Old Fashioned Homemade Lemonade

Homemade Lemonade

10 lemons
120 g caster sugar
1.5 litre water
1 lime, sliced

Wash lemons well, dry, then peel using a potato peeler. Avoid pith. Place the rind in a large bowl, add sugar and water (boiling). Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved, cover and set aside for half an hour or so.
Squeeze as much juice as you can out of the lemons. I tried out a little gadget which I found in my cupboard, new in the box, but looking as though it belonged back in the 60s.I’ve no idea where it came from, but it came to light when I was clearing everything out of the kitchen to have a new one fitted.


It’s an electric citrus juicer called Linette - see photo -
and it worked brilliantly. Another of those short-lived gadgets, no doubt – but I found it made the job of squeezing ten lemons easier on my hands – once I got the hang of it. At first it was like a novice trying out a potter’s wheel, endeavouring to centre the clay in order to throw a pot. The lemon shot off a couple of times, but as I was about to give up, I suddenly mastered it. Easy peasy – lemon squeezy.
Strain the juice and set aside, then strain the liquid with the rind and sugar in. Mix strained juice and strained liquid and mix well before covering and putting into the fridge for a couple of hours or more.
Serve with ice when the weather is hot (being October, I did not!). The lime slices can be added to the serving jug, or to individual glasses.
If you’re lucky enough to have any left, it will keep in the fridge for about a week.

Tip: This is a sharp drink - and mixes well with carbonated water.




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As we all know lemon is rich in vitamin C, and because of this it’s beneficial to the immune system. It also contains antioxidants which is important in the body’s fight against free radicals.
Did you know that … despite it’s acidic flavour, it can actually help reduce acid in the stomach? Many seemingly acidic foods have an alkaline effect. It can also act as an anti-inflammatory, a natural diuretic and an antiseptic.
And there’s more: lemon juice aids digestion, dilates blood vessels in the skin, relieves cramp. Just don’t think one cup of tea with lemon is going to be a miracle cure. You’ll need a bit more than that!
As a herbal remedy it’s used in the treatment of arthritis, asthma, gout, hoarseness, inflammation of the mouth and throat, liver and intestinal problems, nervous disorders, sleeplessness … the list goes on. A good excuse for drinking homemade lemonade!
Lemons originated in Northern India and when it arrived in Europe, it was first grown as an ornamental tree in the Mediterranean gardens.
Lemonade itself s said to be first made around 1500 years ago in Egypt, originally as a honey and lemon wine – fit only for peasants.
Did you know that… one single lemon tree can bear as many as 3000 lemons in a year?
… and did you know that it was a ten year old boy, Edward Bok, who first started selling lemonade to passers-by in 1873? His family had fallen on hard times, and he was determined to find a way out of poverty and did all sorts of jobs to this end. He first started to sell iced water to passengers in horse drawn carts, but when other boys cottoned on to his idea, he started to squeeze a couple of lemons into his water, and sold it as lemonade. Where they made two or three dollars from selling iced water on a Sunday, he made five dollars from selling lemonade.


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