Orange squash stands as one of those essential beverages that most British households will stock in their kitchen cupboards. It provides a method to enhance water’s flavour and ensure people consume adequate fluids daily. Nevertheless, with Robinson’s costing £2 per bottle, expenses can rapidly accumulate if purchasing this product frequently.
Most supermarket alternatives hover around the £1 price point – so does that additional £1 or thereabouts truly justify itself, or are consumers simply paying for the brand name? These were the queries I aimed to resolve, and to accomplish this, I sampled orange squash from Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose, comparing them against Robinson’s orange squash to determine whether any matched the same quality or exceeded it.
Robinson’s
The packaging, naturally, hits the mark here – expertly crafted, attractive colours, precisely what one would anticipate from the premium brand, yet it’s the flavour that matters, so let’s delve into that aspect.
Robinson’s takes pride in producing squash that delivers “real fruit” flavours; nevertheless, it possessed a somewhat artificial note, though it maintained the appropriate level of sweetness.
Rating: 8/10
Aldi
Up next is a supermarket brand, which is likely most recognised for its competitive pricing. This brand was tied for the third lowest price among all the juices, priced at 99p.
Aldi’s double-strength 20% fruit squash appears a comparable shade in the bottle to Robinson’s – a vibrant and crisp orange that triggers thirst. Regrettably, the taste was where it fell slightly short.
While still tasty, it wasn’t quite as memorable as the leading brand and definitely left less of a lasting impression, tasting noticeably cheaper in quality, which, for the price, I suppose should be expected.
Rating: 5/10
Lidl
Lidl’s own product, priced at 99p appears nearly indistinguishable in colour from the traditional Robinsons in the bottle, presenting a vivid burst of bright orange.
However, this one did lack the sweetness you get from Robinsons, but it still makes a good alternative.
Rating 6.5/10
Tesco
Next in line is Tesco, which astonished me with its impressive performance. At merely 45p, it is difficult to find much to criticise about this product.
While it may not be overflowing with flavour, there is a sufficient amount present, and it does not overwhelm the palate, a common problem with double-strength squash varieties.
Rating: 6/10
Sainsbury’s
I firmly believe that the 49p bottle of orange squash from Sainsbury’s is the same as the version offered by Tesco.
Both products feature identical packaging, excluding the branded label, and possess comparable levels of sweetness and fruitiness.
Rating: 6/10
Morrisons
This 99p orange squash from Morrisons resembled long-life orange juice more than a refreshing, hydrating beverage. However, when mixed with water, its appearance became more appealing.
The taste was not particularly strong and leaned towards sweetness, yet it remains a cost-effective option that fulfills its purpose while offering significant savings compared to larger brands.
Rating: 5.5/10
Asda
Asda’s orange squash is significantly less expensive than Robinson’s and other brands, priced similarly to Tesco. Regrettably, its flavour was not as appealing.
It may have had a somewhat unjust advantage since I sampled it later in the sequence, but in comparison, it resembled water with a hint of flavour. It entirely missed the robust taste of orange squash, even though it purports to be double-strength.
Rating: 3/10
M&S
Composed of 20% genuine fruit, M&S’ £1.10 squash features one of the highest amounts of real fruit, which likely accounts for its elevated price — yet it remains more affordable than a bottle from Waitrose or the leading brand.
This variant offers a more sophisticated, authentic taste and hue compared to several other squashes available.
Rating: 10/10
Waitrose
Anticipating significant quality from the £1.30 Waitrose orange squash, I found myself regrettably let down. While it was sweet, it fell short in terms of flavour.
I felt the Waitrose squash is somewhat lacking in the richness of orange flavour, failing to provide the same fruity aftertaste as those from M&S and Robinsons.
Rating: 6.5/10