Sweet Lemon Water

Summer is almost here, and yummy, cold drinks are perfect to beat the heat.  Sweet Lemon Water is one of my favorites, and my go-to drink to serve at any BBQ, party, or gathering.  It’s incredibly simple to put together, refreshingly light, and absolutely delicious!

 You may be thinking, lemon water?  Really?  How is this different from regular ice water with sliced lemons in it?  Well, I’m going to tell you.  ☺ It all starts with mixing sugar in with ice cold water, and letting it dissolve, then adding lemon extract for the lemon-y flavor and then…the secret ingredient.

Have you heard of citric acid? It’s used a lot in canning tomatoes as a replacement for lemon juice, and it provides just the right amount of “sparkle” to this recipe.  It brings it up a notch from plain water, but isn’t carbonated or “spicy” as my kids call it.  You can find it at health food stores, and even large retail stores like Ace Hardware and Walmart. Make sure you get food grade citric acid–I like the one by Ball, intended for canning.

 I got this recipe years and years ago from a dear friend who served it at a church function, and it has been one of my very favorites ever since. It’s also very inexpensive to make, which makes it great for serving to large groups.  It’s also very versatile–it works for the most casual of get togethers, and also for events that are more on the fancy side.

I like to add fresh mint to the pitcher or beverage container, and if I’m filling jars (or glasses) ahead of time, I always add a little to each individual jar. It gives it an additional depth of flavor that really gives it “oomph”.

All the ingredients can be altered to taste.  This recipe is on the sweeter side, so if you like things less sweet, I’d start with a little less sugar and add from there.

Share and save for later!