Pink Lemonade Syrup: Perfect for Cocktails and Mocktails~Refreshing Summer Drink

For many Japanese people, summer drinks are typically barley tea or Calpis. Growing up, those were the only summer beverages I knew. I still remember the shock I felt when I discovered pink lemonade in America some 30 years ago.

With its sweet and sour, refreshing aftertaste, pink lemonade quickly became a summer favorite for me. It’s a drink that clears your head, even when it’s fuzzy from the heat.

Since it’s not sold in Japan, I had to make it myself. Most recipes use raspberry or cranberry juice, but they never felt quite right. After much searching, I found this recipe with lavender, and I’m confident it beats any other recipe!

Ingredients:

• 9 medium to large organic lemons
• 360g (1 4/5 cups) granulated sugar
• 100g (1/3 cup) honey
• 15g (4 tbsp) dried lavender

Choosing Your Ingredients

Select organic lemons so you can safely use the peel. If organic lemons aren’t available or if they have wax, wash off some of the chemicals by rubbing them thoroughly with salt and rinsing. Ideally, buy lemons from a trusted farmer at a farmer’s market.

The Magic of Lavender

The lovely scent and pink color of this lemonade come from lavender. The anthocyanin in lavender reacts with the acid in lemon to turn it pink. While dried lavender alone may taste medicinal, it becomes wonderfully delicious in this lemonade.

Health Benefits of Lavender:

As I mentioned, drinking this lemonade leaves you feeling refreshed, thanks to lavender’s effects:

• Relaxation and Stress Relief: Lavender tea helps calm the mind and reduce anxiety, making it an excellent natural remedy for stress relief.
• Improved Sleep: Known for its sedative effects, lavender tea can enhance sleep quality. A cup before bedtime can help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly.
• Digestive Health: Lavender tea soothes the digestive tract, alleviating indigestion, bloating, and nausea.
• Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties: The antioxidants in lavender tea reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Storing and Enjoying Your Pink Lemonade Syrup

This pink lemonade syrup will last all summer (about 3 months) if stored in the refrigerator, so feel free to make lots and enjoy it.

How to Serve

The basic way to drink it is to mix it with water or carbonated water. You can also add it to iced tea or make a cocktail by adding vodka or white rum.

Pink lemonade is not only delicious but also helps relax you from the inside. Be sure to give it a try!