Lemonade in the Shade

Step into a world of nostalgia and refreshment with a classic homemade lemonade recipe. Inspired by childhood memories in Papua New Guinea, where lemon trees, locally known as “mulis,” bore an abundance of sour, golden fruits, this recipe captures the essence of simple pleasures. Fresh lemonade was more than a drink—it was a ritual of hospitality and a celebration of nature’s bounty.

When I was a young child living in Papua New Guinea, we had a lemon tree outside our back door. A lemon tree of very sour lemons. One of the daily rituals in muli season, (which seemed to last most of the year), was to pick mulis off the tree and fill buckets with these little round, yellow treasures.

I would help pick them, and we would bring them into the house where my mother would cut them in half, squeeze the juice, and freeze some for drinks and some for pies. But some of the juice would be kept unfrozen in a container in the fridge, ready for use. When guests would drop in, which they often did in this tropical paradise, it was expected that you would ofsfer them an ice-cold drink of fresh lemonade. If the guests were special, they might even get a spoonful of passion fruit dropped in as a garnish.

I have never lost my taste for fresh, homemade lemonade...especially with a dash of passionfruit! It’s a simple, invigorating drink – and its refreshing taste brings back nostalgic memories to this day.

With freshly squeezed lemon juice in one container and another with simple sugar chilling in the fridge, all that’s required is a long, tall glass and a handful of ice and you’re ready to step outside for a sip of lemonade in the shade.

Lemon tree very pretty,
And the lemon flower is sweet,
But the fruit of the poor lemon
Is impossible to eat.
—Peter, Paul & Mary

Recipe: Lemonade

Makes: ten 8-ounce servings

2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Melt the water and sugar until it boils. Remove from heat and cool. Stir in the freshly squeezed lemon juice. Chill.

In a glass, pour 1 cup lemon juice mixture and 1 cup water. Serve with ice.

Variations:

• For an extra burst of flavor, mix in fresh herbs like mint or basil.
• Swap out water for sparkling water to create a fizzy lemonade.
• Use Meyer lemons for a sweeter, less tart version of this classic drink.

More to Explore:

• Index of Recipes
• Visual Recipe Index