Sumac Lemonade Recipes

By popular request, we are sharing two recipes for sumac lemonade.

First, some sumac background related to WDP … Sumac is a wild plant that is common across the Mediterranean region. You can find sumac growing almost anywhere! Due to its abundance, it has made its way into much of the cuisine and medicinal uses across the Middle East, in Turkey, Lebanon, and some parts of Europe and Africa. The berries of the plant are harvested, dried, and then ground into a spice that is used in a nearly endless number of ways. However, much of the world’s commercial sumac is actually grown here in Canada, and then exported to the Middle East and sold back to food manufacturers and importers in Canada. (Source: https://cedarvalleyselections.ca/what-is-sumac/)

There are several different varieties of sumac (35 species, actually!) and the spice from each will yield different flavours.

Sumac Lemonade Recipes

RECIPE #1

Ingredients (for one serving)

• 12 ounces of water
• 1 heaping tablespoon of dried powdered sumac
• 1 tablespoon of grape molasses or honey

Instructions:

 Place the sumac in the water, cover and leave overnight. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve or a cheesecloth or a paper towel set over a sieve; add the grape molasses or honey, stir and refrigerate. Drink ice cold for a refreshing drink. This drink is also supposed to help upset stomachs.

RECIPE #2

 Ingredients (for 8 – 10 servings)

 For The Sumac Syrup

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons ground sumac

For The Lemonade

• ¼ cup sumac syrup
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (or lime juice)

Instructions

Make Sumac Syrup

1. Combine water and granulated sugar in a medium saucepan.
2. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 4-5 minutes. Stir occasionally while cooking.
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
5. Add ground sumac to the saucepan, stir to combine, and allow to infuse for 15 minutes.
6. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer.
7. This syrup is enough to make 8-10 glasses of lemonade.

Make The Sumac Lemonade

1. Add 4-5 ice cubes to a tall serving glass.
2. Pour ¼ cup of sumac syrup into the glass.
3. Top with 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and top the glass with club soda or seltzer and stir gently.
4. Check for sweetness and add more syrup if you like your drink sweeter.
5. Garnish with a slice of lemon and a few mint leaves and serve immediately.

Nutrition for Recipe #2

Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 40g | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg