Lemonade is a kids’ favourite and a particularly popular drink in the Summer. It’s also an excellent base for cocktails. Lemonade is so easy to make yet we tend to buy all those ready-made, canned or bottled drinks that are full of sugar and additives. Here are some lovelylemonade recipesfrom classic to super-healthy versions:

Classic lemonade 

This basic recipe is very easy to remember, you only need to memorize the proportions.

Ingredients:1 cup sugar and 1 cup water (for the syrup ), then 1 cup lemon juice and another 3 cups water Preparation:cook the sugar and water until you get a thick syrup. (Tip: the zest of 1 lemon can be added too.) Squeeze the juice of about 6 the lemons, mix with the water. Add the cooled syrup, chill before serving. Tip:  if it’s too sweet, add more lemon juice  – if too thick, add more water.

Simple lemonade

• Ingredients: 4 unwaxed lemons, 60 g sugar, 600 ml water
• Preparation: Mix the ingredients together in a blender then pour it into a jug through a filter. Chill before serving.

Simple limeade

Ingredients: 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 cup sugar , 4 cups water, few strips of lime peel, mint leaves Preparation: mix & stir the sugar, lime juice and water. Pour into a jug, add mint leaves and lime slices. Chill before serving.

Citrus lemonade 

Ingredients:2 cups fresh orange juice, 1 cup fresh lime juice, ½ cup fresh  lemon juice, 1 cup sugar , 6-8 cups of water. Orange , lemon, lime slices Preparation:Mix the water and citrus juices , then add the sugar and stir until the sugar is fully melted. Add the citrus slices. Tip:you can replace the orange with mandarin or grapefruit.

Peach lemonade

Ingredients:½ cup sugar, 1 cup water, ½ cup mint leaves, 1 cup lemon juice, 1 cup of peach chunks, 3-4 cups of water Preparation:cook the water, sugar and mint and stir  until you get a  thick syrup. Cool and filter through  a sieve. Juice the peaches. Mix together the syrup, peach juice, lemon juice and add mineral water to taste. Garnish with mint leaves. Tip:you can use other fruits too, such as apples, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, melons

Ginger lemonade

Ingredients:6 unwaxed lemons, 200 g sugar, 3 cm piece ginger (peeled),  750 ml water Preparation:peel on lemon. Add the peel, sugar, ginger and 250 ml water to a saucepan. Cook & stir for 4-5 minutes until syrupy. Cool, then discard the lemon peel and the ginger, (the longer you leave the ginger in it, the stronger the flavour becomes). Juice the lemon, then  mix the cooled syrup, lemon juice and remaining water. Chill before serving.

Raspberry lemonade 

Ingredients:450 g raspberries, 50 g sugar, three unwaxed lemons, 1 litre soda water Preparation:Sprinkle the raspberries with sugar, rest for an hour, then blend and filter through a sieve.  Peel and juice the lemons. Mix these in a jar with  the soda water and raspberry puree. Garnish with mint leaves. Chill.

Chilli lemonade

Ingredients:1 cup lemon juice, 1 cup maple syrup, 4 cups water, ¼ tsp chilli powder or half a fresh chilli. Preparation:Mix the ingredients. Chill.

Healthy lemonades

The above recipes  can be made healthier, if  you reduce the sugar or replace it with honey, agave syrup, or other freshly squeezed fruit juice that is naturally sweet (e.g. apple juice, pineapple juice, watermelon juice). Instead of water you can try sugar-free coconut water too!

Healthy ginger lemonade

Ingredients:2 cups water, 1 cup of lemon-lime juice, ½ cup honey, 2 Tbs grated ginger, 2-3 cup sparkling mineral water Preparation:bring water, honey and ginger to a boil, stir for 1-2 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then filter it. When completely cooled, add the mineral water and lemon juice. Serve chilled with ice.

Super healthy lemonade

This version does not contain any sugar, so it’s especially recommended for people on a diet.

Ingredients:1 lemon or lime, 1 glass of mineral water, 1 slice of lemon Preparation:squeeze the lemon or lime into the water. Add the lemon slice and ice.

General Tips

• You can make the base syrup in advance – it keeps well for days in the fridge.
• Lemonade is best served on a lot of ice cubes.
• It’s best to use mineral water – carbonated if you prefer.
• Always try to use unwaxed lemons – essential for zest.
• When is it’s very hot, before serving, rub the rim of the drinking glass with a slice of lemon and press them into salt. Then pour the lemonade into the glass.
• The basic lemonade can be flavoured with fruits – for example with grated green apple. Or soak overnight with 4-5 elderberry flowers or a couple of sprigs of mint.
• Lemonade is a perfect refreshment for picnics, BBQ parties, garden parties, kids parties etc.