Lemonade takes less time to make than schlepping to the store to buy it and tastes better than anything you’ll find there on the shelves. Simply dissolve sugar in a small amount of hot water, pour in a larger amount of cold water to both dilute and cool the sugar syrup and finally, stir in lemon juice.
Because I’m fortunate enough to have a lemon tree growing in my yard, my lemonade costs little to make. (My sister says this tree keeps me rooted in California and she has lost all hope that I’ll ever move back to Canada but she never imagined .) As well, branches of our neighbor’s lemon tree fall over our side of the fence so I figure I can snag any dangling lemons in good conscience. In, fact I almost feel obligated. I can’t let them go to waste!
What’s in store-bought lemonade?
According to the Coca-Cola website, :
PURE FILTERED WATER, LEMON JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LESS THAN 1% OF: LEMON PULP, NATURAL FLAVORS, PECTIN, , .
Coca-Cola’s bottled version includes different, unrecognizable substances. I couldn’t find the ingredient list on Coca-Cola’s website, perhaps because the stuff contains:
PURE FILTERED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEMON JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE, LESS THAN 0.5% OF: NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID (PROVIDES TARTNESS), MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, GLYCEROL ESTER OF ROSIN, SODIUM BENZOATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE AND CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PROTECT TASTE), YELLOW #5. ()
This is not food. This is a profit delivery system for Coca-Cola.
Because Coca-Cola packages its lemonade in either cartons lined with plastic or in plastic bottles, every swig of this substance washes down tiny bits of an inedible material derived from fossil fuels鈥攎icroplastic. And, surprise, surprise, ingested or inhaled microplastics that wind up in our blood and organs . (.)
Even if lemonade weren’t easy to make, I’d still want to go out of my way keep money out of the coffers of unethical companies that have turned our food system into a giant, obscenely profitable science experiment that none of us signed up for.
What’s in homemade lemonade?
Not much!
Lemon juice: One average lemon contains about two tablespoons of lemon juice. You’ll need four lemons to render the half cup this recipe calls for.
Sugar: Control how much goes into your lemonade!
Tap water: not out of need but because Coca-Cola, Nestl茅, Danone and their ilk have convinced many that tap water will make them sick (). If you need to, filter your water.
Optional: If desired, get fancy and add mint leaves or lavender to the lemonade before serving.
Save those lemon rinds!
After you juice the lemons, consider making frugal, hands-off lemon syrup. I prefer to do this with organic, unwaxed lemons.
Basically, macerate the lemon rinds in sugar overnight. The sugar dissolves in the juice drawn out from the rinds to create syrup. Strain out the rinds the next day and store the syrup in a jar. It makes a delicious glaze for lemon loaf. Or flavor kombucha or ginger beer with it. Or stir it into cocktails. Go here for the lemon syrup instructions.
Simple Homemade Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 cups water, divided
- 陆 cup sugar, or to taste
- 陆 cup lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
- ice (optional)
- lemon slices for garnish (optional)
- mint or lavender for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Boil 1 cup of water. Turn off the heat and add 1/2 cup of sugar. Stir to dissolve. Once the sugar has completely dissolved, add 3 cups of cold water. Stir in 陆 cup of lemon juice.
- Pour the lemonade into a large jar or pitcher. Chill. If desired, add lemon slices, mint or lavender and ice cubes before serving.
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