Luscious Lemonade: from Jacarandell Farm to Table

abbybrandell
Jun 12, 2020
2 min read

This is a recipe which my friends often ask me for. The taste is exquisite – tangy and refreshing, with just a hint of sweetness. The zest is a very important part of this very easy, no fuss recipe! It’s ideal for any occasion, and tastes great with gin and soda.

Winter in Zimbabwe: warm sunny days and crisp cold nights

Here in Zimbabwe, it’s winter – and we are blessed with day after day of beautiful warm sunny days, and chilly nights. I love this time of the year – crisp and misty morning walks, the call of the long tailed shrike punctuating the still, warm days, and log fires at night.

Umguza River – misty in winter

This climate is ideally suited to citrus growing, and at this time of year, lemons, oranges and grapefruit are literally dripping off the trees.

Lovely lemons, ripe and juicy

Time to make Homemade Lemonade!

Luscious Lemonade: Recipe

4 cups white sugar 4 cups water Zest of 4 lemons 4 cups pure squeezed lemon juice

Dissolve the sugar in the water in a large saucepan, stirring constantly with a Sibanda Spatula (not compulsory but many a friend agrees that it is of huge benefit!) Add the zest and bring to the boil for a few minutes. Pour in the lemon juice and stir, and just bring to the boil again for another two minutes max.

Do not boil the mixture for any longer – the taste will be spoilt and it will become syrupy and dark. This juice must be a fresh light lemony colour!

This should make about 2.5 litres of lemonade, so if you want less, just halve the recipe.

Cool, stir and strain the liquid into large jug or a bowl. Using a funnel, pour the strained juice into sterilized bottles and refrigerate.

The lemonade will last for a good two to three weeks. It also freezes very well, and it is so lovely to have a large stock in the freezer for the summer months ahead.

This is concentrated juice, so you must dilute to taste – about 1:6 lemon juice to water. Serve with ice and mint. It is absolutely delicious and so refreshing!