Cookbook:Lemonade

| Cuisine of the United States | Beverages

Lemonade is a sweetened beverage made from lemons, sugar, and water. It is popular in the United States during the spring and summer, when it is generally served chilled with ice. In some countries, the word 'lemonade' is also used to describe any clear carbonated drink; in others, it means any fruit-flavored soda.

Ingredients

 * 1 cup (250 ml/8.5 oz) fresh lemon juice
 * ¾–1 cup (160–225 g/5.6–7.9 oz) white or turbinado sugar
 * 5–6 cups (1.2–1.5 L) water

Special equipment

 * Citrus reamer

Procedure

 * 1) Combine the lemon juice and sugar in a pitcher or jug. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
 * 2) Stir in the water.
 * 3) Chill and/or serve over ice.

Notes, tips, and variations

 * Using turbinado sugar will result in a golden-brown color and mild caramel flavor.
 * Because sugar dissolves easier in warm liquid, you may want to heat some of the water and dissolve the sugar in it before combining with the remaining ingredients.
 * Hard lemonade incorporates an alcoholic spirit, such as tequila, gin, or vodka to the lemonade.
 * Various fruits, such as strawberries and raspberries can be added for color and flavor. A small amount of beet juice results in pink lemonade with little change in flavor.
 * Herbs such as mint, borage, lavender, and lemon verbena can change the aroma of the drink.
 * Including the lemon peels, bruised and sliced, gives more bite and a stronger aroma.
 * Other citrus fruits can be used, including lime, orange, and grapefruit. Sugar and water content should be adjusted to taste. In American parlance, these are not technically lemonades, but limeade, orangeade, etc.
 * The sugar can be replaced by other alternative sweeteners.

simple:Cookbook:Lemonade