flipHomemade Mint Lemonade
Homemade Mint Lemonade
Why this dish? At big summer gatherings and African American church meetings, a pitcher of lemonade or sweet iced tea always circulated. It's the convivial, refreshing drink of long family Sundays in the Midwest where Toni Morrison grew up.
Fresh, bright, perfectly sweet lemonade infused with mint — the pitcher set in the center of the table and refilled all afternoon.
When the heat set in, we'd bring out the big pitcher. The secret is to dissolve the sugar in a little hot water first — otherwise it sits at the bottom and sulks. We'd squeeze the lemons by hand, toss in a few mint leaves from the garden, and let it all chill. The kids circled the pitcher all afternoon; it was our simple, generous way of keeping summer at arm's length.
- •Lemons — a few (acidity)
- •Sugar — to taste (sweetness)
- •Cold water — one pitcher (base)
- •Garden mint — a few sprigs (flavor)
Homemade Mint Lemonade
Fresh, bright, perfectly sweet lemonade infused with mint — the pitcher set in the center of the table and refilled all afternoon.
Why this dish? At big summer gatherings and African American church meetings, a pitcher of lemonade or sweet iced tea always circulated. It's the convivial, refreshing drink of long family Sundays in the Midwest where Toni Morrison grew up.
When the heat set in, we'd bring out the big pitcher. The secret is to dissolve the sugar in a little hot water first — otherwise it sits at the bottom and sulks. We'd squeeze the lemons by hand, toss in a few mint leaves from the garden, and let it all chill. The kids circled the pitcher all afternoon; it was our simple, generous way of keeping summer at arm's length.
Ingredients (period version)
- Lemons — a few (acidity)
- Sugar — to taste (sweetness)
- Cold water — one pitcher (base)
- Garden mint — a few sprigs (flavor)
Ingredients
- Fresh lemon juice — 250 ml (6-8 lemons) (acidity)
- Sugar — 150 g (sweetness)
- Water — 1.2 liters (base)
- Fresh mint leaves — 1 handful (flavor)
- Ice cubes — as needed (coolness)
Method
- Make a syrup: heat sugar with 200 ml water until fully dissolved, let cool slightly.
- Juice lemons and strain the juice.
- Mix syrup, lemon juice, and cold water in a large pitcher; adjust sweetness/sourness.
- Gently bruise mint and add; refrigerate at least 1 hour.
- Serve over ice with a fresh mint leaf.
How it was made : Lemonade and sweet iced tea were the queen drinks of Southern and then Midwestern summers, served in large quantities at church picnics and family reunions. Mint and citrus added freshness and flavor at little cost.
The contemporary twist : Add a few crushed raspberries or a slice of ginger for a pink, slightly spicy lemonade.
Sources : Jessica B. Harris, High on the Hog (2011)
Toni Morrison · Charactorium
