar has been added.
Check the sugars figure for the prepared drink and compare equal serving sizes, rather than relying on the front-of-pack wording.
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Pouring concentrate by eye
A stronger mix changes what is in each glass and uses the bottle more quickly. Dilution instructions also differ between products.
Measure the first jug using the current pack directions, then let guests add water to their own glasses if they prefer a weaker drink.
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Assuming one bottle suits every guest
Ingredients and warnings differ between squashes. For example, Waitrose & Partners lists aspartame, sodium bisulphite and a phenylalanine warning for Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar.
Keep the bottle available for guests to read, ask about relevant ingredient needs before mixing a shared jug, and offer water separately.
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Ignoring storage after opening
Post-opening instructions are product-specific. Waitrose & Partners lists refrigeration and use within 21 days for its Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar listing.
Choose a bottle size that fits how often you expect to use it, and follow the instructions on the bottle you buy.
A partly used bottle may be wasted if it is not finished within its stated period after opening.
Brand and product-line references
These examples illustrate label details worth comparing; a brand name alone does not establish the nutrition or ingredients of every flavour.
Robinsons
Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar is a single-strength squash example for a diluted games-night jug.
- Waitrose & Partners lists 3 kcal per diluted glass, a 1:4 dilution and 20 servings for its Orange No Added Sugar bottle.
- Check the current ingredients and warnings before serving it to guests with specific dietary requirements.
Tesco
Tesco lists a 1.5L Quadruple Strength Tropical Squash No Added Sugar for shoppers considering a concentrated own-label format.
- The stated quadruple-strength format makes its dilution instructions important when planning a jug.
- Tesco advises checking the physical label because recipes, nutrition and allergen information can change.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a Quadruple Strength Blackcurrant Squash with no added sugar.
- Its listing states 35% fruit juice from concentrate, 120 servings, 3 kcal and less than 0.5g sugars per prepared 250ml serving.
- Check its sweeteners and allergen information against the needs of everyone sharing the jug.
Asda
Asda Summer Fruits Squash is a 1.5L own-label no-added-sugar option.
- ASDA Groceries lists 4 kcal per 250ml serving diluted as directed.
- Its listed ingredients include acesulfame K, sucralose and sodium metabisulphite; check the current bottle before serving.
M&S
M&S Pink Grapefruit High Juice provides a higher-fruit example rather than a basis for judging every M&S squash.
- Marks & Spencer describes this product as containing 50% fruit juice with no added sugar.
- Compare its prepared-drink nutrition with any lower-juice squash you are considering; fruit percentage is not a sugars figure.
Waitrose
Waitrose Essential No Added Sugar Summer Fruits is a double-strength own-label squash example.
- Waitrose & Partners lists 4 kcal, 0.5g sugars per prepared 250ml serving and 60 servings per bottle.
- Its suggested dilution is 1 part squash to 9 parts water; use that basis when comparing servings or prepared-drink nutrition.
Squash options on Joybuy
These no-added-sugar squash options offer orange, blackcurrant and tropical fruit flavours for a shared jug. Check each current bottle for prepared-drink nutrition, dilution and ingredients before choosing for your group.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
An orange squash to dilute for a shared jug. The Joybuy product description states 3 kcal per diluted 250ml glass; Waitrose & Partners lists a 1:4 dilution for Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar. Follow the current bottle’s instructions if they differ, and check its ingredients for guests with relevant dietary needs.
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Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Squash 1.5L
A 1.5L blackcurrant concentrate for making several rounds of drinks. Check the current pack’s dilution instructions and nutrition for the prepared drink before comparing it with other squash. Its listed ingredients include sweeteners and sodium bisulphite, so read the label for guests with relevant dietary requirements.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit No Added Sugar Squash 850ml
An 850ml no-added-sugar concentrate for guests who prefer a pineapple and passion fruit flavour. Check the current pack for dilution directions and prepared-drink nutrition before comparing glasses. Also read its sulphite and phenylalanine warnings where relevant to your guests.
Frequently asked questions
Does no added sugar mean squash contains no sugars?
No. A no-added-sugar claim does not rule out naturally occurring sugars from fruit ingredients. Check the sugars line for the prepared drink if sugars per glass affect your choice.
How can I compare two bottles that use different dilutions?
Compare their nutrition on the same prepared-drink basis, such as a diluted 250ml glass, and follow each bottle’s mixing instructions. Check stated prepared servings separately; comparing bottle sizes or undiluted concentrate figures alone can mislead.
What should I check before making one jug for everyone?
Check the current ingredients and warnings for anything relevant to your guests, including sulphites and any aspartame-related phenylalanine warning. Keep the bottle available so guests can read it themselves, and offer water separately.
How long can I keep squash after opening?
Follow the instructions on the particular bottle, as storage periods differ. For example, Waitrose & Partners lists refrigeration and use within 21 days of opening for Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar.
Do I need squash on the table throughout game night?
No. The NHS describes water as a hydration choice and says lower-sugar or sugar-free drinks can also count towards fluid intake. A water jug alongside optional diluted squash lets guests choose.