There is probably nothing more refreshing than lemonade! This aromatic fruit-based drink, often with a sweet and tart taste, is loved by both children and adults. It is perfect for everyday drinking, as well as with meals. Served appropriately, it is also ideal for gatherings with loved ones or lavish parties. How to prepare different types of lemonade? How to serve it decoratively? How does it change with different additions?
Lemonade – the mother of carbonated beverages
Lemonade has a surprisingly long history! A drink made from citrus with crushed dates or honey was enjoyed in Egypt at least 1000 years ago. Pepper and mint were also added. The most popular fruit from which juice was squeezed for medieval lemonade was probably citron – still grown mainly in Asia today. Some historians claim that ancient peoples also consumed citron drink with a sweetener.
In the 17th century, an enterprising company from France decided to patent lemonade. It consisted of lemon juice, honey, and sparkling water, and was sold primarily on the streets in metal cups. Soon after, Europe saw the development of better machines and methods for carbonating water, and with them, new brands producing lemon drinks emerged like mushrooms after rain, many of which are still on the market today. Initially, it was sold from dispensers, and eventually, it began to be bottled.
To North America, lemonade, which is an almost cult product there, arrived in the 18th century with the British. At that time in Europe, it was used as a medicinal drink. A large dose of vitamin C certainly did not remain indifferent to health – especially when it began to be sold from a dispenser, rather than shared cups. Thanks to its low production cost, it was also distributed to the poor as a form of social assistance.
Over time, in various countries, producers slightly modified recipes, complementing lemonade with new additives. This gave rise to carbonated drinks such as Coca-Cola, Almdudler, Kofola, various types of orangeade, etc. By combining it with beer, a shandy-style drink was obtained. Thus, it can be said that lemonade became the mother of most of the non-alcoholic carbonated drinks known today.
In Poland, lemonade began to be prepared in the 19th century. Due to limited access to citrus fruits, other fruits were mixed with water. This led to the first recipes for drinks such as strawberry lemonade and cucumber lemonade.
Interesting additions to lemonade
To prepare basic lemonade, three ingredients are needed: water – preferably sparkling – lemon juice, and a sweetener. This is an excellent base for preparing all other drinks. How to make lemonade differently and surprise your guests? How to easily change its properties?
Homemade lemonade can be diet-friendly. It all depends on how it is sweetened. Instead of white or brown sugar, or even caloric honey, it is worth adding xylitol or erythritol, or stevia. This way, you will get a sweet, yet diet-friendly and healthy lemon drink. The chosen sweetener is best dissolved beforehand in warm or hot boiled water to obtain a syrup. Once cooled, it should be combined with the juice and the rest of the water.
Speaking of syrups, they are an excellent way to change the taste and aroma of a drink. Thanks to them, lemonade at home does not have to be boring! In this case, bottled syrups intended for coffee or cocktails will work well. Lavender, grapefruit, rose, coconut – they will not only sweeten the drink immediately but also subtly or distinctly change its taste.
Homemade lemonade is a sensational drink for children. It will be perfect for kids' parties, birthdays, and other events with the youngest. To make the fruit water more attractive, simply add a few drops of food coloring at the end. This way, you can get blue, pink, black, green, and many other colors that will make children more eager to reach for a full glass!
Lemonade decorations
Watermelon, strawberry, orange, or grapefruit lemonade – each version simply begs for exceptional serving! The best way to serve it will be a beautiful glass pitcher or an original carafe, preferably with a stopper. The latter choice is a great way to serve the drink in the garden or on the terrace – the closure will protect the contents from insects.
Especially in summer, the more bulbous the lemonade pitcher, the better. Before pouring the drink, it is good to place as much ice as possible in it. Thick Crystalline glass will maintain the temperature for a long time, so the lemonade will not dilute quickly.
