What is the best cordial or fizzy drink without sweetner available in a post sugar tax UK?

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Timely_Egg_6827@reddit

Fitzpatricks or Bon Accord. Irn Bru 1901. The first is expensive and usually mail order, the second you can get in Sainsburys but not their cola. The last is ubiquitous in Scotland, rarer south of border - however, it is caffeine free. I want them to bring back the 1991 one - sugar and caffeine and perfect study aid.

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reclusivemonkey@reddit

Yes, Fitzpatricks is gold standard cordial. So many flavours too. https://mrfitzpatricks.com/our-drinks/roots-and-spices-traditional-cordials/

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JoeDaStudd@reddit

I came here to say Fitzpatricks.\ Their blood tonic is amazing and I don't think I've had anything come close to it.

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PeevedValentine@reddit

The bastards took away my San Pellegrino!

I honestly don't have a suggestion for a fizzy drink that doesn't have the sweeteners in, but I wanted to share my empathy. I'm allergic to aspartame.

Try and find a nice Sri Lankan owned corner shop and treat yourself to something(or many many things) from their American import selection and have a moment of joy.

Even Polish market stuff doesn't have the awful sweeteners in, like UK spec stuff, so an Eastern European shop might be worth a look in too.

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

Oh my god. I miss San Pellegrino lemon. It was like a childhood memory of lemonade in a can. You can buy full sugar off amazon but then you're stuck with loads of them.

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PeevedValentine@reddit

I used to get it with fish and chips on a regular basis. Got a lemon one, one day, started guzzling that refreshing thing, almost immediately got a dull stomach ache and a headache.

I nearly went on a rampage/pilgrimage to Jamie Olivers house.

I am the kind of person to buy good drinks en masse, so I'm tempted to get a crate off Amazon and stash a few in the fridge.

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HeartyBeast@reddit

I know. San Pelligrino and Fentimans. Now both arse

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NorthernSoul1977@reddit

Love the blissfully unaware folk who can't taste the difference. Easiest way to replicate how sweeteners taste to me is just grab your fave soft drink, have a half a mouthful then chew some paracetamol.

That bitter, chemical aftertaste... I hate it!

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HeartyBeast@reddit

It’s more like soap, for me

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HeartyBeast@reddit

In terms of cordials, Bottle Green are excellent. For fizz, Caustons are really good. Things like kombucha are usually free of artificial sweetener, if you like that.

The one that really disappoints me is Fentimans. Used to be my go-to treat, particularly their cola. Recently changed to ‘yuck’

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Ok-Lack4735@reddit

All bottle green cordials are sweetner free and nice with sparkling water.

Other options I like when out and about are cawston press and dalstons. Appletizer if you ever spot it is good, too.

If you happen to be in Scotland then Iran Bru 1901 is delicious.

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AliveAd2219@reddit

I thought Iran Bru was only available in Tehran.

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Intelligent_Gas_4037@reddit

Refuse to consume sweetener drinks so,

Coca Cola original / cherry / lemon

Irn Bru 1901 (alright not as good as pre-sugar tax version)

Rocks do a nice blackcurrant and a mixed fruit cordial

Bottlegreen do some nice cordials

Tenzing if you looking for an higher caffeine drink

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Best-Food-4441@reddit

Asda do a high juice squash in various flavours that are full sugar, it says it quite boldly on the label. Get ready for this government to balls up all milk drinks too as I believe they are going to extend the tax to those as well.

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

Say what now? Whats wrobg with milk drinks?

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Best-Food-4441@reddit

High sugar content, heard somwhere it's going to looked into and maybe extended to them too.

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jdsuperman@reddit

There have been several wrong answers on this thread; ie people suggesting drinks they think are free from artificial sweeteners, but aren't.

Isn't this worrying? Companies have sneakily changed their recipes without making it clear that they've done so, and some customers are seemingly still in the dark about what their drinks actually contain. The sugar tax really is an insidious load of shite.

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NorthernSoul1977@reddit

It's annoying innit? I see Pepsi has also fallen prey to it.

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RafRafRafRaf@reddit

Big supermarkets usually do proper high juice still.

I’m in the same boat. I’m entirely behind the idea that we almost all should eat much less sugar, but I’m not going to be replacing any of it with sweeteners.

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blither86@reddit

Used to be my go to but I thought they stopped doing the sugar versions years ago. Will have to have another look.

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NotAllHerosEatCreps@reddit

Vimto is still good

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jdsuperman@reddit

Only if you can find imported stuff. The UK doesn't have any versions without artificial sweeteners in.

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NotAllHerosEatCreps@reddit

Yeah but it's one of the few that taste identical to the original, they don't use much sweetener

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

Alas i can taste the differece. It contains sucralose and acesulfame-k both of which i can taste. Tbf its not as bad as many of the others, but it still has that aftertaste and weird burning feeling in the pit of my stomach.

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jdsuperman@reddit

Not very helpful to OP or anyone else with intolerances to sweeteners, which was the point of this thread.

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NotAllHerosEatCreps@reddit

It's not intolerance op said they find it disgusting, but you can't taste it in vimto so it would be good good choice...

