Have you ever wondered what the difference is between fruit juice, squash, and cordial? Well, wonder no more! In this blog post, we'll be exploring the differences between these three popular drinks. Keep reading to find out more!
Fruit Juice
Fruit juice is a great way to fuel your body and get a little extra fruit into your diet. They come in many different delicious flavours. However, the true (and legislated) definition of Fruit Juice is “100% pure juice made from the flesh of fresh fruit or from whole fruit, depending on the type used. It is not permitted to add sugars, sweeteners, preservatives, flavourings or colourings to fruit juice.”
An example of this is our delicious Orange Juice, which is made using just 3 and a 1/2 plump oranges. This means that every drop of healthy juice you drink has the full nutritional value of fruit, making it a great alternative for those on-the-go, or don't have the time to eat fruit.
What is a Fruit Juice Drink?
Juice drinks contain 1-99% fruit juice (in comparison to 100% in fruit juice). Some fruit juices require a little extra to get the flavour just right, whether that's with water, natural flavourings, stabilisers, sweeteners, or salt added. Preservatives (like sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate) can also sometimes be included as a means to preserve the fruit ingredients (this is how product shelf life is increased).
In our Jubilant Juices, we keep the ingredients minimal and only use natural ingredients to create the perfect flavour. Our Tomato Juice for example has just a tiny pinch of salt added to act as a natural preservative. Similar to our Apple Juice where ascorbic acid is the only added ingredient, it acts as a natural Vitamin C preservative and restores the natural flavouring.
Poor-quality fruit juices have a low % of fruit juice, contain artificial ingredients, and are mixed with a lot of water to minimise cost. The nutritional value will therefore be low and often sugar will be added to try to compensate for flavour due to the lack of fruit-containing ingredients. So if you're looking to drink fruit juice for its nutritional value, make sure you check the ingredients on the label.
There are also fruit juices 'from concentrate' and 'not from concentrate', if you want to find out what the difference is between them, read this blog which explains it all!
The great thing about fruit juice is that there are so many delicious flavours to choose from, meaning there's something for everyone. Did you know, we have nine different Jubilant Juices at Frobishers? Some of our best sellers include Cherry, Bumbleberry (which is unique to Frobishers!), and Grapefruit Juice.
Fruit Squash
The main difference between squash and fruit juice is that squash contains a much lower percentage of fruit juice (on average around 30% in squash). Fruit squash is a concentrated drink, created using a mix of fruit juice with water and sugar or sweetener. The addition of sugar gives the fruit squash its distinct sweet taste and artificial flavourings, sweeteners and colourings are often used to create the best flavour, making it a less healthy choice when compared to fruit juice.
Fruit Cordials
*Frobishers Cordials are now discontinued. You can still build a box with our four fabulous fruity and botanical ranges.*
Fruit cordials are drinks made by infusing fruits and botanicals in a sugar syrup to create concentrated syrups bursting with flavour. Cordials often contain fruit juice from concentrate for their strong and fruity taste. Whilst their main purpose is to be enjoyed mixed with water, cordials can be incredibly versatile.
Our Curious Cordials come in 3 different flavours: Pomegranate & Rose, Sloe & Raspberry, and Lemon & Mint, and can be used in cocktails, mocktails, desserts, smoothies, main dishes and more! Looking for a way to impress guests at your next dinner party? We’ve got you covered with our five favourite cordial & sparkling wine cocktail recipes. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous why not check out our 5 creative ways to use cordials blog, it includes a delicious Lemon & Mint Prawn Tagliatelle recipe that is the perfect midweek meal.
Which has the least sugar out of fruit juice, squash and cordial?
Fruits contain naturally occurring sugars, so avoiding sugar completely in fruit juice, squash and cordials is not only difficult but can also have an impact on the taste. The amount of sugar in the drinks will also depend on each individual brand and flavour. If you're concerned about sugar intake or have specific health issues - make sure to read all of the ingredients carefully.
Sugar-free is the absolute lowest sugar option. This is when the sugar has been removed completely during processing, making sugar-free juice, squash or cordial a great choice for those looking to monitor sugar intake. Sugar-free juice, however, often has quite a different taste to its sugar counterpart, as this is what makes up a large proportion of the flavour.
The most common choice is no added sugar fruit juice or fruit squash. This type of drink has no sugar added during the production process, but still retains some natural sugar from the individual fruits that make up the juice. Some examples of our juices with no added sugar include our Orange, Apple and Grapefruit Juices.
Cordials generally have a moderate volume of sugar. Due to being a syrup, sugar is often added during the production process to ensure a delicious and sweet flavour. However, consumed in small quantities and using the appropriate water-to-cordial ratio, the volume of sugar is still low compared to many fruit juices.
Now that you know the difference between fruit squash, cordial and juice, you can make an informed decision about which drink is right for you. At Frobishers, we have a wide range of soft drinks available so you can find the perfect drinks for every occasion. You can build a custom box, and choose from our five fabulous ranges including Fruit Juice, Fusions, Sparkling Bottles and Pressé Cans. With delivery on a day of your choice, it’s ideal for ordering ahead of time.
