History of Lemonade

Lemonade is a refreshing drink enjoyed by people of all ages across the world. It is prepared with lemon, water and sugar and is very simple to prepare. One can relish various types of lemonade in different countries. In some places, it is available as a carbonated drink, while in other places it is made in plain water.

History of Lemonade

Lemons are said to have been first found in North India, China and Burma, and was introduced in Persia, Arab countries, Iraq and Egypt in around 700 AD. Lemon was the main ingredient of various dishes and lemonade would have been introduced in a country where lemons were found. However, the first written evidence of the existence of lemonade is found in Egyptian writings and so we have a reason to believe that lemonade originated in Egypt. It is said that the peasants there, drank a wine made from lemon, date and honey. Some also believe that lemonade was first introduced in France during the 16th century. In Cairo, lemonades were not only favorites among the locals but were also exported during the 13th century.

Today, one can find different types of ready-made lemonade drinks in the market. There are three basic types of lemonade namely clear, cloudy and fizzy lemonade. Clear lemonade is made in carbonated soda or in plain water without adding sugar. This used to be a popular beverage in the European countries, however, in recent times, sweet versions of lemonade are also available. Cloudy lemonade is a traditional drink made with plain water, lemon and sugar and is mostly found in India, USA and Canada. Fizzy lemonade is made of soda, using either natural or artificial lemon flavor and is also referred to as 'sweet carbonated soft drink'.

Pink Lemonade

Another type of lemonade is pink lemonade which is popular in the US. It is usually made out of beet juice and is sweeter than normal lemonade. There are a few funny stories about the creation of the pink lemonade. It is said that few drops of pink dye dripped from a horse rider's tights, at a circus in new Jersey, into the lemonade made by Henry Griffith. As he did not have time to make lemonade again, this was given to the customers and it became a huge hit. Another story says that pink lemonade was introduced by Henry. E. Allot, when he dropped a cinnamon candy in the lemonade, by mistake. Though the manner in which pink lemonade was introduced is not clear, it is a drink loved by most people. These days, there are also lemonades made by adding natural juices of grapes, cherries, red grapes and strawberries.

Today, lemonade is preferred not only as an individual drink but is even mixed with various cocktails as well as hard drinks. Children in the US put up lemonade stands in their neighborhoods to make money during summers.

Traditional Lemonade Recipe

Lemonade is not only tasty, but is also a healthy and easy to make beverage. The traditional way of making lemonade is simple and takes less than 15 minutes to prepare.

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 5 lemons
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 cups ice cold water
• ½ cup fresh mint
• ice cubes

Preparation

Take 1 lemon and extract its juice into a small bowl and keep aside. Take the other two lemons, remove their outer skin and put them in a deep bottomed pan, along with water and sugar. Keep the pan on low flame and stir till the sugar is completely dissolved. Cut a few mint leaves into small pieces and add them to the water once it starts boiling. Then keep it for cooling. Cut the remaining 2 lemons into thin slices and place them in a large serving jug. Pour the sugar mixture into the jug through a filter or sieve and add the lemon juice that was kept aside earlier. Add cold water and ice cubes and mix well.

You can try out a different type of lemonade, using various fruits like raspberry, blueberry, watermelon, green apple, etc. or one of the frozen lemonade recipes. Lemonade made with ginger, milk or different spices can also be prepared at home. Watermelon lemonade, a variant of regular lemonade, is another beverage that can easily be made and relished at home.

Watermelon Lemonade

Ingredients

• ½ cup lemon juice
• ½ watermelon
• 1 cup water
• ⅓ cup sugar

Preparation

Peel the outer layer of the watermelon, remove all the seeds, and cut it into pieces. Blend the watermelon pieces with water to make a fine juice. Take a large jug, add lemon juice and sugar, and pour in the watermelon juice through a sieve. Mix well till the sugar dissolves. Chill and serve on adding ice to it.

It is amazing to see how this peculiar combination of sweet and sour taste has captured the hearts of many since thousands of years. Even today, people love to drink a glass of chilled lemonade after a tiring day at work.