Lilac Lemonade
Lilac Lemonade is the perfect way to enjoy spring to the fullest. This lemonade is made from lilac syrup and freshly squeezed lemons! It is refreshing, floral and the perfect balance of tart and sweet. The essence of spring in a cup!
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 262kcal
Ingredients
To Make The Lilac Syrup
- 4 cups lilac petals Be careful not to include any stems
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups water
- ½ tbsp lemon juice To prolong shelf life. (Not necessary if using right away.)
To Make The Lilac Lemonade
- 1 ¼ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 5 cups water
- 1 cup lilac syrup
- lilac ice cubes
- slices of lemon
Instructions
For The Lilac Syrup
- Thoroughly wash your lilac blooms to make sure they're free of any critters or dirt. With kitchen scissors, snip the individual petals, avoiding any stems or greenery. Measure out 4 cups of petals and add to a large mason jar.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Stir frequently so the sugar can dissolve and not stick to the bottom of the pot. Boil for 2 minutes and then remove from heat.
- Pour the hot syrup over the blossoms in the jar. Cover and let sit on the counter for at least 6 hours or preferably over night so that the flavour can be fully extracted into the syrup.
- After the mixture sits, strain the syrup through a sieve to remove all the petals. Now your syrup is ready to use! If you'll be storing it in the fridge, stir in some lemon juice to prolong the shelf life. Lilac syrup will keep in the fridge for about a month.
For The Lilac Lemonade
- Plan ahead. If you wish to have lilac ice cubes for your lemonade, fill an ice cube tray with water and sprinkle snipped lilac petals over the tray. Press the petals down to submerge in the water and freeze.
- Extract the juice from approximately 4-5 lemons until you have 1 ¼ cup of lemon juice.
- In a large glass pitcher, combine lemon juice, water and lilac syrup. Give the lemonade a stir and taste. Adjust now to your taste preference. If you like a sweeter lemonade, add more syrup or sugar. If you like it more tart, add some more lemon juice. If you find the flavour too strong, add a bit of water.
- Add a tray of ice cubes and a few slices of lemons for a beautiful presentation. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pick the Right Blooms: Harvest lilacs when they’re fresh and fragrant, avoiding any that look wilted or brown.
- Wash Thoroughly: Gently rinse the lilac blooms in cold water to remove any dirt, pollen, or bugs.
- Freshly Squeezed Is Best: Use fresh lemons instead of bottled juice
- Add a Sparkling Twist: Serve by mixing ⅓ sparkling water with ⅔ lilac lemonade directly in the glass for a fizzy, refreshing version.
Nutrition
Calories: 262kcal