Before sodas, most people enjoyed cordials as a change from water (even lemonade was homemade with no fizz). Cordials have been around for 200 years. Made from sugar syrups and fruits, they are sweeter than fruit squash, but most major brands tend to use artificial sweeteners (including xylitol which is lethal to pets, if licked up). Even Robinson’s Barley Water (originally made by mixing barley crystals with sugar and water to hydrate tennis players at Wimbledon) uses artificial sweeteners, and sells in plastic bottles.
This is thought to be over concerns of a possible ‘sugar tax’ so would dent profits of high-sugar cordials (like Ribena). One user who found the company now adds artificial sweetener wrote online ‘Adding sweeteners to Ribena was intended to reduce our sugar intake. This has worked, as I no longer buy Ribena’. Choosing artisan brands of cordial and squash also supports a local economy.
Rocks is an organic brand of tasty fruit cordials, made from squash fruit and pure Devonshire water. The company was founded by 3 dads over 20 years ago, and is widely sold in good health shops, farm shops and supermarkets. Sold in glass bottles, once opened store in the fridge. Naturally sweetened wtih a little cane sugar, it’s best to brush your teeth around half an hour afterwards, and only drink as a treat for children, otherwise the sugar could have them bouncing off the walls! The company says that water is always the beverage of choice, this simply offers an alternative to artificially-sweetened squashes.
The range is small to focus on quality over quantity. Choose from blackcurrant or summer fruits (a blend of strawberries, cherries, apple & blackcurrants).
other good brands of artisan fruit cordials
Fruits of the Forage (Cheshire) nice cordials made from foraged fruits. Choose from raspberry & sweet Cicely, elderflower & rhubarb or a winter warmer (nice hot, it’s made with damsons, plums and apples).
Mr Fitzpatricks makes traditional cordials (nice warmed in winter) in elderflower apple, gooseberry elderflower, rhubarb rosehip, plum pear spice, blackcurrant or cherry & grape (avoid hibiscus for pregnancy). There are also old-fashioned flavours like dandelon burdock and root beer (and a no-added-sugar range including raspberry lavender).
Tree Top Press (Yorkshire) makes cordials made from homegrown or local fruits (foraged from hedgerows). The fruits are steamed and mixed with a little sugar and natural flavours (organic fresh ginger, cinnamon, cloves, lemon and vanilla pods). Flavours include blackcurrant, damson, purple plum, Victoria plum and spiced winter cordial.
make your own homemade fruit cordials
Alternatively, you could try making your own cordials, although unpasteurised fruits should be avoided for pregnancy/nursing and those sensitive to food-borne illness. 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:
