The Best Brands of Natural Fruit Cordials
Rocks is a good brand of organic fruit cordials, founded by three dads. It blends local fruits with Devonshire water, and is sold in glass bottles (they’re easy to find in most stores, including supermarkets). Choose from:
- Blackcurrant
- Orange
- Summer Fruits (strawberry, cherry, apple, blackcurrant)
Store in the fridge after opening, and drink within 3 weeks. Due to be sweetened with natural sugar, brush teeth not long after drinking. And don’t leave tops open, or you’ll have wasps and ants visiting.
Due to the proposed sugar tax, most brands (even Robinson’s) now add artificial sweetener (dodgy for your health, tested on animals and leaves a funny aftertaste). And xylitol-sweetened drinks are lethal to pets, if left around.
Before the invention of Coca-Cola and Red Bull, cordials were the beverage of choice after water (homemade lemonade was popular, but had no fizz). Cordials are a bit sweetener than conventional squash, but likely better for you.
One user who found that Ribena now adds artificial sweetener to her favourite drink wrote online ‘‘Adding sweeteners to Ribena was intended to reduce our sugar intake. This has worked, as I no longer buy Ribena’.
Rocks Organic Blackcurrant Cordial (natural Ribena!)
Rocks Organic Blackcurrant Cordial is sold in a glass bottle, made with organic berries and Devonshire spring water. This brand (created by three dads) is sold everywhere, from health shops to farm shops to some supermarkets.
Ribena is a drink created (by a biochemist and scientist combined at Bristol University) back in 1938, to help people get vitamin C during World War II, when citrus fruits were not available. The government encouraged people to grow blackcurrants, and children were given the drink for free.
The name is from the botanical name for blackcurrants (‘ribes nigrum).
Now owned by a Japanese corporate food brand, modern versions are (like all squash – even Robinson’s Barley Waters) adding artificial sweetener to reduce the sugar level, preparing for impending sugar taxes. Today around 90% of all our blackcurrant harvests, goes to make Ribena (profits moving out of England).
One user who found that Ribena now adds artificial sweetener to her favourite drink wrote online ‘‘Adding sweeteners to Ribena was intended to reduce our sugar intake. This has worked, as I no longer buy Ribena’.
The company recently spent £7 million on a TV ad campaign, to have people hark back to the days of nostalgia, when drinking Ribena. However, the sugar tax has now changed the recipe completely.
There is now less blackcurrant juice, and ‘blackcurrant flavour’ has been added. This reduces the sugar content, to make more profits. One user said it now just tastes of ‘summer fruits’, and it’s like the makers have filled the bottle with a completely different drink.
Locally-Made, Supports Small Farmers
Locally-Made, Supports Small Farmers
Rocks Organic is based in Devon and sources as many ingredients as possible from British growers. By supporting local agriculture, they keep transport miles low and help rural communities in the West Country thrive.
Note even Rocks suggest that water is always the best drink for children. But when they want a glass of squash, this is a better choice.
Versatile for All Occasions
Rocks Organic cordials aren’t just for cold drinks. Mix with still or sparkling water for a refreshing soft drink, warm it up on a chilly day, or splash into cocktails for something special.
More Natural Fruit Cordial Brands
- Mr Fitzpatricks makes traditional cordials (nice warmed in winter) including blood tonic (nettles and rosehips with raspberry). Alongside real traditional cordials like dandelion burdock. Some drinks contain hibiscus (avoid for pregnancy).
- Tree Top Press (Yorkshire) makes cordials from homegrown and foraged fruits. Mixed with sugar and natural flavours (ginger, cinnamon, cloves, lemon, vanilla), choose from blackcurrant, damson, purple plum, Victoria plum or spiced winter cordial.
Luscombe Drinks and Mixers (from Devon)
Luscombe is one of England’s most celebrated soft drinks brands, which has built a loyal following over the years for its organic soft drinks and mixers.
Luscombe began back in 1975, producing just apple juice and cider. The company was taken over by the founder’s son around 20 years later, who decided to expand into the no-alcohol soft drinks market.
The first soft drinks company to be certified organic, the brand has planted 1800 elder trees alongside organic horticultural crops and wildflowers, for increased biodiversity on the farm.
It also means the company can use its own organic elderflower, rather than foraging for wild flowers.
Bottles are glass, not plastic. The packaging is all easy to recycle. And the farm follows Soil Association guidelines, helping pollinators and local wildlife thrive.
Luscombe doesn’t just stick with orange and apple. This drinks collection is more classic and unique, adding a grown-up twist for something different from fizzy pop. Flavours include:
The range includes:
- English Apple Juice
- Rhubarb Crush
- Raspberry Crush
- Cool Ginger Beer
- Mango and Peach Crush
- Damascene Rose Bubbly
- Sicilian Lemonade
- Sicilian Citrus Crush
Plus a range of tonic waters (avoid quinine for pregnancy/nursing or affected medical conditions):
- Devon Tonic Water
- Light Devon Tonic Water
- Elderflower or Grapefruit
How to Make your Own Fruit Cordials
Most of us will go for ready-made organic fruit cordials. But if you wish to make your own, Welsh chef Gaz Oakley has a simple recipe for homemade Ribena. It only needs water, blackcurrants and maple syrup.
If making fruit squash, it’s important to avoid unpasteurised drinks for pregnancy/nursing and weak immunity.
You’ll also have to sterilise glass bottles by running on the highest setting in the dishwasher or washing in hot soapy water, then drying (no tea towel) in the oven. Sterilise rubber seals, by soaking in a jug of boiling water.
You can find simple recipes online:
