Lemonade is an easy-to-make, refreshing simple drink, especially on a hot day. It is made with simple things - lemons/limes, sugar/salt, and water, cold or room temperature. In India, it is famously known as "Nimbu Pani " in North India, "Naranga vellam " in my native place, Kerala. The best thing about this drink is that it can be quickly made at home and is a healthy drink overall.

My love for lemonade is like the love of this new gen for beers , wines,whiskies etc...For me this simple drink, lemonade rekindles so many memories to brighten my day ...before I tell you those heartwarming stories, I am gonna share the history of lemonade which I was always curious to know about....

History of lemonade

As exactly mentioned here , " Lemons are said to have been first found in North India, China, and Burma, and was introduced in Persia, Arab countries, Iraq, and Egypt in around 700 CE. Lemon was the main ingredient of various dishes, and therefore, the beverage would have been introduced in a country where lemons were found. However, the first written evidence of its existence is found in Egyptian writings and so we have a reason to believe that it originated in Egypt. It is said that the peasants there, drank a wine made from lemon, date, and honey. Some also believe that it was first introduced in France during the 16th century."

Memories

During summer times, whenever we had any guests at home, my amma used to make this fresh lemonade and served them cold. In India, we usually get or buy small yellow lemons which can be easily squeezed by hand without any need for juice extractors or lemon juice squeezers. We are expert manual lime juice squeezers like that. 😄

I used to wonder, looking at the tray filled with glasses of freshly squeezed lemon juice for the guests,if I am gonna get a small glass of lime juice or a big glass filled with homemade lemonade and ice cubes or a dialogue with a smirk from my mother ,"Theernu poyallo ,molku pinne tharam keto (we don't have enough it seems, will make it for your later )."😔😒

I never used the term,"lemonade" when I was in India,it was always nimbu pani or naranga vellam.SO, those words make me feel homely and lemonade feels fancy to me ...on days whenever , anyone in the family felt low,this nimbu pani/naranga vellam was instantly made for the ultimate boost of energy and mood and it worked like a charm .Thann mein shakthi,mann mein shakthi,not Bournvita (remember that Bournvita ad.) but nimbu pani for us 😁

It was during my college days in Kerala that I got hooked to this naranga vellam from the local vendors, especially near the bus stands. Those green-colored bottles sealed with a marble which had soda caged in that and with a small yellow lemon on the top, famously called goli soda in North India is so nostalgic and makes me smile big even today whenever I go to India, my eyes wander to catch a glimpse of them on shopping streets or near bus stands, etc ...and it is our family favorite while shopping instead of drinking any Pepsi or Fanta we usually love this natural thirst quencher cum energizer.

Something nadan / epic about it ....

Pic credit:Goli soda business – BUSINESS INSIDER TAMIL

When I was doing my Bachelors in Kerala, "Chetta oru naranga vellam " with a huge grin on my face used to be my favorite dialogue of the day ..Almost every day, I used to drink fresh cold soda naranga vellam with my friend gang on my way to the hostel.

Naranga vellam,jokes and short gossips with friends made my day always ...So,it got embedded in my blood and taste buds ever since. Those green goli-soda bottles are my favorite bottles filled with memories ...They never fail to make me smile and say ye dil maangey more....something personal about it..aaahaaa...😁😋

By the way,they are also quite cheaper than those unhealthy drinks like Pepsi, Cola, etc. During college days ,it was very helpful moneywise as well...#HappyMiser 😋😁

Anyways,it was after coming to US,I realized they are called "Lemonades" 😬 and there are varieties of readymade lemonades like Pepsi and Cola bottles sold here but they never came close to my simple humble nimbu pani or naranga vellam in India...So,I made my own but not often .....This is one of those drinks that even my hubby makes sometimes ....He makes it better than me! Having his favorite soda maker inspires and excites him to go for it for sure. Thank God! He likes the salt version and I like the sweet version just like our nature...ooops 🙊😉😋😀

So,I may not like Kerala sweets especially North Indian one's Kerala style BUT when it comes to lemonade, I do love the Kerala goli soda version the most,all over the world.Hell yeah !!WINK !😎😉😁🙌

And for the first time ever, my hubby insisted that I must make a lemonade video with him for sure, and here it is ..He made the lemonade and I added my magical ingredients to make it extra special...

Health benefits of lemon juice

Another reason why I love them when it is naturally made , is homemade and screams fresh ..