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jdsuperman@reddit

You might not be able to taste it in Vimto. But I can, I bet OP can given they bothered to make this thread about how much they hate the taste of sweeteners, and I know lots of other people who can too. The social media backlash when they changed the recipe was substantial.

OP's thread and opening post makes it abundantly clear that they're not prepared to tolerate any drinks that contain sweeteners. Please stop making unhelpful suggestions.

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

You are indeed correct. I find all sweetners disgusting. Even "natural" ones like stevia. I clearly won the genetic lottery for discrimination between sweetners. Wooh.

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jdsuperman@reddit

Well, I could do with a hand as this Vimto chucklefuck doesn't seem to understand why their suggestion has been received so poorly. Please let them know your thoughts.

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NotAllHerosEatCreps@reddit

No they didn't say that either, but if you want to make stuff up that's literally written above to try and make some strange point go ahead bro.

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jdsuperman@reddit

OP used the phrases "sweetener free" and "without sweeteners" to describe what they were looking for, and confirmed that they are able to taste sweeteners and find them disgusting.

The majority of posters helpfully chip in to suggest drinks that don't contain sweeteners.

Then you come along and suggest a drink that does contain sweeteners.

Can you see the problem?

That's a rhetorical question, by the way. Please don't actually reply. Arguing with someone like you is absolutely exhausting.

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underwater-sunlight@reddit

Irn bru 1901

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OriginalMarty@reddit

And it tastes so good

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Awkward-Tax102@reddit

Rocks blackcurrant cordial, like ribena before they fucked around with it

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goingnowherespecial@reddit

Tesco are taking the piss with the pricing now though. It's rarely on offer and closing in on 4 quid a bottle.

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

Tesco has absolutely plummeted in value and quality since about a year after covid. Which is weird because they have more money than ever now. Ive had some shocking food from there recently and it all costs as much as M&S which is nuts.

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Awkward-Tax102@reddit

Sainsbury's and Waitrose (I know, how terribly middle class of me) are worth price checking too, often on offer there

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zephyrmox@reddit

yup, it's the closest.

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zombiezmaj@reddit

Oooh thank you for posting this... used to love ribena but can't stand the taste now so will give them a go!

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dlt-cntrl@reddit

This may not be what you're looking for, but there's a sub called r/Cordials.

There's a person on there called u/vbloke who has recipes for amazing cordials if you fancied making your own.

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

I find myself witg more time and less money than normal so im tempted to give this a go

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vbloke@reddit

Thanks for the shout out!

Yes, r/Cordials is a sweetener-free full-sugar haven of soft drink goodness.

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

Doing the lords work. Thank you.

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Commercial_Level_615@reddit

Home Bargains stocks Grape Fanta. There's a few with steviol which isn't as bad, you also have appetizer and good old full.fat coke.

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

Does that use corn syrup though? I know i sound like a fussy slag but if im drinking sugar im drinking real sugar.

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Chidoribraindev@reddit

What do you mean by "genetic sensitivity"? I googled but all I could find was allergies, which I thought you may have said instead. Honest question

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/multiple-genes-manage-how-people-taste-sweeteners

Hope that helps

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coconut-gal@reddit

Roses lime cordial is now my go-to

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

Have they not f*d with it? Tgats great if not. I loved that stuff as a kid.

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ShutUpColinRobinson@reddit

Asda has a selection of 'no sweetener' own brand squash

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Low_Basil9900@reddit (OP)

That is excellent. Ill check those out tomorrow.

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Rednwh195m@reddit

Make your own. Nothing wrong with any fruit juice (not juice drink) added to sparkling water. Just add your own sugar if you want it sweeter.

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coconut-gal@reddit

Roses lime cordial is now my go-to

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coconut-gal@reddit

Roses lime cordial is now my go-to

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itsShane91@reddit

Cut me and I bleed purple. Vimto for life.

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itsShane91@reddit

Cut me and I bleed purple. Vimto for life.

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TCGislife@reddit

Rock's blackcurrant or summer fruits, coca cola or Sainsbury's mango and apple high juice, Supermalt's ginger beer and Lidl do a nice ginger cordial.

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noddyneddy@reddit

I think pink grapefruit cordial from either Waitrose or M&S still has sugar. I am obsessive about label reading now and my biggest challenge is finding an olde-school lemonade without sweeteners. Some cordials use a mixture of sucralose and sugar which I find palatable. Won’t touch aspartame or stevia at all though

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PidginPigeonHole@reddit

I would just say that for those on certain medications like blood thinners or antidepressants it's best to avoid everything with grapefruit (pink, Ruby, or white) as grapefruit interacts with certain medications and can make medicines toxic e.g risk of serotonin syndrome to those on SSRI/antidepressants

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durkheim98@reddit

Belvoir cordial. Very nice but pricey.

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boobiemilo@reddit

The ginger one with sparkling water and ice is DEVINE!

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durkheim98@reddit

Yeah that's my go-to also.

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StVincentBlues@reddit

Elderflower is my favourite. They often have special offers. But it’s still expensive.

