Households mixing fizzy drinks as needed
A squash concentrate lets you keep the squash and sparkling water separately, then mix a drink when wanted. Check the bottle’s dilution instructions before making repeated serves.
Who is each format for?
Regular no-added-sugar squash buyers
Look beyond the front-of-pack wording: check the exact variety’s sweeteners, allergens and nutrition information for the diluted drink.
Shoppers choosing by flavour format
Compare cordials or high-juice squash with standard squash if flavour character matters to you. Keep ready-to-drink pressés separate when comparing dilution and pantry use.
What should you check before stocking up?
Decide whether you want to mix a concentrate or open a finished sparkling drink, then compare the directions and ingredients on the bottles you are considering.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Drink format | M&S describes squash as suitable for pairing with sparkling water and its cordials as ready to dilute. A lightly sparkling pressé is already a finished drink. | I want to mix each drink to taste, or I would rather open one that is already sparkling. |
| Dilution and servings | Use the ratio and serving basis on the exact bottle. Tesco Groceries lists Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits 1.75L at 1 part concentrate to 9 parts water, with 70 stated servings. | If I am stocking squash for repeated serves, clear preparation instructions help me judge how I will use the bottle. |
| Ingredients | Check the exact variety’s added-sugar statement, sweeteners, allergens and nutrition values for the prepared drink. The Robinsons 1.75L variety listed by Tesco Groceries contains sweeteners and sulphites. | I may want no added sugar, but I still need to know which sweeteners or allergens are in the squash I choose. |
| Storage | Read the date mark and the unopened and after-opening storage directions on each bottle. GOV.UK explains that a best-before date concerns quality and that storage conditions can affect it. | Before buying several bottles, I want to know where they belong and how I will use them after opening. |
| Children’s drinks | Consider how often a sparkling drink would be served. Medway Community Healthcare’s dental guidance warns that acidic fizzy drinks, including sugar-free ones, can wear tooth surfaces. | If children will drink it regularly, I do not want to assume that no added sugar makes a fizzy serve tooth-neutral. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Treating squash, cordial and pressé as interchangeable
Squash and cordial are diluted to make a drink; a lightly sparkling pressé is ready to drink. Choosing by flavour alone could leave you with the wrong format for repeated mixed serves.
Decide whether you want to add sparkling water at serving time or open a finished drink, then check the individual product label.
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Assuming no added sugar settles the dental question
Medway Community Healthcare warns that acidic fizzy drinks, including sugar-free ones, can wear tooth surfaces. That consideration remains when no-added-sugar squash is mixed with sparkling water.
When stocking drinks for children, consider how frequently you plan to serve the fizzy version rather than treating it as an all-day drink.
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Skipping the dilution and ingredient information
Serving counts and nutrition information can depend on a specified dilution. Tesco Groceries lists the Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits 1.75L bottle at a 1:9 concentrate-to-water ratio and identifies sweeteners and sulphites.
Follow the exact bottle’s preparation directions, and read its ingredients and allergen information before stocking several of the same variety.
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Buying several bottles without checking storage directions
GOV.UK distinguishes best-before dates, which concern quality, from use-by dates, which concern safety, and notes that improper storage can affect quality before a best-before date.
Check date marks and each bottle’s storage and after-opening instructions before deciding how many to keep in the pantry.
Brand and retailer ranges to compare
Robinsons
A squash range that includes double-strength and no-added-sugar varieties.
- Tesco Groceries lists Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits 1.75L with a 1:9 dilution instruction and 70 stated servings.
- That specific variety contains sweeteners and sulphites; check other varieties individually rather than assuming their ingredients match.
Tesco
Its squash range includes own-brand quadruple-strength varieties.
- Tesco Groceries lists Quadruple Strength Orange Lemon & Pineapple 750ml and Quadruple Strength Apple Squash No Added Sugar 1.5L.
- Check each variety’s own dilution, ingredients and allergen information before comparing bottles.
M&S
Its drinks range distinguishes squash, cordials and lightly sparkling pressés.
- M&S says its squash can be paired with sparkling water and its cordials diluted with still or sparkling water.
- Its pressés are finished sparkling drinks, not concentrates to compare by dilution ratio.
Waitrose
Its squash range includes Essential no-added-sugar varieties and Waitrose high-juice options.
- Waitrose & Partners lists Essential No Added Sugar Apple & Blackcurrant and Orange squash in 1.5-litre bottles, alongside Apple & Elderflower No Added Sugar High Juice 1 litre.
- Check the individual bottle for dilution, ingredients and storage directions.
bottlegreen
bottlegreen describes its range as including cordials and lightly sparkling pressés.
- The two formats allow a choice between a drink to dilute and one that is already sparkling.
- Compare the particular cordial or pressé label; the formats do not have the same preparation needs.
Squash concentrates on Joybuy
These options are no-added-sugar squash concentrates for mixing at serving time. If you plan to add sparkling water, start with the preparation directions on the bottle.
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Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar 1.5L
A blackcurrant concentrate for drinks mixed as needed. Follow its dilution directions and check the label for sweeteners and sodium bisulphite. The product information says it is not recommended for children under 3.
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Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar Squash 1L
An orange squash to dilute when serving. Check the bottle’s dilution and after-opening storage directions; the product information identifies sweeteners and sulphites and says it is not suitable for children under 36 months.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit Squash No Added Sugar 850ml
A pineapple-and-passion-fruit squash for mixing rather than opening as a finished fizzy drink. Follow the bottle’s dilution directions. Its ingredient information identifies aspartame, acesulfame K and sulphites, and notes a source of phenylalanine.
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Robinsons Summer Fruits No Added Sugar Squash 1L
A summer-fruit squash to dilute at serving time. Check this 1L bottle’s own dilution and after-opening directions; its ingredient information identifies sweeteners and sulphites.
Questions about sparkling squash
Can you mix squash with sparkling water?
Yes. M&S says its squash can be paired with sparkling water and its cordials diluted with still or sparkling water. Start with the preparation directions on the bottle you choose rather than assuming every concentrate uses the same ratio.
What does double-strength squash offer for pantry stocking?
It provides a concentrate for repeated drinks mixed at serving time. For one specific example, Tesco Groceries lists Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits 1.75L with a 1:9 concentrate-to-water instruction and 70 stated servings; use the figures on your own bottle when planning serves.
Does no added sugar make sparkling squash tooth-neutral for children?
No. Medway Community Healthcare’s dental guidance warns that acidic fizzy drinks, including sugar-free ones, can wear tooth surfaces. Consider how frequently children would have squash mixed with sparkling water.
How should you store squash bought for the pantry?
Follow the date mark and storage directions on each bottle, including its instructions for after opening. GOV.UK explains that best-before dates concern quality and that unsuitable storage can affect quality before that date; do not assume different squash varieties share the same directions.