6 Best Cordial and Squash Drinks UK 2022 | Belvoir, Robinsons and More
Fixing yourself a cordial or squash then proceeding to sip that drink on a warm day in the sunshine is a delight of the highest order. These refreshing drinks bring about a certain British summertime charm that pleases the kids, grandparents and everyone in between.
Brands like Belvoir, Bottle Green and Robinsons are all set to quench your thirst with flavours of elderflower, ginger, summer fruits and lemon, many of which are sugar-free too. In this article, we examine everything squash and share the 6 most tantalising drinks from Amazon, Waitrose, Tesco and Asda to knock your fruit-drinking socks right off.
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Products or services listed have been independently ranked by the mybest Editorial Team based on the points mentioned in our thoroughly researched buying guide as of 16-01-2023.
How to Choose a Cordial and Squash Drink in the UK - Buying Guide
This simple buying guide aims to firstly shed some much-needed light on the age-old question: is it cordial or squash? After this confusion has been lifted, you'll be shown through the defining elements of the drink, ultimately landing you on your new favourite squash... or cordial.
① Is It Cordial or Squash That You're Desiring? There Is a Difference!
These two styles of concentrated fruit drink have become so closely related that, for the most part, they now represent the same thing. Here in the UK, it used to be that squash was produced in a thinner manner when compared to cordial, requiring less water dilution.
Cordial, on the other hand, has always been a thick fruit drink concentrate, typically requiring a higher amount of dilution before consuming. This is where the confusion runs rife as many brands use the two words interchangeably, all referring to a concentrated fruit drink that needs varying degrees of dilution before drinking.
With no legal naming requirements in the UK, it really comes down to each brand and whether they decide to call their product a cordial or squash. Therefore, it becomes more important to focus on what constitutes each branded cordial or squash through their ingredients and recommended water dilution.
② Look Into the Percentage of Real Fruit and the Diluting Advice
Two parts to the cordial and squash story that are held in high regard are the real fruit percentage and the diluting advice. Cordials with a higher concentration of fruit will typically require more dilution to hit the sweet tasting spot, but not always!
Scope Out the Real Fruit Percentage for an Idea on Quality
The real fruit percentage of cordial and squash is a good indicator of the quality and taste of each product. For the most part, this fruit is included in a concentrated form. However, owing to their high-end nature, a few market-leading brands include fresh and pressed fruit juice instead.
If a brand leaves the real fruit percentage off their ingredient list, then there's a good chance the cordial or squash will be lacking in real fruit. It's also sometimes believed that cordial has less real fruit than squash, but this myth has also been unequivocally squashed.
On the lower end of the scale, you'll find some with as little as 5-10% real fruit, while any drink with 20% or higher should have a truly fruity taste. Some brands up the fruit-ante even more, boasting 40-50%, resulting in a stronger recipe that may require a serious amount of diluting.
Make Sure You Check the Recommended Dilution
Although some people will have their own tried-and-tested opinions on the diluting levels for particular cordial and squash brands, it's still a good idea to get an idea of what each brand recommends.
This is another commonly misconstrued aspect to the great 'is it cordial or squash?' debate, with people passing down Chinese-whispered knowledge as to the diluting amounts for cordial and squash specifically. All the same, each brand will have their own idea on what they believe is the preferred dilution to have a prominent but not overpowering fruit taste.
Most will state that their drink is best served after diluting 1:4 squash to water, although other drinks pack more of a concentrated punch, proclaiming their blends are best drunk with 1:9 squash to water. This results in the bottle lasting longer and you saving a bit of money!
③ Consider How Natural or Artificial the Ingredients of Each Drink Are
We all know pretty well by now that the words 'natural' and 'artificial' have come to represent very different things. However, some brands are very clever with their ingredients list, looking to confuse with every long list and tricky wording they can legally muster.
Looking to drinks that proudly label either 100% natural or that they use only natural colours, flavours and sweeteners is a great way to know that you're skipping on the artificial bits. If a cordial or squash hasn't clearly labelled its natural nature, then there's a high chance it's of an artificial origin.
④ Think About Which Fruits Will Have You Feeling as Refreshed as Ever
Now for the more fun part of your guide to all things cordial and squash. Deciding on a flavour is almost as exciting as wrapping the glass around your lips for that first insatiable sip.
Squash is a British drink through and through. Popularised throughout the Commonwealth in the 20th century, squash has always had its feet steeped deeply into British summertime life. A few of the classic British-loved flavours are, of course, orange, lemon and blackcurrant.