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Plus_Pangolin_8924@reddit

M&S Juicy! Low sugar but no nasties and tastes great.

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Seanacles@reddit

Pepsi max is ok but I avoid lemon or orange fuzzy drinks now cause they kind of give me a headache

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Plus_Pangolin_8924@reddit

That's got sweeteners in it.

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plant-cell-sandwich@reddit

Rocks, belvoir and bottle green.

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orange_fudge@reddit

Try places like Polish supermarkets… they import drinks from a land beyond the sugar tax and they have interesting flavours.

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hitiv@reddit

as a pole i can definitely recommend the polish version of cordial - syrup. comes in many flavours and its used to flavour water and beer amongst other things.

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ieya404@reddit

Lowicz!

My local Tesco has the raspberry one, but if you hunt down a Polish shop there are loads more.

I may have bought seven or so different flavours from https://www.foodsklep.com/ for example. :)

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Asylum_Brews@reddit

I used to use this when I was making cider. It adds a fantastic flavour!

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RiClious@reddit

Love how their example product is Turnip juice.

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wildOldcheesecake@reddit

As a non pile I’m thankful for all the cured meats, pickles and Jaffa cakes

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Fast_Boysenberry9493@reddit

Mm and grilled bacon lays

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Transmit_Him@reddit

Yes, I got some nice Serbian tropical Fanta from my local recently.

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WetWristWilson@reddit

Deffo try some international convenience stores/supermarkets. My local one has a big variety of Frutti Fresh which are super nice. They do a fizzy pear which tastes just like pear drops. It’s sooo good.

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LaraH39@reddit

Robinsons fruit and barley range. All of them are really nice but the apple and pear is addictive.

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horrible_goose_@reddit

Mr Fitzpatrick's are the best cordials. I even think the sugar free ones taste great (YMMV)

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Ultiali@reddit

Grenadine. Can normally be found with the other cocktail mixers.

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dgb123dgb@reddit

Apple Tango is the answer.

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jdsuperman@reddit

Is there Apple Tango without sweeteners?

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dgb123dgb@reddit

Guess who didn’t read the question properly? This guy! I thought it was drinks without sugar that didn’t taste as if they had artificial sweeteners and I stand by my answer, even though it’s clearly wrong.

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RiClious@reddit

Lowicz Sour Cherry is good. They also do Raspberry.

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samg3881@reddit

The cola flavour is nice too

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pimpledsimpleton@reddit

full fat vimto

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jdsuperman@reddit

There's no such thing. They went to the dark side years ago.

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victoriaspongebob@reddit

Where can you buy full fat vimto? All I ever see has sweeteners in

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pimpledsimpleton@reddit

oh i thought only the no-added-sugar one had sweeteners in

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victoriaspongebob@reddit

Fraid not. It's very disappointing

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BigBazook@reddit

I just mix good quality juice with fizzy water

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ellasfella68@reddit

Ribena. It’s classic for a reason.

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victoriaspongebob@reddit

Ribena has sweeteners

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noddyneddy@reddit

And it tastes like shite now

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victoriaspongebob@reddit

Quite

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ellasfella68@reddit

I just read in other comments that it has gotten worse. Someone suggested ?Rocks? As a good alternative. The tang that good blackcurrant brings is glorious.

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victoriaspongebob@reddit

I've not tried Rocks, I'll give it a go

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bonkerz1888@reddit

It has natural sweeteners so no different to sugar really (I'm assuming you're trying to avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspertame?), but Fentimans Curiosity Cola is so fucking good. Live the fact it's not too fizzy either.

It does contain artificial sweetener but a nice cold tin of Barr's Limeade on a hot day is magic, so refreshing and again not very fizzy so you can guzzle it 😂

But the daddy of them all is still Irn-Bru 1901.

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Interesting_Lake5574@reddit

Unfortunately the natural sweeteners like Stevia taste just as artificial as aspartame to me. It's so disappointing!

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ajh489@reddit

Does Green Cola count? It uses Stevia rather than aspartame.

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noddyneddy@reddit

I find stevia has a pronounced aftertaste. Almost as bad as aspartame. Don’t have the same issue with sucrolose through. I find drinks that mix that with sugar - so reduced sugar really- are much more palatable and will do if I can’t get full sugar

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Oilfreeeggs@reddit

Appletiser

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wildOldcheesecake@reddit

We buy the cans, doesn’t last more than three days. They taste so good

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BarryJGleed@reddit

Hartridge's for fizzy stuff. Rock's or homemade for everything else. By homemade I mean like a Mexican 'Agua Fresca' type drink.

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TheFlyingScotsman60@reddit

Dalstons

https://dalstons.com/collections/all

Firefly

https://www.fireflydrinks.com/collections/all

Get a taster pack from each and see which one you like the best.

Belvoir cordials are also good with fizzy water.

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EnormousMycoprotein@reddit

Rose's Lime Cordial is still made with sugar.

Also Rocks Blackcurrant, appletizer, and some cocacola.

Like you, I dislike the taste of sweetener and try my best not to buy it.

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