Lemonade

Two very different drinks

“Lemonade” means different things in different countries:

• North America and France — cloudy, fresh-squeezed or reconstituted lemon juice, water, and sugar; served cold
• UK, Australia, New Zealand — a carbonated clear soft drink similar to 7UP or Sprite, made with lemon flavouring (typically not fresh-squeezed)

The two variants cause frequent ordering confusion for travellers.

History

The earliest recorded sweetened lemon drinks come from Egypt around 500 CE — a drink called qatarmizat, made from lemon juice and sugar. Arab traders spread lemon cultivation across the Mediterranean. The modern sweet-sour refreshment drink became fashionable in France in the 17th century; the famous Parisian seller Compagnie de Limonadiers held exclusive rights to sell lemonade on the streets of Paris.

Simple syrup vs. sugar

Better lemonade uses simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated until dissolved and cooled) rather than granulated sugar, which doesn’t fully dissolve in cold liquid. The resulting texture is smoother.

Variations

• Pink lemonade — typically has added strawberry, raspberry, or grenadine
• Sparkling lemonade — lemon juice with soda water instead of still water
• Limeade — the lime equivalent, common in Mexico and South Asia
• Ayran-style citrus drinks — lemon sherbet in the Middle East (limonana: mint lemonade)