For warm summer days there is nothing better than lemonade, especially fresh, homemade lemonade. Below you will find my mom’s recipe to quench your thirst.

My mum has 3 lemon trees at the back garden, providing us with fresh lemons throughout the year. Not every lemon ends up in Greek roasts, we make lemonade too. Mum can put in front of you a fresh glass of lemonade in a jiffy. She has a very simple recipe for lemonade concentrate. It follows the 1 to 1 ratio: 1 cup syrup, 1 cup lemonade. You can have it fresh, by adding 3 parts of still water for every part of lemonade concentrate and a lot of ice. Carbonated water is also excellent if you like a fizz.

Why I love lemonade so much? Because lemonade does miracles in warm weather; not only does it freshen you up, it keeps you hydrated, too. The same is true for all citrus fruit, lemons, limes, tangerines, grapefruit and oranges; they all contain naturally calcium and potassium, minerals necessary for electrolyte replenishment. Of course, lemonade alone will not do the trick; you should have it with a pinch of salt.

If severely dehydrated, I would advise to get an electrolyte sachet from the pharmacists. If however, you are curing a mild hangover you can add to this a little bit of salt. When I say a little bit of salt, it is literally a little bit of salt, no more than 1/8 of a teaspoon on a large glass, the smallest pinch of salt.

What else will keep you hydrated?

Plenty of still water is all you need during the summer. Your body will probably tell you that you need twice as much. Since we started talking about hydration, do not forget your fruit! Foods with high water content are abundant during the summer season. Think watermelon and grapes, strawberries and cantaloupes.

Let’s go make some lemonade

Although I am normally very precise with measurements, with lemons it is next to impossible. Every fruit has a different size and it will yield a different amount of juice. The syrup is quite light so that you won’t feel the sugar as much. And syrup it is because I am not a huge fun of gritty sugar, it’s impossible to completely dissolve in cold water.

This lemonade concentrate can be consumed straight away or it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Chances are you won’t be able to resist and it will go within a week.

Ingredients

• 150 gr sugar
• 200 ml water
• 150 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

How to make it

1. Bring sugar and water to the boil and stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves.  Lower the heat after a couple of minutes and let it simmer for 5-6 more minutes. Remove from heat and let it reach room temperature.
2. Meanwhile, juice your lemons. Once the syrup is at room temperature, mix in a jar.
3. It keeps for up to 3 weeks in the fridge.
4. You can serve it straight away by adding 3 parts of water to 1 part lemonade.

Thyme leaves and lemon slices are great additions. So are mint leaves and even strawberries. How do you normally enjoy your lemonade?

From Athens with love,

Eugenia

by