Drink Up: Lemonade, the Original Summer Thirst Quencher

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Whoever gave this optimistic phrase to the world, couldn't be closer to the truth. A chilled glass of lemonade can set nearly everything right, wouldn't you agree? Come summer and it's time to load up on this refreshing, soothing, delightful and hassle-free drink.
Native to India, lemons have been used extensively in a variety of Indian dishes and drinks since time immemorial. Nimbu paani is perhaps the most common drink one would find across all cultures, in each and every corner of the country.Across western shores too, the earliest written evidence of lemonade can be found in Egypt, dated around 1000 A.D. Around 700 A.D, bottles of lemon juice with sugar, known as qatarmizat were imported and consumed locally by peasants from Asia. However, the biggest commercialization of the concoction came about in the year 1676, by the French-based company known as Compagnie de Limonadiers. Having been granted monopoly rights to sell lemonade, the vendors roamed the streets of Paris serving the drink in cups from tanks on their backs.The concoction was a hit then and continues to rule our hearts till now. Macrobiotic nutritionist and health practitioner, Shilpa Arora, enumerates the multiple benefits of our much loved nimbu paani for us. "Loaded with vitamin C, lemonade is a body cleanser and has wonderful detox abilities. It keeps the body cool during the summers. The alkaline nature of the lemons protects the cells from oxidation. It also aids in weight loss, relieves constipation, helps treating acne and energizes the body and immune system. However, stay clear of store bought lemonade that's loaded with sugar, sodium and preservatives. When it comes to food always choose God made food, over man (market) made."

^{Lemonade can serve as a great detox drink; Photo Credit: Istock}

How To Make Lemonade At Home

Follow these steps to spruce up your glass of lemonade, and you won't need to head out to the market for your fill of chill.

1. The Fruity Punch: The fruit infused lemonade, also called the pink lemonade, is a fruity take on the conventional lemonade. Add some seasonal fruits like lychee, pineapples, strawberries and raspberries and enjoy the drink with an added goodness of seasonal delights. If you don't want to add whole fruits, you can also puree it and add a few tablespoons of the fruit puree to your fresh lemonade.

2. Add Some Herbs: Give your glass of freshly squeezed lemonade a delicious and aromatic punch with a bunch of fresh herbs. Mint, dried lavender and basil pair perfectly with the traditional lemonade.

3. Frozen Lemonade: You can also preserve your lemonades by freezing them, and enjoy them later as sorbets.

Lemonade Recipes

Here are 5 amazing ways you can prepare your glass of lemonade.

1. Lemon Cheer
Recipe by Chef Aditya Bal

Water, sugar, lime juice and a handful of fresh mint leaves, this cheerful mix is fool proof and delightful.

^{You cannot go wrong with this easy and quick recipe; Photo Credit: Istock}

2.Ginger Litchi Lemonade
Recipe by Vicky Ratnani

Up for some seasonal blast? This refreshing summer cooler made with lime, and season's favourite lychee juice and gingery kick will leave energized and wanting for more.

^{Infuse seasonal fruits like litchi in your lemonade and enjoy the goodness}

3. Radiant Lemonade
Recipe by Aditya Bal and Devanshi

Give your glass of lemonade a fruity twist with this refreshing drink, loaded with the goodness of carrots, apples, beetroot, and radish.

4. Lemona
Recipe by Suparna Trikha

Pamper yourself with a lemony beauty drink, bursting with goodness of lemon mint and honey.

^{Photo Credit: facebook/skin and beauty}

5. Fresh Lime Soda
Recipe by Niru Gupta

Beat the heat with this chilled glass of fresh lime soda made with crushed ice, mint leaves and soda.

^{Add soda to your lemonade, if you love the fizz}

Thrash the heat in style and be as versatile with your chilled glass of lemonade this summer. You can hardly go wrong here.