The LifeCo Blog

It’s the time of year again where nearly every magazine publishes what they claim to be the ‘World’s Best Lemonade’! Each one promises to cool you down, quench your thirst, or hydrate you better than any other recipe in the world. The only problem is, once you start looking at the recipes you realize they’re all the same! Lemonade is a drink that combines the most basic facets of taste in any food or drink: a balance of sweet and sour. So it’s not surprising that–and not to offend any of your Moms out there but–lemonade in it’s most basic form is the simplest thing on the planet: just a mix of lemon, sugar, and water. So why so many recipes claiming they’re the best?

Coming across a recent article in Real Simple Magazine I was complimented by the fact that they at least tried to spice up the simple sip–adding in ingredients such as apricot nectar (canned of course) or pineapple juice.

The good news is you can stop searching for the best recipe…why? Because there is no best recipe?…Well not exactly–it’s because this recipe is the ultimate, most delicious, most incredible recipe ever!!! So not to worry…

We start by only using the freshest of organic lemons for the sour. Then for the sweet we use Agave syrup which is a natural sweetener made from the Agave plant (in the Lily family though many people frequently confuse it for a cactus) that does not spike blood sugar levels the way white sugar does. Diabetes patients can even use it! Finally use a high quality mineral water–I actually prefer those with a hint of saltiness such as Speyside Glenlivet from Scotland. The real difference comes from the agave but check out a couple tweak ideas to really impress at your next pool parties!!

(all recipes by Joe McCanta, Organic Mixologist)

Organic Lemonade
Makes about 4 glasses:

20 cl Fresh Organic Lemon Juice

10-12cl Agave Syrup (to your own taste)

20 cl High Quality Mineral Water

Now for the fun!!

Thai Spiced Watermelon Frozen Lemonade

Makes about 4 glasses. For a great alcoholic version add about 25 cl White Rum!!

20 cl Fresh Lemon Organic Lemon Juice

15 cl Ginger-Lemongrass Agave based syrup* (or less to taste)

1/8 Fresh Large Watermelon–seeded

Ice

Place all ingredients except the syrup in a blender and blend on medium. Slowly mix the syrup in until creamy and smooth.

*Take 20 cl agave syrup and mix in 4 tablespoons of water. Place in a sauce pan on medium heat and mix in 4 tablespoons coarsely chopped ginger (w/ skin on) and 3 large stalks lemongrass chopped finely. Heat for 15 minutes or until fragrant. Transfer to a glass container. Will last for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Fizzy Mediterranean Lemonade

Makes 1 serving

6 cl Fresh Organic Lemon Juice

3 cl Fresh Organic Orange Juice

4 Strawberries Hulled and Quartered

3 Fresh Basil Leaves

3-4 cl Agave Syrup

8 cl Sparkling Mineral Water (such as Glenlivet)

Muddle the strawberries, lemon juice, orange juice and basil in a cocktail shaker with a wooden spoon or muddler. Add ice and 4 cl of the sparkling water. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice and top off with the remainder of the sparkling water.

Filed under: Saf Restaurant, health, organic, organic cocktails, joe mccanta, chad sarno on August 14th, 2007