Lemonade is a name given to two different types of juice. In the U.S., Canada and Denmark, lemonade refers to an uncarbonated mixture of lemon juice, sugar, and water. In the UK, Australia, Switzerland, and New Zealand, the term mainly refers to a colourless, carbonated, sweet lemon-flavoured soft drink. In India, lemonade (commonly known as limbu paani) refers to an uncarbonated mixture of lemon juice, sugar and water which may or may not contain common or rock salt. (limbu paani is made with limes, not lemons)
Contents |
History
Lemonade, in its uncarbonated form, is among the oldest of commercial soft drinks, dating at least back to the 17th century. In Paris in 1676, a business called the Compagnie de Limonadiers was formed and granted monopoly rights to sell lemonade, which their vendors dispensed in cups from tanks carried upon their backs. [1] The French term limonade has since come to mean "soft drink" in many languages.
United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand
In the UK, Australia and New Zealand the name lemonade usually refers to a drink that is carbonated, clear, and contains either natural or artificial lemon flavour - although sometimes very little of this latter ingredient. It is very similar in taste and appearance to drinks such as 7 Up and Sprite. In fact, these two drinks are called 'lemonade' in Australia, and labelled as such on the cans and bottles. When mixed, lemonade and beer produce a shandy or a portagaff. Lemonade is also an important ingredient in the Pimm's Cup cocktail, and a popular drink mixer. The still drink that Americans call lemonade exists in the UK as a 'home made' drink (also called lemonade or lemon crush), but is only rarely sold commercially under that name. A carbonated version is commonly sold commercially as 'cloudy' or 'traditional' lemonade. There are also similar uncarbonated products, lemon squash and Lemon barley water, both of which are usually sold as a syrup which is diluted to taste. In Great Britain in the 1970s lemonade was not considered a glamorous product. This was deliberately parodied in a television commercial for R. White's lemonade, in which a man sneaks downstairs in his pajamas singing "I'm a secret lemonade drinker — I'm trying to give it up but it's one of those nights." When his wife catches him at the refrigerator he sheepishly offers her a glass. The commercial was a huge success and ran for almost a decade, although later attempts to revive the campaign were less successful.
Ireland
In Ireland, lemonade refers to the carbonated, lemon-flavoured soft drink[clarify] but is further sub-divided into white lemonade and red lemonade. White lemonade equates to the colourless fizzy lemonade common in many countries, while red lemonade is particular to Ireland. Red lemonade differs slightly in taste from white lemonade and is either drank neat or as part of a whiskey mixer. It is also red.
Flavours
Other fruit juices or syrups can be added to lemonade to give it a range of flavours and colours. Common fruit flavors are strawberry, raspberry, lime, chocolate, blackberry, and kiwifruit.
In language
A popular quote by Dale Carnegie is "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade", meaning that one should make the best of bad situations. The term "depression lemonade" refers to the practice of asking for a glass of water with lemon at a restaurant, then squeezing the lemon into the water and mixing in sugar packets to make free lemonade. (See also ghetto latte.)
See also
External links and references
- Of the Street Sale of Ginger-Beer, Sherbet, Lemonade,&C., from London Labour and the London Poor, Volume 1, Henry Mayhew, 1851; subsequent pages cover the costs and income of street lemonade sellers.
