Substitutes for Ribena (blackcurrant drink)

I'm quite partial to a drop of Ribena now and again. Occasionally the children may be allowed a glass too. This can get quite expensive with the cost of importing from the UK so if anyone has any recommendations for an equivalent German blackcurrant syrup which might be available at a fair price then I'd be much obliged. There's a huge drinks market at my local Rewe but no likely candidates.
Cheers

Try a Reformhaus, or even a chemist (Apotheke) that sells more than just drugs. Our local pill merchant has a display shelf with all kinds of healthy juices and fruit syrups including schwarze Johannisbeere and Holunder (close enough), and most health food places I've seen have the same. (Ohh, hot Ribena, rots the teeth but soothes the soul!)

Good for when you have a come down after a big wekend in the clubs.
Johannebeer nektar from PLUS which you can further dilute to double it.

If ever you pop over to France then their supermarkets have a much wider variety than the Germans do.

Surprised you couldn't find Johannisbeere syrup at the Getränkemarkt, but if it really isn't there then your local Reformhaus or health-food store will have it, as crusoe says. I can also recommend the Holunder (elderberry) syrup, which has a bit more of a bite.

If you go to Karstadt Food Hall @ Munich Hauptbahnof - in the Kaeffer section - by the beer fridge - you will find a couple of decent johannesbeeren syrup substitutes for Ribena. They work well enough for my kids to ask for 'Ribena'...and get the generic

If you want that super sweet Ribers awesomeness, it is not just a case of getting some johanneswotsit syrup. Too tart, not the correct tang to it. Getting the water/syrup mixture right is quite a challenge even if you actually have proper Ribena syrup - never tastes quite like the cartons/bottles of ready mixed. Anyway, the secret to using Ribena syrup has always been to use a ridiculous amount of syrup. Try this in Germany, and it will taste rank, but the way to a closer approximation of Ribers is simply to whack shitloads of sugar into a fairly mild mix of German syrupy stuff. Ain't perfect, but the sugary boost makes it come closer. If you want that "no added sugar" Ribena, then sorry, no clue atall - just go old skool and rot your teeth to shit. Well worth it. Science can replace teeth easier than Germany can provide a close Ribena substitute.

I've now found the closest thing you'll get to Ribena in Munich - Karstadt at Munchener Freiheit sell a few different types the french Teisseire syrup. The blackcurrant flavour 'sirop de cassis' is really very good. About 3€ a bottle.

I guess you've just described the Ribena manufacturing process.

There is no substitute for Ribena, simple as that.

Ribena isn't a syrup though (what the French call 'Sirop')... that syrup stuff is lethal, extremely sugary and even when v diluted still has a v different taste, even the blackberry flavour. Ribena's more of a fruity cordial methinks.. how about mixinf blackcurrant juice with a cordial to get the strength right? Pomeroy sells cordials.