More About Pulco
The Pulco collection at Epicerie Corner brings together 13 products from France's iconic citrus beverage brand — six concentrated syrups to dilute (Lemon 70cl, Lime 70cl, Citrus Fruits 70cl, Lime & Mint 70cl, Orange & Lemon 70cl, Blood Orange 70cl), four ready-to-drink still lemonades (Lemonade 1L, Lemonade 1.5L, Lemon & Lime 1L, Lemon Mint 1L) and three sparkling Fines Bulles variants (Lemon 1L, Lime 1L, Lemon Mint 1L).
About Pulco
Pulco is a French citrus beverage brand with a long history in the French soft drinks market, built on its signature lemon concentrate designed to be diluted with still or sparkling water at home. The brand occupies a distinctive position between syrup (which is sweet and high-sugar) and ready-to-drink lemonade: Pulco concentrates contain real citrus juice, no artificial sweeteners and no added preservatives, giving a fresh citrus flavour that consumers control by adjusting the dilution ratio. Pulco's concentrate range has been a staple of French home drinks preparation for decades and is now complemented by a full range of ready-to-drink lemonades and sparkling Fines Bulles lines.
Concentrates to Dilute
- Pulco Lemon 70cl: the original and most recognised product in the Pulco range — a lemon concentrate made with real lemon juice, designed to be diluted with still or sparkling water (typically 1 part Pulco to 5–7 parts water, to taste). Free from artificial colouring, sweeteners and preservatives. The 70cl bottle makes approximately 4–5 litres of finished lemonade. Pulco Lime 70cl: the lime variant, with a sharper, more tropical citrus character than lemon. Suited for mixing with sparkling water for a homemade lime soda. Pulco Citrus Fruits 70cl: a blend of citrus fruits (lemon, orange, grapefruit) for a more complex, rounded citrus concentrate.
- Pulco Lime & Mint 70cl: a lime concentrate with natural mint flavouring, offering a mojito-inspired profile without alcohol — particularly suited for sparkling water dilution at a ratio of approximately 1:6. Pulco Orange & Lemon 70cl: a sweet-citrus blend combining orange and lemon concentrates. Pulco Blood Orange (Orange Sanguine) 70cl: a blood orange concentrate — blood oranges (Moro, Tarocco and Sanguinello cultivars from Sicily and Spain) have a darker red-purple flesh resulting from anthocyanin pigments, and a flavour combining citrus tartness with a subtle berry note absent in standard orange. The blood orange season in the Mediterranean is typically December to March, making this concentrate a year-round option for that flavour profile.
Ready-to-Drink Still Lemonades
- Pulco Lemonade 1L and Lemonade 1.5L: ready-to-drink still lemonade in the style of a home-diluted Pulco — lemon juice, water, sugar, no artificial sweeteners or preservatives, no artificial colouring. The 1.5L format is suited for the table at meals or family use. Pulco Lemon & Lime 1L: a combined lemon-lime still lemonade for a slightly more complex citrus profile. Pulco Lemon Mint 1L: a ready-to-drink lemon lemonade with natural mint, positioned as a refreshing alternative to mint syrups and water.
Fines Bulles — Sparkling Lemonades
- Pulco Fines Bulles Lemon 1L: a gently sparkling (fines bulles = fine bubbles) lemon lemonade — a middle ground between the still lemonade range and a carbonated soft drink. The fine carbonation level (lower than standard sparkling water or cola) results in a less aggressive fizz and a softer mouthfeel. Pulco Fines Bulles Lime 1L: the sparkling lime variant. Pulco Fines Bulles Lemon & Mint 1L: a sparkling lemon-mint version, closest in profile to a lightly carbonated mint lemonade. These sparkling lemonades contain no artificial sweeteners, no artificial colouring and no preservatives.
For other French soft drinks and carbonated beverages, see Soft Drinks. For sparkling water to use as a dilution base, see Sparkling Water. For Schweppes and tonic beverages, see Schweppes.
Pulco FAQs
What is the correct ratio for diluting Pulco concentrate?
Pulco recommends diluting approximately 1 part concentrate with 5 to 7 parts water, but the ratio is entirely a matter of personal taste — some consumers prefer a more concentrated, tart result closer to 1:4, while others go up to 1:8 for a very light citrus water. The key variable is the water: still water produces a smoother, more old-fashioned lemonade result, while sparkling water gives a more refreshing effervescent result, and cold water accentuates the sharpness of the lemon juice. Pulco concentrates do not contain artificial sweeteners, so the sweetness level is fixed by the concentrate's own sugar content and cannot be adjusted by dilution ratio — only the intensity of flavour changes. If adding ice, allow for the dilution from melting ice and start at the more concentrated end of the range. A 70cl bottle diluted at 1:6 gives approximately 4.2 litres of finished lemonade, equivalent to around 7 standard glasses.
What is the difference between a concentrate to dilute (à diluer) and a syrup?
Both require dilution with water, but they differ in sugar content and flavour profile. A syrup (sirop) is a high-sugar preparation — typically 600–700g sugar per litre — that is sweet-forward and uses artificial flavourings or natural flavour extracts. The high sugar content acts as a natural preservative and the sweetness is intense even when diluted. A concentrate to dilute (concentré à diluer) like Pulco is fruit-juice based — it contains real citrus juice and a moderate sugar content lower than a syrup, and is designed to taste like a freshly diluted lemonade rather than a sweet cordial. Because the sugar content is lower and the product is juice-based, concentrates typically need refrigeration after opening. The taste difference is clear: a syrup diluted in water tastes sweet and artificial; a juice-based concentrate diluted in water tastes closer to a homemade squeezed lemonade.