As the weather gets warmer, what better way to cool down than a refreshing beverage? This lemonade brings me right back to my childhood, when I would guilt all my neighbors into shelling out 25 cents for a paper cup of this sweet, tart drink. The lemonade I made back then was fine, but this upgraded take on the quintessential summer drink will have you squeezing lemons all season long. Fresh ginger adds a grown-up snap to this lemonade, a rhizome noted for its ability to aid digestion and soothe nausea. This recipe makes a relatively tart lemonade, just the way I like it. If you prefer yours on the sweeter side, use ½ cup to ⅔ cup honey. And be sure to try some of the other variations below!
Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 cups water, divided
- 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, from about 4 to 6 lemons
Directions:
- Combine honey with ⅓ cup of the water and ginger slices in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, turn off the heat and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain and refrigerate until cold, at least 15 minutes.
- Combine the honey-ginger syrup with the rest of the water and the lemon juice in a large mason jar or pitcher. Chill thoroughly.
- Enjoy!
Base Recipe and Variations
Ingredients:
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, from about 4 to 6 lemons
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 cups water
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients together in a large mason jar or pitcher. Chill thoroughly, at least fifteen minutes, until honey has completely dissolved.
Lavender-Honey Lemonade: Follow the steps as for Honey Ginger Lemonade, replacing ginger with 1 tablespoon of culinary-grade lavender. Don’t knock it until you try it—lavender and lemon are an amazing combination!
Cucumber Honey Lemonade: Roughly chop a large cucumber and puree it in a food processor. Strain puree to get about 1 cup of cucumber juice. Substitute cucumber juice for 1 cup of the water.
Natural Pink Lemonade: Puree 4 oz. raspberries with half of the lemon juice. Strain puree and add remaining ingredients.
Sparkle Sips: Use sparkling water to make a refreshing sparkling lemonade.
Meyer Lemon Honey Lemonade: If you see Meyer lemons at your local market, snap some up to make a batch of lemonade with these sweet, floral lemons. Go easy on the honey if you use Meyers, as they are naturally sweeter. Start with a small amount and add more as needed.
