Video:Homemade Lemonade

Transcript:Homemade Lemonade

Hi, I'm Heidi Dehncke-Fisher and welcome to About.com Food. Today I'm making homemade lemonade.

Origins of Lemonade

Lemons are actually a hybrid fruit and it is believed they were invented by combining citron and mandarin in central India. Lemonade traces its roots to several places. Some credit the Egyptians with inventing it and other sources say it stems from 17th century Paris. In any case, lemonade is one of the most popular soft drinks worldwide, and it's so easy to make.

Lemonade Ingredients

To make this version of homemade lemonade you will need:

• 6 or 7 lemons
• 1 cup of sugar
• 6 cups cold water

Lemonade Simple Syrup

While you can simply mix the juice water and sugar together some people recommend making a simple syrup. This creates a more even distribution of sugar and eliminates the need for stirring up each glass individually.

Boil the Simple Syrup

Make the simple syrup first – so it can cool while you squeeze the juice from the lemons. To create a simple syrup – combine your sugar and water and bring to a boil on the stovetop. Boil for approximately five minutes and remove from the heat. Now that the sugar has dissolved let the syrup cool to room temperature.

Squeeze the Lemons

Prior to squeezing your lemons roll them firmly between your hand and a flat surface – this helps the juice rise to the surface and promotes easier juicing. You should squeeze enough lemons, 6 to 7, to make one cup of pure lemon juice.

Mix Lemonade Ingredients

Add your lemon juice to the water and sugar mixture and refrigerate.

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