To think summer is ruined?

[Panicmode1]

I thought, as it's going to be a nice weekend, I would get some Pimms and lemonade - but I couldn't find a single lemonade in Sainsbury's that didn't have aspartame/sweeteners in it.......

So AIBU to think summer has been ruined? What is one to drink at the events of the season now?

I think fentiman's are sweetener free, their rose or Victorian lemonade would work with Pimms, they also do a lime and Jasmine-ade that I've not tried but seems to be crying out for gin...

Botanically brewed. Natural. Exquisitely crafted. Gluten free. No artificial sweeteners, flavourings or preservatives. Suitable for vegans.

From the Fentiman's website, they have lots of options too

And Fentimans is a British company (so yah boo sucks to multi nationals) I'd recommend their mandarin zinger(?) particularly lovely with gin.
In Heron there are cans of St Helier (rip off San pell) which are only about 40p and untainted.
Anyone got a good elderflower cordial recipe that doesn't go fizzy?(and explode everywhere)

Mr Fitpatrick's does an interesting range of no sweetener cordials, including a pretty decent blackcurrant. Mawson's stock "fizzy drink" cordials like cola, again sugar only.
Sadly, neither of these places do a "true" lemonade (Fitzpatrick's does lemongrass and lime and Mawson's a pink lemonade) and no sweetener lemonade is generally quite difficult to get hold of anyway. However, as PP said, it's not that difficult to make yourself. This recipe allows you to make quite a lot, quite quickly (no need to wait for 24 hours and it lasts up to 4 months in the fridge). I hope this helps someone

We only ever have tonic in Pimms. Lemonade is too sweet. IMO

Asda do a mint and cucumber tonic-- that would be nice in pimms.

We don’t all live in the South!

‘Just pop into Waitrose’ isn’t an option for many people. If you live anywhere north of Leicester or west of Bristol, Waitrose branches are few and far between.

Make a lemon and sugar syrup mix. I use bottled lemon juice, bit of water and normal granulated syrup and let it simmer til syrupy then add ton carbonated water to make it fizzy!

Bish bosh! I keep the syrup in a clean glass or plastic bottle in the fridge. Need to make some now lol

Bonnie

But there are are a fair few Waitroses north of Leicester and west of Bristol. The big gap in the map is Booth's stomping ground and I'm sure they'll do their own nice tonic equivalents.

As tonic is a non perishable product, it's easy to stock up with a few cans when you're out and about and near a Waitrose. Or you could get it delivered from Ocado.

Granted if you are north of the central belt in Scotland you're a bit screwed, but there are options and alternatives and it's not like people are suggesting you pop into Harrods.

'Granted if you are north of the central belt in Scotland you're a bit screwed, but there are options and alternatives and it's not like people are suggesting you pop into Harrods.'

Actually, if you are not near Glasgow or Edinburgh, you are screwed for a Waitrose in the entire rest of Scotland, a geographical areas of thousands of miles.

The Waitrose in Glasgow is rubbish as well expat.

And the north east of England. Our nearest tiny Waitrose is in newcastle city centre, we are never just "popping by" with the car. And booths is similarly far away.

Mental note: only make suggestions which everyone absolutely everywhere in the U.K. (or possibly the world) can get to. Even if the OP has confirmed within half an hour of starting the thread that they are near one of the suggested places.

There’s a Waitrose in Ponteland just outside of Newcastle. I bought some nice Frobishers cordials there last week.

Do you like it with fizzy water

Do you like it with fizzy water? are you mad?
Yes Soup, that is the law as well you know. (I know, I was guilty if that)But when mn rule the universe there will be a Waitrose on every retail park and decent pop for all! Hoorah!

I'm so annoyed by the reformulation of all these drinks. Surely anyone who doesn't want to buy sugary drinks already had an alternative. But now if you want sugar you're stuffed.

Like the OP I like proper lemonade in my Pimms. I don't want that horrible aftertaste you get from sweeteners, and I'm not convinced they're good for you either.

I use Waitrose own brand lemonade. And Lidl do tonic water that doesn't have sweetener (only cans though, their bottled stuff has sweetener)

Lemonade in Tesco is aspartamine free

Pimms is good for you? Genuine question.

Fentimans are a brand that are full sugar (to the best of my knowledge) and they do a lovely lemonade. Comes in cute glass bottles too.

The people who make it themselves, you’re not making lemonade, you’re going a bloody long way around to make squash! ‘Ade’ is the fizz part. No fizz, no ‘ade’.

You can make fizzy lemonade at home by using fizzy water.

I hate sweeteners . On asd forums Aspartame is talked about like its crack. I read about it a few years ago. My son was getting so aggressive. Took all sweeteners and food colourings (pleased most of those are now natural based) and aggression disappeared within a few days. No other changes. Sweeteners are so annoying and everywhere. They even stick it in tomato sauce sometimes. Even those bags of microwave popcorn sometimes have it.

I do feel there will be a massive backtrack at some point i just dont' trust them.

Luckily we have a Waitrose . Gutted about San Peligrino I was unaware last time i checked about a month ago i was still buying a sugar one.

Getting into Gin these days I like soda water and the flavoured gins.

Mr Fitzpatrick's Vintage Cordials do a lovely liquorice and blackcurrant one.

I personally have always hated the taste of sweeteners. I have tried them all. Also hate coriander it tastes like soap to me( i have heard there is a gene for this). When people say its spicy its weird as its just not. Cannot abide rocket in salad on on pizza i find that to pepperay spicey for me.

I'm sure if Waitrose and Fentimans do, they'll be others who do too. San Pelly uses Steviol that plant based sweetener so not as bad.

Cider Pimms is delicious. One is not enough yep is too many. Enjoy