Since it is in my nature to beautify everything around me and it thrills me to make something extraordinary from ordinary, from simple to magical ...I made this magical flavored lemonade by infusing it with ice cubes made of blueberry puree and raspberry puree, ginger, mint, and honey which tasted like a cocktail san alcohol or say a healthy mocktail lemonade, lemonade with a kick and colors..Sooooo reinvigorating and mood-lifting !!

My magical lemonade

Ingredients

Lemon, medium size 2-3 Nos.

Cold water - 3-4 Cups

Sugar and salt as needed

Blueberry - a cup

Raspberry - a cup

Ginger - a cup

Mint as needed

Honey as needed

Strawberry slices

Ice cube molds

Soda as needed (Optional)

Lemon juice squeezer/extractor

Preparation method to make my magical lemonade

I put all the blueberries into the mixer jar and ground them into a puree and put them in star-shaped ice cube molds and similarly I repeated with raspberries which I put into heart-shaped ice cube molds and stored them in the freezer.
Similarly, I put ginger, honey, and mint in a heart-shaped ice cube mold as well and stored it in the freezer.
I also put a few strawberry slices, mint leaves, and water in round ice cube molds and stored them in the freezer.
Since my lemons couldn't fit into the lemon juice squeezer, we squeezed the lemon juice by hand after cutting them into small pieces.
Into the juice, add the sugar and/or salt as needed and stir it with a spoon until well dissolved.
Then add water to it.
If you want more sourness, squeeze more lemon juice into it.
Add salt or sugar more if needed.
Sieve it to remove any lemon seeds. Pour into the glasses the lemonade.
Then I added all my fruit-infused ice cubes one by one.
As the ice cubes infused with fruit purees melt, the taste of lemonade shifts to another level. You will feel the kick.
That's it my flavored magical lemonade is ready to drink...Winnnk..😊

OR, you can watch me, my kids - my first kid, my hubby 😊and the little one hustling to make lemonade ...There was a time when my hubby used to be kinda little grumpy 😋🙊(I love smiling face, I used to indirectly convince him that Honey P, you don't have to pay tax for smiling. I've to remind him to smile before every camera click, take a chill pill like me 😋😉😀), a hardcore busy bee, in his own bubble (Not saying he was or he is not loving though and I love him unconditionally) BUT nowadays, since I returned from India, he is becoming an enlightened soul 😄(Touchwood !!)🙏..Hence,the guest appearance ..:D

Like they say,“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind ." People who know you, don't need any explanations ever!!

Blush blush 😁😋😉

I was raised and groomed to be a woman, a man needs and not a woman who needs a man (except the one I married)......And even though I am also not afraid to eat alone, I know what exactly I bring to the table. I am not the best out there, but I am a once-in-a-lifetime woman in this modern world, IRREPLACEABLE (by the man I married ) 😉😉😎😊😋 Ahem ahem (Gale mein khich khich)!!

Living my life on my own terms but selflessly. I am not perfect either, a work in progress but I am proud of myself !! And gratitude is my ultimate attitude !!

I have the magic in me that I can change any life's situation from bitter to better !! Neither black nor white, pink or blue, the rainbow is my all-time color .😊

I never ask life "Why me ?", I ask life," TRY ME" WINK...and I try my best to fight my battles all by myself, without being a cry baby and involving everyone and sometimes I become too over-confident that I will be fine handling stuff all by myself, that's when I get into trouble I believe ...Anyways, being a God's warrior brat,I am not afraid of any storms, for I am always learning how to sail my ship !!

I,I,Iiiii...sounds so narcissistic I know 🙊🙉😁😋,I wasn't like this before, but I learned, it is ok to celebrate/glorify yourself once in a while at least and I call it self-worth/self-love!

Like that famous Malayalam dialogue,"Enikku ennepetti nalley madippanu " #VijayanDasan😂

So, when life gives me a lemon,I make something divine or magical....;)

Masters in Philosophy,eh? Guilty as charged !! It's a manufacturing defect rooted in my DNA, got it from my Pita G /father /Achchan😁

Is it too much ?? I bet !😁🙊 No worries though, that's why I have my homemade fresh lemonade ready..Please feel free to help yourself !!:)💝🙏😉😋😊

Take care,

Till I meet you next to eat any leftover brain,

Stay safe, rocking, and healthy,😊🙇

Phir milenge chalthey chalthey,

Love and light,