I’m not a big fan of lemonade; I can take it or leave – and most of the time I leave it.
Yet, every summer I fall in love with the idea of lemonade, when I imagine a beach house, a lounge chair and hot, salty summer days, there’s always a glistening pitcher of lemonade.
This long weekend I’m thinking of a cottage by the sea on the Sunshine Coast, my mom is coming too – and I see a lounge chair.
The forecast looks great; perfectly warm, light breezy sunny days, and deep blue skies with fluffy white shifting clouds.
It’s like a fairytale come true; surely, we must have lemonade while there!

A refreshing hibiscus lemonade that’s tangy, tart and sweet.
I’ve practiced since the start of summer and it’s almost perfected
I usually buy dried hibiscus flower for tea to mix with henna which I use to condition my hair, I decided to find culinary uses for the hibiscus since it’s chock full of vitamin C and has other health properties (I’m too lazy to look them up right now).
You’d remember that I tried a hibiscus drink once and liked it; this lemonade is a twist on Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea).

It’s pretty straightforward; I use simple syrup as sweetener, juice some lemons, make the hibiscus tea and just mix a pitcher at a time.

Here’s what need to get and do:
Hibiscus Tea

• 1 cup dried hibiscus flower
• 2 cups water

Directions

1. Combine water and hibiscus flowers in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Bring to a boil, Let cool, strain tea into a pitcher, discarding flowers.
3. Refrigerate until very cold.

Simple Syrup
This very simple and awesome simple syrup recipe is from Bon App. It’s perfect for use in homemade beverages, I used turbinado sugar (because that all I had at home).

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved.
2. Remove pan from heat, let cool, and transfer to a jar.
3. Cover and store in refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Juice of 4 Lemons;
Water; and
A pinch of salt

So we’re really eyeballing things here…
Pour a cup of hibiscus tea in a large pitcher, and add about half of the lemon juice, stir in about a cup or so of water and then add enough simple syrup to taste.
Add a pinch of salt.
Taste and add water or simple syrup until desired sweetness and or tartness is reached.
Garnish with lemon slices and serve

And there you have it; a cold healthy deliciously perfect accompaniment to your summer beach house lounging.