Ribena, Ribena, Ribena, I love it! Ribena Blackcurrant, Ribena Apple and Ribena Strawberry - you name it as long as it's Ribena!
So why do I love Ribena so much?
Throughout my childhood, there were 6 children in my immediate family. My parents would never buy us Ribena as it would get ... Read review
Advantages: Tastes amazing Disadvantages: You must love blackcurrant! Expensive!
...Ribena, Ribena, I love it! Ribena Blackcurrant, Ribena Apple and Ribena Strawberry - you name it as long as it's Ribena!
So why do I love Ribena so much?
Throughout my childhood, there were 6 children in my immediate family. My parents would never buy us Ribena as it would get drunk too quickly and well, they weren't that rich - lets face it, it is expensive stuff for a concentrated juice drink.
We were ... ...a 2 litre bottle of Ribena so I will primarily review this in much detail.
Packaging:
Being sold in transparent bottles you can see exactly what you are getting - regardless if you have purchased the big 2 litre bottle or the smaller 1 litre one (also applies to the 600ml bottle). A golden coloured cap that sits on the top of the bottle shows off the quality of this brand.
Ribena, Ribena, Ribena, I love it! Ribena Blackcurrant, Ribena Apple and Ribena Strawberry - you name it as long as it's Ribena!
So why do I love Ribena so much?
Throughout my childhood, there were 6 children in my immediate family. My parents would never buy us Ribena as it would get drunk too quickly and well, they weren't that rich - lets face it, it is expensive stuff for a concentrated juice drink.
We were always subjected to the supermarkets own brand blackcurrant squash drinks. I grew to hate these drinks with such a passion, every day for years and years, the same smell, the same taste eurgh…. ! The smell still makes my stomach churn if I even go near a cheaper brand! The flavourings of the cheaper brands were very bland and all you could taste afterwards was the 'fake blackcurrant' juice that had been added to supposedly make it real 'blackcurrant juice!'
I believe that when it comes to a nice squash drink you have to spend a few extra pence. I am a bit of a snob when it comes to drinks. I love just about everything associated with Ribena.
My review is about a 2 litre bottle of Ribena so I will primarily review this in much detail.
Packaging:
Being sold in transparent bottles you can see exactly what you are getting - regardless if you have purchased the big 2 litre bottle or the smaller 1 litre one (also applies to the 600ml bottle). A golden coloured cap that sits on the top of the bottle shows off the quality of this brand.
Purple sticky labels run across the front of the bottle revealing in lovely red writing that word 'Ribena' The Original. Lots of beautiful blackcurrants decorate the label to enhance the marketing appeal.
The 2 litre bottle that I have at the moment has a handle on the back of it to ensure easy care and pouring of that delicious purple coloured liquid. Unlike most other branded squashes, the bottles (Of all sizes) come with a ring pull underneath the golden cap. This ensures freshness and of course, peace of mind (nobody has tampered with it) you would then go on to dispose of this golden plastic ring pull as it's not re-usable.
Texture and Taste:
Where do I start with this…..?
Full of vitamin C it is a very thick liquid, kind of syrupy - maybe this is why I love it so much. You only need such a small amount of this squash to dilute; again this is due to its thickness and rich syrupy consistency.
Of course as a juice and with the sugar etc it will be very sticky if you were to spill it. It also can stain surfaces so be careful if you ever spill any, clean it up straight away! I guess the reason it is much more prone to staining is the fact it does contain REAL blackcurrant juice. Another added joy of Ribena is also, the fact it has no artificial colourings or preservatives so you know it really is natural!
Wow, it tastes so good.
A richer taste and thicker consistency after diluting, it actually sits in your glass with a real blackcurrant colour (Purple/red for those of you who don't know) rather than a watered down appearance like other brands.
It doesn't settle at the bottom of the glass so mixes well with water. It doesn't bubble of froth on top so you always get a perfectly smooth, rich, tasty glass of Ribena Blackcurrant Squash.
It quenches thirst very well and is very refreshing on a really hot day. I am never dehydrated as long as I have my bottle in the cupboard.
Whenever I feel run down or poorly I drink even more of this perfect blackcurrant drink as its rich in vitamin C so it will help boost my immune system.
Part of the label displays the following statement: Ribena should be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle! In my opinion it's certainly better than drinking fizzy drinks all day and well, face it - will taste better than water alone so it really works well for me.
Directions:
Dilute 1 part (30ml) squash with at least 5 parts (150ml) water to give a 180ml serving. (You will get used to how you like yours).
I also like to drink this hot - same as the above but with warm water. I find it is quite relaxing, but believe it may not be to everyone's taste.
Ingredients (After Dilution):
Water, Sugar, Glucose Fructose Syrup (From wheat and maize). Blackcurrant juice from concentrate (4%), Citric Acid, Vitamin C, Preservatives (Sodium Benzoate), Sodium Bisulphite), Colour (Anthocyanins).
Not suitable for babies or toddlers under 36 months.
A 'Toothkind' version is available - this has lower added sugar so therefore kinder to your teeth - especially good for children.
Nutritional Information: Per 100ml
Energy, KJ/kcal: 189/45 Protein. G: Trace Carbohydrate: 10.9 (Certainly not for anyone on the Atkins Diet). of which sugars: 10.6 Fat. g: Nil of which saturates: Nil Fibre. g: Nil Sodium. g: Nil Vitamin C mg: 56% of recommended daily allowance
Where To Buy:
Any major supermarket sells Ribena. You can purchase it from smaller shops and some petrol stations as well.
Asda sell at a competitive price so depending where you shop you may pay a few pence more or less then that stated here, but, as long as it's a supermarket then you can use these figures below as a good guide…..
Ribena is also available in other forms. Here are a few…..
