Fruit Cordial

Fruit cordial is a concentrated syrup made from fruit juice or flavourings, sugar, and water. You mix a small amount with cold water — or soda water for a fizzy version — to make a refreshing drink. It’s a fixture in Australian households, especially for kids.

Cordial comes in a wide range of fruit flavours, from lemon and orange to tropical blends. It’s economical and long-lasting, and the concentration can be adjusted to taste. Some varieties are made with real fruit juice, while others rely on flavourings.

Produced
photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Fruit juice or fruit flavourings are blended with sugar and water to create a concentrated syrup. Preservatives and sometimes citric acid are added for shelf life and tartness. The mixture is pasteurised and bottled. The consumer dilutes it with water before drinking, typically at a ratio of about one part cordial to four or five parts water.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 26kcal
Protein 0g
Carbs 6.5g
Fat 0g
Fibre 0g Sugar 6.5g
Mass Distribution

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon ≈4.82kg
Freshwater ≈1200.15L
Land ≈5.48

≈ Estimated — worked out from a category-typical value further up its supply chain. Where this comes from →

Where it comes from

In the kitchen

Used as

sweet drink mixer

Goes well with
soda water mint lemon lime ice
Classic dishes
  • Summer punch
  • Fruit lemonade
  • Mocktail spritz

Keeping one at home? Track yours in your cubud →

Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

FSANZ

How it was calculated

Recipe

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

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