I have a confession to make… I like lemons. I really, really do. I know, it’s hard to believe and yet… I’m sorry for not telling you sooner… Wait, you knew?

OK, just kidding. Obviously I do like lemons. A LOT! So it makes sense that I would like lemon-based drinks. One such drink, which is a summer favourite of mine, has to be my Mama’s limonata. Or old-fashioned lemonade, if you like. It’s a drink I enjoy throughout the day and, something that is great, some beach bars in Greece have also started offering it, as you can see from the picture above. And I don’t know about you, but I find nothing more refreshing to have at the beach than a nice cup of limonata. Except maybe ice cubes.

There are obviously lots of ways to do it, but this is the one I almost always ask my Mama to do when I go to Greece – although, quite frankly, most of the time I don’t even have to ask for it 😀

Makes approx. 12 servings

• The juice of 12 lemons
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1 glass water
• Garnish: lemon slices or mint leaves (optional)

Add the sugar and water to a saucepan over medium heat.

Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Add the lemon juice, and any additional flavouring you’d like (orange flower water, etc…), and stir well before transferring to a jug or bottle, and store in the fridge.

To serve, combine about ¼ lemon syrup and ¾ cold water (I like mine with sparkling water). Add ice cubes and garnish each glass lemon slices and/or mint leaves.

Cheers!