Why Can't I buy Bitter Lemon Drink?

I sympathise, I hadn't noticed it seems impossible to find bitter lemon in anything other than 'slimline' versions with artificial sweeteners. I do have a job finding tonic water that isn't slimline and/or flavoured. Why this compulsion to feed us artificial sweeteners?

Rosie51

I sympathise, I hadn't noticed it seems impossible to find bitter lemon in anything other than 'slimline' versions with artificial sweeteners. I do have a job finding tonic water that isn't slimline and/or flavoured. Why this compulsion to feed us artificial sweeteners?

We buy 'normal' tonic water all the time and never have any trouble finding it in the supermarkets - Asda, Tesco, Aldi and Lidl all sell it.

you mean bitter lemon tonic? It's by all the tonic waters in the booze section

ok after googling I realise your issue is they are all slimline or low calorie options

This one may not be bitter enough but it says “no added sweeteners”, it may be worth a try.

www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/fever-tree-light-sicilian-lemonade/733153-104175-104176

Actually this one may be better it has fructose added (fruit sugar).

www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/fever-tree-refreshingly-light-lemon-tonic/803061-690490-690491

I feel your pain. I love Bitter Lemon but not with sweeteners added- the added fruit sugard added don't sound good either.
Now I order lime and soda, as long as they mix in the lime it is a nice drink.

ViceVersa

Rosie51

I sympathise, I hadn't noticed it seems impossible to find bitter lemon in anything other than 'slimline' versions with artificial sweeteners. I do have a job finding tonic water that isn't slimline and/or flavoured. Why this compulsion to feed us artificial sweeteners?

We buy 'normal' tonic water all the time and never have any trouble finding it in the supermarkets - Asda, Tesco, Aldi and Lidl all sell it.

Most of the 'normal' tonic waters ( and all the own brand ones that I've checked) contain artificial sweeteners as well as sugar, Fever-tree is one I've found that doesn't.

I think it is because of the so called "sugar tax". Manufacturers are being a bit mean with the sugar.

Funnily enough, my sister and I were discussing bitter lemon the other day. Our children all think it is a quaintly old fashioned drink, and when I was in a bar a couple of weeks ago the woman next to me asked for a gin and bitter lemon, and the (young) barman looked bemused and said they don't keep it as 'there's no call for it'.

I think it's just gone out of fashion, although I would buy it if I saw it.

Schweppes still do a full fat bitter lemon, cans or bottles

When the sugar tax was introduced the idea was that manufacturers would gradually reduce the sugar in food so that people got used to expecting food and drinks to be less sweet. Unfortunately the law of unforeseen consequences came into play, and when the manufacturers took the sugar out, they replaced it with artificial sweeteners and foods and drinks covered by the sugar tax are now sweeter than they were before the tax.

Google 'bitter lemon' and it is clear it is still being manufactured by Shweppes and several supermarket chains offer it, but only in sores where they can sell sufficient.

M0nica

When the sugar tax was introduced the idea was that manufacturers would gradually reduce the sugar in food so that people got used to expecting food and drinks to be less sweet. Unfortunately the law of unforeseen consequences came into play, and when the manufacturers took the sugar out, they replaced it with artificial sweeteners and foods and drinks covered by the sugar tax are now sweeter than they were before the tax.

Google 'bitter lemon' and it is clear it is still being manufactured by Shweppes and several supermarket chains offer it, but only in sores where they can sell sufficient.

I absolutely agree and couldn't have put it better myself. There should be a 'sweetness indicator' (there probably is already!) and nothing should be sold above that level. We are hard wired to want sweetness, apparently, so it sells.

Re the Schweppes BL, goodness knows why I couldn't see it for myself - frustration maybe. I have ordered some. Many thanks

Razzy

Schweppes still do a full fat bitter lemon, cans or bottles

Thank you, I can see it now and have ordered some ... nowhere near me sells it!

keepingquiet

I feel your pain. I love Bitter Lemon but not with sweeteners added- the added fruit sugard added don't sound good either.
Now I order lime and soda, as long as they mix in the lime it is a nice drink.

Schweppes make one, a couple of people have told me so I have ordered some

The pubs don't serve it though- which are the only places I drink it!

Maybe next time I go to a pub and I'm driving I should take my own?

Have you tried the San Pelagrino Limonata make? That isn't sugar free, unfortunately it only come in cans, I know most of the major supermarkets sell it. They do and orange flavour too.

I love still lemonade. M&S or Sainsbury's do a lovely one. It's very refreshing.

I love San Pelagrino but they don't sell it in pubs.

Where did you find it? I thought I found some on Ocado but then notice it says low calorie round the neck/cap.
Thank you

It bugs me that the supermarkets don't seem to do small bottles of lemonade. I don't want a 2 litre one which is all that seems on offer.
I'll keep an eye open for bitter lemon and tell you if I find one.