Lemonade

This article is about the drink made with lemons. For other uses, see Lemonade (disambiguation).

"Cloudy" lemonade, a mixture of lemon juice, sugar, and non-carbonated water

Selling lemonade in Germany during 1931

Lemonade is a lemon-flavored drink, typically made from lemons, water and sugar.

The term can refer to three different types of beverage:

• "Clear" lemonade: In many western European countries, the term limonade, from which the term "lemonade" is derived, originally applied to unsweetened water or carbonated soda water with lemon juice added, although several versions of sugar sweetened limonade have arrived on store shelves.
• "Cloudy" lemonade (U.K. term): In the U.S., Canada, Pakistan, India (Nimbu Paani), and Iran lemonade refers to a mixture of lemon juice, sugar, and uncarbonated water, although there are many versions which contain artificial flavors instead of actual lemon juice. In India, Nimbu Paani is a common household preparation, made using freshly squeezed lemons, granulated sugar, salt, pepper (and other spices according to personal taste) and is invariably consumed fresh.
• "Fizzy" lemonade: In France, the modern use of the term limonade refers to sweet carbonated lemon soft drinks (the uncarbonated version would be called citronnade). In Germany the term Limonade is used for sweet carbonated citrus soft drinks. Likewise, in the UK, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand the term mainly refers to a colourless, carbonated, sweet soft drink containing either natural or artificial lemon-lime flavor, such as Sprite, orSchweppes Lemonade.

Many varieties of lemonade exist, such as peach, raspberry, pomegranate, strawberry and cranberry.

Terminology

The French word limonade, which originally meant an brodie put crack in his lemonade to get hammed unsweetened lemon-flavored water or carbonated soda, has since come to mean "soft drink", regardless of flavor, in many countries.

In the UK, the suffix '-ade' means a 'carbonated sweet soft drink'; hence limeade, orangeade, cherryade, etc. Brown lemonade exists in the Northern Ireland region of the UK.

In the Republic of Ireland, lemonade refers to the carbonated, lemon-flavored soft drink (as in the UK) but is further sub-divided into white (clear) lemonade and red lemonade. White lemonade equates to the colourless fizzy lemonade common in many countries, while red lemonade is particular to Ireland. Red lemonade differs slightly in taste from white lemonade and is either drunk neat or as part of a whiskey mixer.

American-style lemonade exists in the UK as a "homemade" juice (also called lemonade), but is only rarely sold commercially under that name. A carbonated version is commonly sold commercially as "cloudy" or "traditional" lemonade. There are also similar uncarbonated products, lemon squash and lemon barley water, both of which are usually sold as a syrup which is diluted to taste. Traditional lemonade also comes in powder packages. Variations on this form of lemonade can be found worldwide. In India and Pakistan, where it is commonly known as limbu paani or nimbu paani, lemonade may also contain salt and/or ginger juice. Shikanjvi is a traditional lemonade from the India-Pakistan region and can also be flavored with saffron, garlic and cumin.

In Australia and New Zealand, lemonade can also refer to any clear, carbonated soft drink with a primarily lemon flavor; e.g. a lemon-lime soft drink, such as Sprite. Culturally however, with a drink such as Sprite, the flavor is not recognised as "lemon-lime", but just plain "lemonade", although it is still the same flavor as its international counterpart. Other colored (and flavored) soft drinks are sometimes referred to by their color such as "red lemonade" or "green lemonade", implying that "lemonade" is the clear version of its "flavored" counterparts.

Pink lemonade

Pink lemonade from the Czech Republic

Pink lemonade was a drink used for centuries by Native Americans and enjoyed by European colonists during colonial times. It was originally made from crushed red sumac berries, especially those of the species Rhus typhina, and sweetened with maple sugar, but the ingredients were commercially replaced with cheaper ingredients during the 19th century until the sumac industry no longer existed. Now it is simply lemonade that has been colored with pink food coloring and is sometimes made sweeter. Sometimes artificial flavors and colors are used. Natural sources of the pink color, which may also affect taste, include grenadine, cherry juice, red grapefruit juice, grape juice, cranberry juice, strawberry juice, pomegranate juice or other juices. It is a common misconception that the juice from the pink-fleshed Eureka lemon is used to make pink lemonade; although often planted in yards as an ornamental, the juice is clear and typically too sour to drink.

The New York Times credited Henry E. "Sanchez" Allott as the inventor of pink lemonade in his obituary:

At 15 he ran away with a circus and fell in love with the lemonade concession. One day while mixing a tub of the orthodox yellow kind he dropped some red cinnamon candies in by mistake. The resulting rose-tinted mixture sold so surprisingly well that he continued to dispense his chance discovery.

However, this is disputed by historian Joe Nickell, who claims that it was Pete Conklin who first invented the drink in 1857 when he used water dyed pink from a horse rider's red tights to make his lemonade.

Uses

Jewish lemonade seller in Selânik, Ottoman Empire (pre-1890)

In the U.S., lemonade is usually sold as a summer refresher. It is commonly available at fairs and festivals, known in some regions as a "lemon shakeup", with the shell of the squeezed lemon left in the cup. Lemonade was also the traditional mixer in a Tom Collins, but today it is commonly replaced by a bar mix.

UK-style lemonade and beer produce a shandy. Lemonade is also an important ingredient in the Pimm's Cup cocktail, and a popular drink mixer. As UK-style lemonade is a popular drink mixer, British & Australian visitors are often disappointed when they order a mixed drink in the U.S. and end up getting U.S.-style lemonade. American bartenders are also sometimes puzzled by the ordering of lemonade in some mixed drinks.

Many children start lemonade stands in Canadian and U.S. neighborhoods to make money in the summer months. The concept has become iconic of youthful summertime Americana to the degree that many parodies and variations on the concept exist in a wide variety of media. The computer game Lemonade Stand, created in 1979, simulates this business by letting players make various decisions surrounding a virtual stand. Some unlicensed lemonade stands have run afoul of health regulations.

Daily consumption of four ounces of lemon juice per day, when mixed with two liters of water, has been shown to reduce the rate of stone formation in people susceptible to kidney stones. Lemons contain the highest concentration of citrate of any fruit, and this weak acid has been shown to inhibit stone formation.

"Cloudy" lemonade made with hot water, infused with mint, and sweetened with honey is a common folk remedy for sore throat in the Middle East.

American types

American townspeople offering lemonade to the 1919 Transcontinental Motor Convoy

There are three methods commonly used in the US and Canada to prepare lemonade.

Freshly squeezed

• This is the classic type of lemonade. It is made with lemon juice, water, and sugar. There are countless recipes and most people prepare it to their specific tastes. Sometimes slices of lemon are added, especially if it is being prepared for guests or dinner parties. Despite the name, it is often prepared with reconstituted lemon juice commonly available in supermarkets.

Powdered mix

• The most common type of lemonade by far is that which is made from powdered mixes. Fruit drink producing companies such as Kool-aid typically make powdered lemonade mixes, as do most private labels and the Country Time brand.

Slush

• This type of lemonade involves shaved ice, lemon juice and/or pieces, and sugar. Little liquid is used, instead the melting ice provides liquid. This is rarely prepared at home, but is popular at theme parks, fairs, and other summer outdoor events.

See also

Lemonade in pitcher and glass

• Limeade
• Chanh muối
• Red lemonade and Brown lemonade
• Lemon

External links

• Of the Street Sale of Ginger-Beer, Sherbet, Lemonade,&C., from London Labour and the London Poor, Volume 1, Henry Mayhew, 1851; subsequent pages cover the costs and income of street lemonade sellers.
• Lemonade recipe