14-07-2025
I tried all the supermarket cloudy lemonades – refreshing 90p winner is perfect drink for a summery day
WHEN it comes to refreshing summer sips, nothing quite hits the spot like traditional cloudy lemonade.
But shoppers at Tesco have had to find a substitute after the store removed it from its soft drinks range.
Lovers of the fizz have been pleading online for it to be reinstated.
Meanwhile, which other own-brand bottles of pop can they turn to?
Laura Stott samples a selection and gives her verdict.
Diet Lemonade with Lemon Juice, 330ml, 55p, Tesco
WITH Tesco's traditional-style cloudy lemonade being withdrawn, what I found left on the shelves instead was this lemonade made with 2 per cent lemon juice.
So it's easy to see why shoppers who usually buy the 'old-fashioned' style drink are not happy.
While there is nothing wrong with this version, the flavour is just not the same.
It is described as sherbet- tasting, but it's more like a plain lemonade and the disappointing fruit flavour is very wishy-washy.
There also is no yellowy colour, which that is part of the enjoyment of the traditional drink.
It's artificial tasting and lacking in zing.
Hardly comparable to a delicious chilled glass of the original cloudy fizz. An unsatisfying substitute.
Rating: 2/5
Cloudy Lemonade, 750ml £3.50, M&S
THIS yummy real lemonade in its fancy glass bottle is rammed with the taste of juicy Italian fruits – and is the posh bottle to buy if you want to treat yourself or you are having people over.
Made with 4 per cent Sicilian lemon juice and an additional 4 per cent puree on top, this double whammy really elevates the juiciness.
Combined with carbonated water, it's incredibly moreish and hits the perfect spot between sweet and sharp.
There is no escaping the fact this is a costlier option, and 750ml won't go that far.
I'd suggest this is one best kept for the grown-ups to enjoy as a nice alcohol-free offering, or to have at a summer barbecue or garden party.
It is expensive but if you are buying as a booze-free alternative, it isn't bad value. Would be a good mixer for summer cocktails.
Rating: 3/5
Vive Lemon Zero Sugar, 85p, 2 litres, Aldi
ALDI'S lemon sparkling drink is a good price, but the two-litre bottle was no better value than most of the other own-brand options.
It also contains a slightly lower amount of lemon juice from concentrate than many of the other supermarket offerings.
They predominantly contain 4 per cent fruit juice, whereas this one is lower at just 3 per cent .
That said, the flavour is a little different, perhaps closer to one of the big-brand fizzy lemon drinks, rather than a traditional summertime 'cloudy' lemonade recipe.
I found it sweeter, too, which was not to my taste. But that can be a matter of personal preference.
It reminded me of a lemon drink you might buy on holiday to slurp as a change from a cola by the swimming pool.
Rating: 2/5
Cloudy Lemonade, 6 x 330ml cans, Sainsbury's, £2.05
BUYING fizzy drinks as individual cans is a great way to make sure pop does not end up being wasted and poured down the sink when it goes flat.
And while this multi-pack is a little pricier at the till, the price per can is not too painful.
A super way to quench your thirst on a hot day.
There's plenty of the lemon flavour that you want in these sunny sippers, which can be enjoyed nice and chilled.
The bright and bold citrus flavour certainly refreshes your palate and perks you up.
The downside of drinking it this way is you don't get to enjoy the 'cloudy' colour, unless you pour it into a glass.
On the plus side, it's perfect for picnics or for drinking on the go.
A very good glug.
4/5
Diet Cloudy Lemonade, 2 litres, 90p, Co-op
A VERY stylish big bottle of pop from the Co-op, with a fun label that adults won't be embarrassed to have in the fridge. It has a gorgeous vibrant yellow colour too!
A bit more citrus flavour than some of the other supermarket options, thanks to a combination of lemon juices that provide this one with a lovely balance point between tart and sweet.
A little less gassy than some other options.
It seems a bit softer and gentler to sip, which I rather enjoyed.
But if you prefer the bubbles-up-your-nose sensation of a fizzy drink, you might want one with a bit more 'pop'.
It also means it is likely to go flat faster.
Very refreshing and tasty though, and packed with traditional and comforting fruity flavour.
Delicious, and a perfect drink on a summery day.
Rating: 5/5
Cloudy Lemonade, 2 litres, 80p, Morrisons
THIS no-added-sugar fizz from Morrisons has a delicious cloudy hue that had the strongest citrus colour of all the bottles of pop I slurped.
Made with 4 per cent concentrated lemon, it gives you all the soft tang of the fruit but it has been made more palatable with the addition of some sweetness.
Very bubbly and fizzy, so a chilled glass of this on a warm day really hits the spot for refreshing you and quenching your thirst.
I did find it had a slightly artificial aftertaste, but that's not uncommon with any carbonated drinks that have sucralose added to them.
A lovely warm-weather sip that will be a great fridge standby at this time of year. Very good value, too.
Rating: 4/5
Diet Cloudy Lemonade, 2 litres, 82p, Asda
LOADS of lemon bubbles for your bucks in Asda's own citrus fizz, which is tangy and tasty.
While not as sharp or tingly on the tongue as some others, it is still packed with the flavours of the fruit.
A very pale yellow-green cloudy colour which, when chilled, looks delicious.
You'll be pleased to pour out a glass of this to quench your thirst on a hot day, and it's even better over ice.
It is made with 4 per cent concentrated juice and is another supermarket slurper to come as a diet option.
If you fancy a change from a plain lemonade, the fruit flavour really does elevate this to a more enjoyable drink.
It would make a super mixer with spirits such as vodka or gin.
