Soft drinks
There’s an awful lot of sugary, brightly coloured and caffeinated fizz to wade through on the soft-drink shelves. Thank goodness for these appealing non-alcoholic cordials, juices and herbal teas – a treat for anyone avoiding the demon drink.
My favourite cordials are the new Pixley Berries Blackcurrant and Ginger, oozing ripe, juicy cassis cut through with a light peppery twist (£3.19 for 500ml; Waitrose – pricey, but a little goes a long way).
And Blossom Cottage Morello Cherry (£1.83; Sainsbury’s), which is refreshingly dry and slightly tart, with an authentic red-cherry flavour.
If you crave somewhat sweeter fizz, don’t miss the new Fever-Tree Lemon Tonic (£2.99 for 4 x 200ml; Waitrose), which knocks spots off old-fashioned, blue-tinged bitter lemon, and tastes beautifully refreshing served cool, all on its own. Add gin or vodka as or when you finish detoxing.
When it comes to fresh juices, Sainsbury’s Apple & Boysenberry Juice (£1.49 for 1 litre) is a big hit with both young and old in our house. With its inky purple colour and satisfying richness, it really seems to suit the winter.
Top of the teas, or at least the herbal ones at any rate, is Marks & Spencer Organic Spearmint, Peppermint and Fennel Infusion (99p for 20 bags), which has a clean, natural flavour and fresh, minty finish. It works wonders on a jaded palate.