REFRESHING SUMMER LEMONADE

Is there anything more refreshing and energizing than some homemade lemonade on hot summer days?

This lemonade, limonada in Arabic, is the taste of home. It reminds me so much of Auntie Renée, my best friend’s mom, who used to make the best in town. She simply perfected the balance of flavours; her limonada was not too lemony, not too sweet, and wonderfully infused with homemade orange blossom water. I always looked forward to being welcomed by her chilled lemonade when visiting my friend.

My lemonade comes close to hers when you follow the instructions in recipe. Make sure to buy untreated lemons, preferably organic, from the market near you. In no time you will be preparing a revitalising and cool drink to still your thirst and spoil your guests.

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Lemonade

Dina Kohl

Lemonade

Refreshing Lemonade infused with orange blossom water

Print Recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hr

Servings: 4 servings

Course: drinks

Cuisine: Lebanese

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 500 g untreated lemons rinsed and quartered
• 250 g granulated sugar
• 1.2-1.5 litres cold water
• 1 tablespoon orange blossom water
• Some fresh mint leaves to serve

Method

 

1. Sprinkle sugar over the lemon quarters in a large bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and chill for 6 hours.
2. Place a sieve over a second bowl. Transfer the lemon quarters without the sugar to the sieve and squeeze them one by one. Discard the lemons and remove sieve.
3. Add 500 ml of cold water to the first bowl with the sugar and stir well to dissolve. Pour the sweet liquid over the lemon juice in the second bowl. Gradually add the rest of the cold water; you might not need all of it. Stir in the orange blossom water.
4. Pour the lemonade into a pitcher and chill. Serve with ice cubes and fresh mint leaves.

Notes

all images and text © Dina Bayoud Kohl