The appeal of Robinsons/ squash - explain it as if I was an alien

[StationeryNerd]

Ok this sounds nuts but I was just talking to my American next door neighbour who was horrified at the whole idea of squash or cordial. I didn't realise it's just not a thing in the US. She thought it was mad that you put some liquid in the bottom of a glass then fill it with water. They have these gross-sounding super sugary powders instead. Anyway we fell about laughing because she said I'd failed to sell it to her. So do your best
tell an American why Brits give their families orange squash

....go!

I couldn't tell you the last time I had any. They're almost all full of artificial sweeteners now (which I can't have), even the ones that don't claim "no added sugar" and the few that still have just sugar like Rocks cost a lot for how quickly my kids can go through them. Even when I bought them a cheap one and a nice one for me they would steal mine first as it's nicer, leaving me with nothing to drink.

My childhood memories of diluting juice were multiple adults not believing me that it gave me headaches and I should just drink what I was given.

Certainly produced more interesting vomit.

It give water a fruity flavour

We used to call a snakebite and black a 'diesel' round these parts (Midlands)

It does, as does Vimto. You can buy proper Vimto from Asia. I use Bottle Green or Belvoir cordials as can’t have sweetener.

I don't have artificial sweeteners, so I will drink Bottlegreen elderflower cordial with sparkling water and lots of ice. But I don't drink it throughout the day, I normally make one to drink while I'm preparing dinner. It's just a flavoured liquid you add to water (but not all cordials are equal!).

I mostly drink plain water, plus a couple of cups of Redbush tea a day, so possibly not the target market. Plain water is lovely on its own, it doesn't need to be sweeter (artificially or real).

Orange squash used to send me absolutely hyper as a child, my Mum had a terrible time trying to stop people giving it to me, it was the 70s and people didn't know about that stuff. My behaviour went from fine to unmanageable within minutes of consuming it.

I do drink it now, mainly weak Robinsons pink grapefruit barley water. Hot Vimto was the only thing I could stomach whilst pregnant, can't stand the thought if it now.

Oh I didn't know this. So you shop at M&S 'cos Robinsons now put artificial sweetener in it these days? Think our bottle in the pantry is probably about 2 years old so I'll have to check.

I prefer the ones without aspartame as DC and I can taste the fake chemical sweetness - it sticks to the back and sides of the tongue and throat for ages after swallowing and makes the tongue tingle if you have to keep drinking. We avoid all sugar free / extra sweetener stuff as a result.

Lots of people seem to not be able to taste it, but for us it ruins a lot of things.

No, it was meant to be a drink, but it became popular at my school to stick fingers in and lick off

refreshingseahorse · Yesterday 20:23

The US has Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, etc.

That was my first thought, too!

Elderflower has been mentioned, we usually make our own from the flowers. We had a few people round once, including friends of friends, an American lady with her British husband. She said it was amazing.

RobinEllacotStrike · Today 00:34

Apart from Roses Lime Cordial - that is lush. (And I might have spent several years drinking vodka & lime cordial on ice when I was early 20's).

We haven't had that in the house for years and you've made me wonder if PLJ is still available.

....

A quick Google later and it is!

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/plj-lemon-juice-cordial-500ml

Good to know, never tried!

Love high juice

totally forgot about hi juice AND Vimto!
Cordial isn't just for kids after all

RIBENA only for me.

I used to love PLJ!

The advantage of squash is that ir can be diluted to your own taste. If I'm thirsty I prefer more wartery. DH prefers a stronger taste.

Thursa · Today 14:24

I used to love PLJ!

It was ace for putting in cheap whisky, with a bit of water.

It's like the weird American powders, but more convenient and tastes nicer.

I grew up in the US and yes, squash was a revelation when I first moved to the UK. It's such an easy way to make water taste more interesting than just water, but without the hassle of chipping away at a hardened powder with a spoon or drinking loads of sugar. Yes, I would prefer fresh juice in sparkling water, but it's considerably more expensive than a concentrated squash and doesn't keep as long/needs to be refrigerated.

That said, also speaking as an American, my compatriots also think that everything they do is the best way to do it, and will say something sounds weird or pointless, even if they think it sounds great or would use it, just to make the point that the way they do it is the best way. 🙄

Blow her mind and tell her about hot squash.
Hot Robinsons lemon or hot vimto is one of life's little pleasures especially if you are ill.

Hi Juice is nice. I must get some.

Dp loves the cheapest nastiest lemon squash that is so astringent the enamel starts falling off my teeth just looking at it. Won't countenance my trying to steer him towards nicer versions.

Horses for courses.

🤔 bright colours....

I haven't drunk squash since I was a child, and even then not frequently. My my parents never drank it when we were little. So I see it as a children's drink!!

But as a concept its a sweet, flavoured syrup that's diluted before consumption, which is pretty easy to get your head around I would have thought?

Creamola? Was in little tins, had a kind of fizz when you mixed it with water. Drink too much and your farts were legendary?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creamola_Foam