Lemonade is not only salvation in hot weather, but also a source of vitamins in the cold season. At the mention of it, we all imagine a jug with a life-giving sour-sweet drink. If you wish, you can find a huge number of lemonade recipes available for home cooking.
History of Lemonade
The appearance of this drink is explained solely by a legend in which the cupbearer of King Louis I mixed up containers and served juice and not wine to the table. Frightened by a mistake, and in order to avoid punishment, he tried to diversify the drink by adding mineral water to it.
The effect was stunning, the king and his guests were delighted. Since then, the refreshing drink has become one of the most popular among the aristocracy. After receiving carbon dioxide, lemonade began to carbonate, which diversified its taste.
Today, by lemonade we mean almost any carbonated sweet drink, but only a natural product can bring true benefits.
Lemonade Lemonade Recipe
Preparing a refreshing drink at home will not be difficult, the ingredients and the process are so simple that even a child can handle them.
It is believed that the recipe for classic lemonade involves the preparation of a drink of lemons.
The main ingredients:
- liter of clean water;
- 3-4 large lemons;
- half a glass of sugar.
Cooking:
The process of preparing a drink begins with the creation of sugar syrup. If you follow all the rules, then it is impossible to add sugar to the water, you need to cook the syrup. A glass of water is added to a small pan and sugar is poured, the mixture is heated over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
The syrup is removed from the stove and cooled.
In parallel with this, you need to get about a glass of juice, which all prepared lemons will go to (depending on maturity and size, the number of fruits can be increased).
Then in a clean jug you need to mix the remaining water, sugar syrup and lemon juice, mix thoroughly. Lemonade is cooled in the refrigerator and served to the table with ice.
Lemonade from oranges (recipe with photo)
This type of lemonade has its fans and has earned its popularity. The photo, recipe for lemonade, below, will add a desire to try the drink at home. Lemonade from oranges will require a little more time, but not effort.
The main ingredients:
- two liters of clean drinking water;
- one and a half glasses of sugar;
- several large oranges;
- 15 grams of citric acid.
Cooking:
First of all, you need to pour oranges with boiling water, peel them and put the fruits in the freezer for the whole night. In the morning, taking out the citrus fruits, let them defrost a little and chop in a blender until smooth.
Add a liter of water to the gruel from the orange and let it brew for about half an hour.
Next, you need to strain the drink and pour the remaining water into it, add sugar, citric acid and mix thoroughly. The drink is also sent to the refrigerator for a while and then served to the table with ice.
The homemade recipe for lemonade from oranges (photo in the article) will easily help diversify the feast, surprise guests, and simply fill an ordinary day with a sunny taste.
How to diversify lemonade
Fantasy in preparing a refreshing drink cannot be limited. For example, in the recipe for lemonade from oranges at home, other fruits that can be taken as a basis easily fit in.
Strawberries, watermelon, mandarin, pineapple - the main ingredient can be selected according to your own taste preferences.
The basic technology of preparation will remain the same, and the taste of the drink will be filled with your favorite notes of freshness and vitamins.
Ginger lemonade
Homemade drink, which includes ginger root, is useful at any time of the year and perfectly tones the body.
There are many variations on adding ginger notes, but in this article we will focus on the ginger recipe for lemonade without boiling and boiling.
The main ingredients:
- a small piece of ginger;
- Lemon
- 1.5-2 liters of clean drinking water;
- honey to taste.
Cooking:
This recipe involves cooking by pouring. First of all, ginger root is peeled and cut into strips.
One lemon is boiled with boiling water and peeled, the juice from the lemon itself is squeezed into a separate bowl.
Zest of lemon with ginger is poured into 1.5 liters of hot boiled water and left until completely cooled. Lemon juice and a few tablespoons of honey are added to the cooled drink (to taste and preference).
To complete the process, you can put the drink in the refrigerator for the whole night, and in the morning treat yourself to wonderful healthy lemonade.
Fancy soft drinks
If you move away from the main traditions, then not only fruits, but also vegetables, herbs can be useful for making lemonade.
The recipe for apple and cucumber lemonade may seem strange at first glance, but its useful properties do not allow you to pass by.
Ingredients:
- liter of clean drinking water;
- sour apple;
- cucumber;
- mint leaves;
- a couple of spoons of honey;
- half a glass of lemon juice.
Cooking:
Preparation of a vitamin drink will take a minimum of time. It is necessary to mix an apple and a cucumber in a blender, add honey, mint leaves to them and pour everything with water to the desired volume.
If desired, you can diversify the taste by adding berry syrup (any) to the drink. Before serving, lemonade is cooled and ice is added to the jug.
This version of the drink not only refreshes on a hot day, but also has a positive effect on health.
As a basis for lemonade, you can use a cold herbal decoction of chamomile or jasmine, sometimes fruit, green, flower tea is used. All additional ingredients are similar to classic recipes, it all depends on personal taste preferences.
What to do with magic bubbles?
Carbonated drink really has its own taste and charms. If at home there is a small siphon, then adding magic bubbles to lemonade will not be difficult.
What if there are no special devices? Do not despair, ordinary carbonated water (mineral water), which is diluted with lemonade, will come to the rescue. To preserve the basic taste, it is advisable to do this before use.
Glass and ice
For connoisseurs of a refreshing drink, it is necessary to mention the jug in which the drink is stored and served. It is customary to pour lemonade into glass containers with a lid of transparent glass, adding whole segments of fruit to it to decorate.
By tradition, lemonade is served with ice. This question can also be approached creatively and freeze pieces of fruit or berries in ice molds, which will color the lemonade in bright summer colors even in winter.
The benefits and harms of the drink
If we consider the benefits of soft drinks, which are littered with store shelves, it is obvious that there will be few pluses. Therefore, only homemade lemonade can talk about the benefits, while responding to all individual preferences. Unlike purchased drinks, homemade lemonade contains as much sugar as you added.
Classic lemonade perfectly tones and fills the body with a lack of trace elements and vitamins. Quite often it is prescribed for the prevention of diseases and the maintenance of immunity.
Natural ingredients of a home-made drink help to cope not only with colds, but also serve as an obstacle to the development of diseases of internal organs (including oncology).
The benefits of the drink are undeniable, but the main thing is not to overdo it and not harm yourself. People with stomach problems should be extremely careful. A citrus or carbonated drink can change the acidity in the stomach and lead to unwanted irritation.
During pregnancy, vitamins are necessary, but only after the recommendation of a doctor. Can I drink a carbonated drink? The answer cannot be unequivocal; during pregnancy, the body's reaction becomes unpredictable.
Lemonade is a popular, and most importantly, a healthy drink. Cooking it at home is easy. The main thing is to remember that vitamins are useful in reasonable quantities.