1 Litre Carton - Ribena Original Blackcurrant 250ml Carton - Ribena Original Blackcurrant/Strawberry/Apple/Orange Tropical (Toothkind formula available). 200ml Sports Cap Bottle - blackcurrant/Orange Tropical/Berry Burst & Really Light
All sports bottles and cartons are available to buy separately or as a multi-pack.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this to any person who likes blackcurrants. It is quite expensive for a squash but is very fulfilling to drink. Obviously this is not too good if you are gluten intolerant or on a low carbohydrate eating plan but otherwise is perfect for you to quench your thirst if you can quench the price.
A great tip: it is fantastic for hangovers, I send my better half out on a Saturday morning just to get me my Ribena! Try it, it don't half re-hydrate you.
I will give it 4 S*T*A*R*S simply because of the price being on the higher end of the scale.
grown_up_girlie 26.05.2005 (27.05.2005)
Ciao members have rated this review on average:
very helpful
Review of Ribena Original Seriously Good Blackcurrant
Advantages: Healthy, No articfial stuff, economical, great taste Disadvantages: Lack of more flavours, high sugar content
Ribena has been one of those drinks that have been around for ages and I suppose one of the reasons why I have only recently started enjoying this fabulous drink is because it has been rather over shadowed by its more illustrious competitor Vimto.
Ribena is made by the giant conglomerate Smith Kline & Beecham so the quality aspect is certainly ascertained and the product certainly delivers in all aspects.
Personally I use the Ribena Original Blackcurrant ... ...all the Ribena products, you are provided with a wide variety of pack sizes namely: 2 liter, 1 liter, 600ml and 400ml.
There are lots of great things to say about Ribena and these include the fact that all their products have high levels of Vitamin C included. You also have the option of diluting it with either regular water or carbonated water. I personally enjoy using the carbonated water since I like it a lot more concentrated than the carbonated ...
vinodgm 11.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ribena Original Seriously Good Blackcurrant
Advantages: Its bogey coloured Disadvantages: Very artificial in taste
...The bottle is the usual Ribena shaped one and was only available in the smaller size.
So we get home and everyone wants a try, so find some glasses and pour a small amount in each one, as it is supposed to be concentrated. Unlike the regular blackcurrant Ribena, which is very concentrated this actually appeared quite diluted when it came out of the bottle but the bottle and a quick taste assured me it wasn’t, so I just put the normal amount in. ... ...water. With regular Ribena I actually find it very thirst quenching and refreshing can easily gulp down a half pint very quickly, sadly I didn’t find the pukey green Shrek version quite as refreshing, the first taste was quite nice, a strong mixture of artificial apple and pear, but it did leave a bit of an aftertaste, and I’m not that keen on all things artificial, if anything though for me the apple far outweighed the pear. Anyway the idea behind ...
MHam 29.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ribena Original Seriously Good Blackcurrant
Advantages: It tastes nice and I have it hot or cold Disadvantages: It's full of sugar and it's pricey
...divers alarums
Sweetpea finds some Ribena – quantum spes
The day is saved – quantum tripudium
And so we begin…..
Oh Lawks. Sweetpea Noddy and the Aldi man came to my house for tea the other day, this is the story of what happened. I’m Sweetpea’s grey haired old mam and I was brought up on a strict diet of fry ups and lovely cuppa’s. Everyone comes to my house for tea, they all walk up the street and then womble ... ...a lovely purple bottle of Ribena Original. Now, I was worried. I wasn’t used to having to make do in this day and age so I had to remember back when we had to make do in the war. Like when we drew lines in eyeliner up the backs of our legs because we couldn’t afford real biros to do it, or was it something to do with not having stockings? Anyway, I once tricked the Vicar into drinking some Ribena instead of red wine at Church because ...
marsden 05.10.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ribena Original Seriously Good Blackcurrant
Advantages: Rich In Vitamic C Disadvantages: High In Sugar
...to only treat us to Ribena occasionally as it is rather expensive. It was usually only bought when either myself or my brother was feeling a bit poorly as my mother saw it as a bit of "pick me up" in a similar way to how she viewed Lucozade.
Anyway before I launch into my review I usually like to give a little bit of background information and today is no exception
The History
The origins of the concentrated Blackcurrant Fruit Cordial drink that ... ...who still produce and market Ribena today. Today Ribena is the fourth biggest selling soft drinks brand in the UK and worldwide a staggering 750 million bottles and cartons are now produced each year which are sold in over twenty countries worldwide.
The Packaging
These days Ribena comes in all different shapes and sizes. When I was young I rememer a 1 litre glass bottle which is pretty much the same design as you find today, but like other products ...
micksheff 14.09.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ribena Original Seriously Good Blackcurrant
Advantages: it's drinkable Disadvantages: is very expensive and there's not a lot in it
...a 1 litre bottle of Ribena Original. Into the car he gets grumbling and mumbling about something incomprehensible. 'Sorry?' I ask, wondering what the hell he's on about this time....
'Bloomin 4 quid that thing cost me!' he says in a rather high pitched voice that I haven't heard since the dog jumped up onto his groin...!
Apparently it is, and I quote, "THE most expensive juice in the garage" according to the cashier who probably cannot quite believe ... ...Vitamin C.
Ribena is made by
Smithkline Beecham
FREEPOST TK2018
Brentford
TW8 9BR
(UK residents only)
OR
Corrig Avenue
Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin
Eire
(postage is necessary outside the UK)
www.ribena.com
My overall opinion of this juice is that it's very nice and very fruity. It doesn't last long (we finished ours today, that's three days) and it's VERY expensive. It's nice but not THAT nice!
You can buy it almost everywhere but I'm ...
noofer 06.11.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ribena Original Seriously Good Blackcurrant
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