These are still up there in many favourite lists for being so intensely delicious, but other more modern takes are elderflower, summer fruits and even passionfruit. Whichever way you sway, just make sure it's a little bit of you and a whole lot of fruit!
⑤ Contemplate a Multipack to Save You Money at the Checkout
Online shopping has become the new standard for a lot of us, which has conveniently allowed multipacks to be purchased and delivered directly to your door, saving some money and your back in the one swift process.
Look for cordial and squash multipacks of between 3 and 24 bottles for varying degrees of savings and stocking. You and your family will be chuffed knowing you're sorted for the entire summer with your most cherished cordial!
Top 6 Best Cordial and Squash Drinks in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Belvoir Farm Raspberry & Lemon Cordial | | Cordial Bursting at the Seams With Real Fruit Juice | |
2 | Monin Passion Fruit Syrop | | Passion Fruit Syrup From the Iconic French Brand Monin | |
3 | Belvoir Ginger & Lemon Cordial | | A Tangy and Tantalising Ginger and Lemon Cordial | |
4 | Bottle Green Elderflower Cordial | | Hand Picked Elderflowers for a a Floral Summery Touch | |
5 | Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits | | A Double-Strength Classic That Packs a Fruity Punch | |
6 | Vimto No Added Sugar Squash | | A Cupboard Favourite for Kids and Big Kids That's Sugar-Free |
Cordial Bursting at the Seams With Real Fruit Juice
Belvoir Farm have dedicated themselves to creating cordials and soft drinks that taste like real fruit with a sustainable story to boot. This is their raspberry and lemon cordial that has 43% real fruit pressed and squeezed into it.
It's a 100% natural cordial through and through with a very digestible ingredients list that makes you double-take to see if the drink really is cordial. Dilute 1:8 with water for a truly memorable time with your new favourite cordial that's also produced right here in the UK.
Passion Fruit Syrup From the Iconic French Brand Monin
Yes, it may be a little controversial adding a French syrup into a cordial and squash list, but please stick with it. Founded in 1912, Monin are at the top of the pile when it comes to syrups of exceptional quality.
This passionfruit variety is one of their most beloved, mixing with cocktails like it was written in the syrup scriptures. Blend it with gin, vodka, rum or any other spirit to instantly bring it to life – or if that doesn't excite you, it also moonlights as a cordial just the same, as it's delicious with sparkling or just plain tap water.
A Tangy and Tantalising Ginger and Lemon Cordial
Giving you a kickstart to the heart, this ginger and lemon cordial from Belvoir Farm is a warm and spicy offering, reminiscent of ginger beer or ale. It impressively consists of 10% lemon juice from concentrate alongside 8% fresh ginger extract and 2% concentrated ginger.
Having 10% ginger really gives this cordial a fiery flavour which has many reviewers proclaiming that if you love ginger, this is the one. Just be sure to dilute 1:10 with water to ensure you don't go overboard!
Hand Picked Elderflowers for a a Floral Summery Touch
Bottle Green have hit the branding nail on the head, instructing its customers to sip back and relax. Through including no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners, you need not worry about the quality control of this 2019 Great Taste award-winning cordial.
Knowing the elderflowers have been hand-picked and the included spring water is from the Cotswolds only adds a further element of superior cordial taste. Try this one in a single or get stocked for summer with the affordable multipack buy from Amazon.
A Double-Strength Classic That Packs a Fruity Punch
Surely this is the most recognisable squash the UK has to offer? In many people's minds, Robinsons is squash. The brand can be thanked for reinvigorating the squash market in the 70's through partnering with Wimbledon which was such a perfect fit, and, as they say, say the rest is history.
This is their double-strength summer fruits offering that includes 20% real fruit from concentrate. 18% of that 20% is made up of apple with little dashes of strawberry, plum, blackcurrant and cherry. Dilute this one with 1:9 drink to water for a long-lasting bottle of classic Robinsons charm.
A Cupboard Favourite for Kids and Big Kids That's Sugar-Free
Vimto's mixed fruit squash is a family favourite the nation over. Blending up a 10% fruit juice concentrate of grape, blackberry and raspberry, this is a sweet squash that's easily stomached.
While there are no added sugars, this is another offering that includes artificial flavours and sweeteners, should you wish to avoid those. It does contain natural colourings of carrot and hibiscus, though, which is well-noted.
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