When it comes to the weekly shop, certain brands inspire unwavering loyalty—Heinz baked beans, Cadbury chocolate, and for many, Robinsons orange squash. The brand has long been synonymous with the fruity beverage, often hailed as the best. But does it truly deserve the crown? Metro set out to settle the debate once and for all, pitting branded and supermarket own-brand versions of orange squash against each other in a blind taste test. The results might just change your grocery list.
How the Taste Test Was Conducted
The Metro team sampled orange squash from Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Co-op, M&S, Waitrose, and Sainsbury's, alongside the iconic Robinsons. Each drink was scored across four categories: overall taste, strength, smell, and value for money, with a maximum possible score of 100.
The Winner: Asda Quadruple Strength Orange Squash
Asda's Quadruple Strength Orange Squash (£1.84 for 1.5L) emerged victorious with a total score of 64 out of 100. Tasters praised its nostalgic taste and perfectly balanced sweetness. The aroma was described as smelling 'like actual oranges,' and the mouthfeel was 'light' and 'good.' It scored 17 out of 25 for strength, with one reviewer noting it 'tastes exactly how you’d want a glass of orange squash to taste,' while another said it 'transported them straight back to childhood birthday parties.'
Robinsons Takes Second Place
The classic Robinsons Orange Squash (£1.25 for 1L) narrowly missed the top spot, scoring 61 out of 100. While tasters found it 'nice' with an 'inoffensive' taste and smell, it lost points for being only double strength, earning 13 out of 25 in that category. Some called it 'a tad weak,' though it was praised as 'smooth' with a 'pleasant citrus aftertaste.'
Full Taste Test Results
- Asda: Taste 15/25, Strength 16/25, Smell 14/25, Value 19/25 – Total 64
- Robinsons: Taste 16/25, Strength 13/25, Smell 13/25, Value 19/25 – Total 61
- Lidl: Taste 13/25, Strength 9/25, Smell 13/25, Value 23/25 – Total 58
- Aldi: Taste 8/25, Strength 17/25, Smell 9/25, Value 24/25 – Total 58
- Sainsbury's: Taste 14/25, Strength 17/25, Smell 15/25, Value 9/25 – Total 55
- Co-op: Taste 16/25, Strength 17/25, Smell 14/25, Value 8/25 – Total 55
- Waitrose: Taste 12/25, Strength 12/25, Smell 14/25, Value 15/25 – Total 53
- M&S: Taste 9/25, Strength 8/25, Smell 10/25, Value 18/25 – Total 45
- Tesco: Taste 9/25, Strength 17/25, Smell 6/25, Value 13/25 – Total 45
Lidl's Lindhouse Double Strength (89p for 1.5L) and Aldi's Sun Quench Double Strength (99p for 1L) tied for third with 58 points each. Lidl excelled in taste and smell, while Aldi was stronger. Both offered excellent value at under £1. Sainsbury's and Co-op followed with 55 points each, both quadruple strength and praised for their potency. Waitrose scored 53, described as 'too strong' with a 'sharp tang.' At the bottom, M&S and Tesco earned 45 points each. M&S was likened to 'Berocca' with a medicinal flavor, while Tesco was deemed the most 'artificial.'
