Old fashioned homemade lemon cordial recipe is an oldie, but a goodie. It’s incredibly refreshing on a hot summers day. Cordial with still or sparkling water, lots of ice tinkling about the glass and maybe a few crushed mint leaves in the glass…..ah, so cool and thirst quenching.
When it’s hot outside you can’t go wrong mixing up a jug of punchy lemon cordial, everyone loves a long, cool drink.
You will love this cordial because it’s not overly sharp, or sweet and has the perfect amount of zingy tang to be refreshing. Try mixing it with your favourite gin or vodka, along with some sparkling mineral water and crushed mint leaves.
Many Australian homes have the ubiquitous lemon tree in their backyards and making cordial is just one of the many uses we have for lemons.
This lemon tree is in Jen’s garden, and although we don’t know the variety it produces all year round. Visitors often leave with a bag full of lemons, and if they’re lucky a bottle of cordial!
Lemon varieties
Lemon ain’t just lemons. Some varieties are far more acidic than others. For example Eureka lemons are more acidic than Meyer lemons. You may have to balance out the amount of sugar used until you get the right balance.
Sterilizing your bottles
- wash bottles with hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly
- drain any water droplets away
- lay the bottles on the middle shelf of your oven at 140c (210f)
- dry bottles in your oven for around 15-20 minutes
- remove and use when cold
Tips for getting the most rind and juice, from a lemon
- always zest before juicing, rubbing the grater on the lemon, as opposed to rubbing the lemon on the greater…..especially easy if you have a microplane
- roll uncut lemons on the counter with the palm of your hand to release more juice
- microwaving whole lemons for a few seconds helps to release more juice also
Tartaric acid
Tartaric acid is a preservative. It is an organic, natural acid that occurs in many fruits, most notably in grapes. The acid is lauded with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. So even though it sounds scary, it’s not.
Watch How To Make Quick Homemade Lemon Cordial
scroll to the bottom for the homemade lemon cordial recipe
Check out some more winning lemon recipes
click on the link for the recipe…..Edna’s Lemon Curd Cake
click on the link for the recipe…..Easy Lemon Curd
click on the link for the recipe….Lemon Curd and Almond Rolled Pavlova.
click on the link for the recipe……Easy Crustless Lemon Tart
click on the link for the recipe…..Italian Lemon, Almond and White Chocolate Cake – Gluten Free
What’s your go-to lemon recipe? We would love to hear from you in the comments below when you make this thirst quenching quick homemade lemon cordial.
Homemade Lemon Cordial
Homemade lemon cordial may be old fashioned but it sits in our modern world for hot days when cold, refreshing drinks are what we want.
Ingredients
- lemon zest from all of the lemons
- 3/4 cup of fresh lemon juice after straining of any pulp or seeds- from approx 4 medium sized lemons
- 4 cups white sugar
- 28 grams (1 ounce) tartaric acid
- 5 cups boiling boiling water
Instructions
- place zest, juice, sugar and tartaric acid in a large bowl
- pour boiling water over ingredients and stir till dissolved
- strain
- pour into a jug and then into a sterilised bottle with a lid
- store in the pantry or refrigerator
Nutrition Information
Amount Per Serving Calories 0Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 0mgCarbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g
Cooper
Honestly nothing is sacred with Cooper. Here he is with a string shopping bag stolen from the table, we’d no sooner taken that from him when he helps himself to a top from the dressing room. Kids!
2 comments
Lovely flavour and very refreshing. I used mostly limes with some lemon. Next time I will probably reduce the sugar more than I did (used 3.5 cups to 1 cup juice).
So pleased you liked the cordial. Thanks for commenting. Regards, Jo and Jen