Tangy homemade lemonade

125g (1/2 cup) caster sugar
250mL (1 cup) water
4-6 lemons, juiced, zested
1 litre soda water
ice cubes or crushed ice

1. Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves (1-2 minutes usually is enough – the water should be clear again when the sugar has dissolved). Let this syrup cool for half an hour or so.

2. Take the zest from 1 lemon and the juice from all the lemons and stir this into the sugar syrup. You should get around 250mL (1 cup) juice.

3. Let this lemon syrup mixture cool (or keep in the fridge until needed). To serve on the day, combine all the syrup with all the soda water to taste and stir well. Add crushed ice plus a few thin slices of fresh lemon and serve in a tall glass serving jug.

Tips: this lemonade is tangy in the way adults prefer! If you or the kids like it sweeter, add a bit more sugar to the syrup. Or, alternatively, add a bit less lemon juice, or omit the zest to tone down the ‘tang’. Another option is to add a bit more soda water to the lemon syrup mixture. Your typical soda water bottle holds 1.25 litres anyway, so you do have a bit extra to play with.

Copyright CTC Productions 2009