Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the new Ribena formula tastes disgusting

73 replies

BlackeyedSusan · 06/04/2018 12:23

with a nasty aftertaste.

I would rather pay the sugar tax on it.

I am swapping to another brand of squash.

OP posts:
carriemathisonshandbag · 06/04/2018 16:57

I bought a large bottle of it the other week as it was on offer. I don't drink tea or coffee so sometimes have a hot ribena in winter or if I'm ill. One sip and I couldn't have any more, really horrible. I don't know what I am going to do if I get a cold now, as it was my one comfort!

Allthingsbluetoo · 06/04/2018 17:03

I have been drinking Ribena for over 40 years. No fillings, not overweight. I HATE the new version. At least we know what sugar does to us, or at least more so than chemical sweeteners.
I would rather buy a bottle with no sugar or sweeteners and add my own if they want to avoid the tax.

Partridgeamongstthepigeons · 06/04/2018 17:07

Have switched to Belvoir squash. I used to love Ribena- it's disgusting now Sad

Roussette · 06/04/2018 17:16

I've been a Ribena drinker all my life but no more, that's it. Off to look for Belvoir or something else

expatinscotland · 06/04/2018 17:51

'ds will only drink the last remaining type of sugar in sainsburys cordial. we are fucked when that goes. he is autistic and these things matter.'

Yep! Aspartame sends my autistic son pinging, too. HATE the stuff, tastes bitter, leaves a vile taste in the mouth and gives me the trots.

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 07/04/2018 15:01

Lionso thank you for the recommendation :) I got some of the Belvoir one today and it's very nice.

FancyNewBeesly · 07/04/2018 15:07

It’s a nightmare for us - Ribena used to be something we could buy at short notice when my son was hypoglycaemic but now struggle to find anything at all that has a high enough carb ratio. Even lucozade has been changed. It’s very frustrating for those with blood sugar issues.

minniemummy0 · 07/04/2018 18:51

Thank you for the recommendations for the blueberry and blackcurrant cordial from Belvoir. Got some today from Asda (they are on sale for £2) and it’s lovely old-style Ribena taste.

FancyNewBeesly I know you can’t just buy it everywhere like Ribena,but I’ve attached the nutritional info, how is the Belvoir for these purposes?

to think the new Ribena formula tastes disgusting
RusholmeRuffian · 07/04/2018 19:48

YANBU, the new Ribena is vile and they should have made it clear on the bottle that they had added sweeteners. I've stocked up with a few bottles of the old stuff but will be gutted when it's gone. I would happily pay more to avoid the disgusting taste of sweetener.

soulrider · 07/04/2018 20:02

The problem with the posh cordials is that they don't keep as well (think most say 2 weeks after opening) which is an issue if you drink it only occasionally. I'm going to have to up my consumption of squash so it doesn't go off Smile

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 07/04/2018 20:08

Yes, the Belvoir one only keeps three weeks and needs to be kept in the fridge.

minniemummy0 · 07/04/2018 21:03

There’s no way it would last three weeks in my house! I always keep them in the fridge anyway. I used to always have about six different flavours open so they would have been open longer than 3 weeks, but recently used them all up and am on a strict 1 in the house only policy. Would be a problem for my parents who have a small fridge and only keep cordial/ squash for when children come round.

Reflexella · 07/04/2018 21:17

I hate sugar free Ribena. Proper Ribena is literally my only vice - upset about this

Twillow · 07/04/2018 21:23

I'd rather have sugar and limit it than artificial sweeteners, for taste as well as health.
Artificial sweeteners are, in fact, linked to weight GAIN and obesity diabetes amongst other disorders, correlated through many scientific reviews (one link here) articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/12/23/artificial-sweeteners-confuse-body.aspx

TheVanguardSix · 07/04/2018 21:29

Belvoir cordials
Rock

Artificial sweeteners are carcinogenic, imo.
The evidence is NOT consistent but trial rats in one study that I read about developed blood cancers after high intakes of aspartame. FTS.

The devil you know... I'd take sugar any day, for taste alone!

BarbaraofSevillle · 07/04/2018 21:42

Does Rock etc actually go off, or is it one of those bollocks instructions?

After all, it's got sugar in, which is a preservative. We drink about 2 bottles of squash a year, but it's high juice up to now, not Rocks. In my experience things last much longer than the 'throw away after X weeks' rules.

If you don't want to risk it, I would put some in the freezer in mini clippy tubs if you don't normally go through it very fast.

halcyondays · 07/04/2018 21:42

I won't be trying the new ribena. Made the mistake of buying a bottle of Lucozade once after they had changing it, horrible.

Ribena is only mean to be kept for 3 weeks I think . Will try the Belvoir one when I finish current botle of proper Ribena.

Not sure why they even needed to change Ribena. They could have got round the sugar tax by recommending you dilute it to what I call church fete strength. I think it said 1:4 which is pretty strong. Hot Ribena is lovely but is nicer when its really weak.

Whisky2014 · 07/04/2018 21:45

You could just stir in some sugar.

Whisky2014 · 07/04/2018 21:47

Unless you are teetotal, dont drive or breathe in fuel emissions, dont use candles, dont use hair spray, smoke etc its a bit of a laugh to naysay artificial sweeteners as carcinogenic.

Hillarious · 07/04/2018 22:09

We can be naysayers with regard to artificial sweeteners purely on taste!

Just bought my first bottle of Rock's.

treaclesoda · 07/04/2018 22:53

My objection to artificial sweeteners is largely on taste. The only thing I think tastes ok with artificial sweeteners is mint. Sugar free mints are fine. Anything else I just find the artificial sweeteners to be really overpowering and leave a funny taste.

Also I hate the dishonesty of companies dressing it all up as concern for people's health when actually it's an easy cost cutting measure for them.

DoubleLottchen · 07/04/2018 23:18

Bottlegreen cordials don't have sweetener either, I don't think.

I buy Cawston Press now if I have a hankering for a fizzy drink, and I think San Pellegrino cans don't have sweetener .Or I buy pressed apple juice and add a bit of fizzy water.

We mainly buy Belvoir cordials now, and keep them in the fridge; I'm sure they last longer than 3 weeks with no signs of going off.

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 07/04/2018 23:28

I'm not suggesting they actually are carcinogenic, but I don't see why you can't object to one type of carcinogen just because you might be exposed to others. Many are unavoidable. But where they are easily avoidable surely it's sensible to avoid them.

But anyway, my objection is that it tastes unpleasant. I'll die of the cancer I already have before I have a chance to develop a Ribena-related cancer Grin

The new Ribena recipe doesn't actually contain aspartame anyway. It uses acesulfame K and sucralose.

BarbaraofSevillle · 08/04/2018 05:16

buy Cawston Press now if I have a hankering for a fizzy drink, and I think San Pellegrino cans don't have sweetener

They didn't use to but they do now. Check carefully when you buy.

www.sanpellegrinofruitbeverages.com/uk/en/lighter-days

PenelopeFlintstone · 08/04/2018 05:28

In case this is of any use to anyone, I made my own lemon cordial by mixing a bottle of lemon juice with sugar, microwaved and stirred. Done. Cheap and easy. Tried it with lime too. Both delicious.