4 Delicious Lemonade Variations for Summer

The world is gripped by the football fever. 

And, Middle East? Summer fever!

No kidding.

We are sizziling with temperatures hitting record levels as early as June. Haven’t seen this much heat and humidity so far in the beginning of summer. The peak season is usually July-August.

It’s simply hot, humid and hazy.  With temperatures soaring to the 50s, staying hydrated is vital.

There’s nothing like a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade to hit the spot on a hot, hot day. Summer is officially the time to kick your feet up and chill with a tasty breeze of icy cool lemonade.

Fresh lemonade is hard to beat. All you need is some lemon juice, sugar and water to prepare it at home. None of the commercial versions can compare to the flavor of lemonade or limeade made with fresh lemon or lime. Vendors usually heap lemonade with sugar to cover up tanginess. With homemade, you get to control the amount of sugar that goes into your body.

Lemon is a pantry staple. There are plenty of foodie delights you can squeeze out of this yellow citrusy fruit. For squeezing the most juice from a lemon, heat quickly in the microwave, about 20-30 seconds on high—the juice will flow more easily. Or, roll the lemon—at room temperature—over the kitchen counter a couple of times before juicing. Adjust the sugar to lemon balance depending on what type of lemons or lime you are using, besides your own preference for sweetness. To make things much simpler, make sugar syrup in advance in the microwave and store in the refrigator until ready for use. For making the syrup, place the required amount of sugar with enough water to cover in the microwave, uncovered, at high power for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool and store in the refrigator to use as needed.

Feeling adventurous? Try this summertime sipper in new flavors. There is a whole host of seasonal fruits to spike up the classic lemonade. Bonus? You get to stay hydrated and squeeze more produce into your diet. Shake up the flavors of summer with mango, apple, mint, and sarsaparilla. Each offers something lip-smacking different. Trust me.

Give ‘em a try this summer!

Mango Lemonade

Sparkling Apple Lemonade

Refreshing Mint Lemonade aka Limonana

Sarsaparilla Limeade

Invite your friends over and serve on the deck overlooking a view, or simply sip in the comfort of your home to keep you happily hydrated on a hot summers day.

What’s summer without lemonade? Right. 

Here's another flavor I've been enjoying this summer. Any guess?