A recent blind taste test conducted by Metro has revealed that Asda's own-brand quadruple strength orange squash outperformed the iconic Robinsons brand, scoring a total of 64 out of 100 points. The test aimed to determine which orange squash offers the best combination of taste, strength, smell, and value for money.
How the Taste Test Was Conducted
The Metro team sampled orange squash from nine different retailers: Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Co-op, M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, and Robinsons. Each product was scored across four categories—overall taste, strength, smell, and value for money—with a maximum possible score of 100 points. The tasting was conducted blind to ensure unbiased results.
Winner: Asda Quadruple Strength Orange Squash
Asda’s Quadruple Strength Orange Squash, priced at £1.84 for a 1.5-liter bottle, emerged victorious with an overall score of 64. It earned high marks for its taste, which tasters described as "nostalgic" and "just right" in terms of sweetness. The aroma was praised for smelling "like actual oranges," and its mouthfeel was noted as "light" and "good." In the strength category, it scored 17 out of 25, with one reviewer stating, "It tastes exactly how you’d want a glass of orange squash to taste." Another remarked that the flavor "transported them straight back to childhood birthday parties." Its value for money score of 19 out of 25 further solidified its top position.
Runner-Up: Robinsons Orange Squash
Robinsons Orange Squash, available at Iceland for £1.25 per liter and at Tesco with a Clubcard, came in second place with a total score of 61. It narrowly missed the top spot by just three points. Tasters found it to be a "nice" drink with an "inoffensive" taste and smell, but it lost points for strength, scoring only 13 out of 25. Some participants described it as "a tad weak." However, it was praised for being "smooth" with a "pleasant citrus aftertaste." It tied with Asda in value for money, also scoring 19 out of 25.
Full Results of the Taste Test
Here is the complete ranking of all nine orange squashes tested:
- Asda – Taste: 15/25, Strength: 16/25, Smell: 14/25, Value: 19/25 – Total: 64/100
- Robinsons – Taste: 16/25, Strength: 13/25, Smell: 13/25, Value: 19/25 – Total: 61/100
- Lidl (Lindhouse Double Strength) – Taste: 13/25, Strength: 9/25, Smell: 13/25, Value: 23/25 – Total: 58/100
- Aldi (Sun Quench Double Strength) – Taste: 8/25, Strength: 17/25, Smell: 9/25, Value: 24/25 – Total: 58/100
- Sainsbury’s – Taste: 14/25, Strength: 17/25, Smell: 15/25, Value: 9/25 – Total: 55/100
- Co-op – Taste: 16/25, Strength: 17/25, Smell: 14/25, Value: 8/25 – Total: 55/100
- Waitrose – Taste: 12/25, Strength: 12/25, Smell: 14/25, Value: 15/25 – Total: 53/100
- M&S – Taste: 9/25, Strength: 8/25, Smell: 10/25, Value: 18/25 – Total: 45/100
- Tesco – Taste: 9/25, Strength: 17/25, Smell: 6/25, Value: 13/25 – Total: 45/100
Notable Performances
Lidl and Aldi tied for third place with a score of 58 each. Lidl’s squash scored higher in taste and smell, while Aldi’s was stronger. Both were excellent value for money, priced under £1. Sainsbury’s and Co-op followed with a joint score of 55. Both are quadruple strength and were praised for having "the perfect strength," but Co-op edged ahead in taste with 16 out of 25 compared to Sainsbury’s 14. Waitrose scored 53, with tasters noting it was "too strong" with a "very citrussy smell" and a "slight, sharp tang." At the bottom, M&S and Tesco each scored 45. M&S was criticized for a medicinal flavor reminiscent of "Berocca" and described as "very weak" and "forgettable." Tesco was deemed the most "artificial" tasting of all.
The test highlights that supermarket own-brand options can compete with and even surpass established brands like Robinsons, particularly in terms of value and strength. Asda’s victory underscores the growing trend of own-brand products winning consumer approval in blind taste tests.