Next to the pitcher or carafe, glasses should appear. Especially during a party, you can choose the most original shaped glasses for cocktails. Red wine glasses or white wine glasses will also work perfectly here. Regardless of the choice, it is good to place slices of previously scrubbed citrus fruits: lemon, lime, or grapefruit into the main vessel. They can also be skewered on a skewer stick to prevent the drink from splashing when pouring. This will not only decorate but also improve the aroma of the contents through substances released from the peel. The more, the better – both in terms of taste and presentation aesthetics. A few slices of citrus can also be placed directly into the glasses and goblets before pouring.
When preparing lemonade for elegant gatherings, it is also worth adding herbs. Mint sprigs, lemon balm, rosemary, basil, but also, for example, lavender flowers, will look great in the glass – also affecting the taste.
The colder the lemonade, the better. When regular ice cubes are not enough to achieve a decorative effect, frozen raspberries, strawberries, cherries, currants, or grapes can be added to glasses and goblets before serving.
Lemonade recipes – not just with lemon!
Summer is an excellent time to try out different variations of homemade lemonade. It's worth learning a few recipes, as well as creating your own, mixing fruits according to their availability and your preferences. In each case, you can use sparkling or still water – although the former version will make the drink more refreshing.
After preparation, lemonade can be stored in the refrigerator for several hours. It tastes best cold. In addition to regular ice, crushed ice can also be added from a blender – simply fill glasses or goblets with it before pouring the drink.
Lemon Lemonade - recipe
To prepare classic lemon lemonade, you will need:
- 4 lemons,
- 4-5 tablespoons of sugar or other sweetener,
- 10 mint leaves,
- One liter of cold water,
- Half a glass of hot water,
- 2 extra lemons for decoration,
- Ice to taste.
Scrub the citrus fruits, rinse the mint. Squeeze the juice from 4 lemons, slice the rest. In a separate bowl, mash the mint with sugar and pour hot water over it. Mix thoroughly and wait for the liquid to cool. Place ice in the pitcher, pour in the juice and the cooled mint syrup. Add cold water and mix thoroughly. Serve after about 10 minutes.
Orange Lemonade - recipe
To prepare orange lemonade, you will need:
- 3 juicy oranges,
- 1 lemon,
- 3-4 tablespoons of sugar or other sweetener,
- One liter of cold water,
- 1 orange for decoration,
- 10 ice cubes.
Peel 3 oranges and 1 lemon, remove tough membranes, and cut into pieces. Transfer the peeled fruits to a blender jug, pour in ¼ of the water, and add ice cubes. Blend until the ice is crushed and the citrus fruits are thoroughly mashed. Place the sliced orange into a pitcher, pour in the blender contents and the remaining water. Mix everything thoroughly. Orange lemonade is ready after about 10 minutes.
Watermelon Lemonade - recipe
To prepare watermelon lemonade, you will need:
- 0.5 kg of seedless watermelon,
- 2 lemons,
- 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar or other sweetener,
- One liter of cold water,
- Ice to taste.
Cut the watermelon into cubes and freeze. After that, take it out and blend it with the juice squeezed from 1 lemon and sugar. Slice the second lemon and transfer it to a pitcher. Pour in the blended mixture and cold water, then mix everything. Watermelon lemonade should be served after about 10 minutes.
Strawberry Lemonade - recipe
To prepare strawberry lemonade, you will need:
- 0.5 kg of frozen strawberries,
- 2 lemons,
- 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar or other sweetener,
- One liter of cold water,
- Ice to taste.
Squeeze the juice from 2 lemons and pour it into a carafe. Blend the frozen strawberries with sugar until smooth. Pour into the lemon juice, add cold water, and mix thoroughly. Serve after about 10 minutes.
Cucumber Lemonade - recipe
To prepare cucumber lemonade, you will need:
- 1 greenhouse cucumber,
- 2 lemons,
- 2 sprigs of mint,
- 4 tablespoons of sugar or other sweetener,
- Half a glass of hot water,
- One liter of cold sparkling water,
- Ice to taste.
Extract juice from the cucumber and lemons using a slow juicer or juicer. Dissolve sugar in hot water and let it cool. In a pitcher, place ice, mint sprigs, and pour in the cucumber and lemon juices, along with the sweet syrup. Add cold water and mix thoroughly. Serve after about 10 minutes.