• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fab Food 4 All
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About me
    • As Seen
  • Contact/PR
You are here: Home / Drink / Old Fashioned Lemonade – refreshingly simple!

Old Fashioned Lemonade – refreshingly simple!

Updated: 27th June 2025 · Published: 20th July 2016 

JUMP TO RECIPE
Old Fashioned Lemonade Pinterest image.
Old Fashioned Lemonade - Pinterest image.
Old Fashioned Lemonade Pinterest image.

Old Fashioned Lemonade is so simple to make & utterly refreshing! Pared lemon slices, lemon juice, sugar and water are all you need to make this traditional thirst quenching drink!.

Old Fashioned Lemonade in a jug and glass on tray in garden.

Well it was the hottest day of the year yesterday and so I thought it was high time that I made this Old Fashioned Lemonade that I first made at school. The recipe has been in my Home Economics index box along with all my other school recipes for decades and I had never revisited it!

Having had some supermarket premium old fashioned lemonade at the weekend I knew that I didn’t want mine to be as sickly sweet but more light and refreshing. Hence I cut down the amount of sugar in my old school recipe and gave the method a bit of an overhaul.

I kept to the main principal of steeping the sugar and parred lemon strips in boiling water for a really good depth of flavour. Pith does not give a good flavour so I wanted to avoid it and concentrate on the lemon juice and zestiness of the peel.

Old Fashioned Lemonade in a glass with ice and lemon.

So amid the sweltering heat yesterday my family were literally champing at the bit to have a glass of my Old Fashioned Lemonade.

“Delicious” and “really refreshing” were the a couple of their comments although my daughter said it was “a bit too lemony”! I asked here if it wasn’t sweet enough, to which she replied “no” but within moments here glass was empty and she was onto the next one.  I think she just wasn’t used to the zesty taste!

Old Fashioned Lemonade - Fab Food 4 All

I do hope you try my Old Fashioned Lemonade. I’m sure it has less sugar in it than most if not all of the premium chilled ones on the market and is far cheaper to make. Plus to save pennies wash your own lemons rather than buying unwaxed ones

More refreshing summer drinks:

  • Non Alcoholic Mojito – Fab Food 4 All
  • Apple, Grape & Kiwi Quencher (Juicer recipe) – Fab Food 4 All
  • 5-a-Day Fruit Smoothie – Fab Food 4 All
  • Peach & Rhubarb Iced Tea – Tin & Thyme
  • Raspberry Lemonade – Recipes from a Pantry
  • Homemade Strawberry & Mint Lemonade – Coffee & Vanilla

I am entering my Old Fashioned Lemonade into:

Credit Crunch Munch – run by myself and Fuss Free Flavours and this month hosted by Lancashire Food.
Simple & in Season – run by Feeding Boys.
Eating Al Fresco – Munchies & Munchkins

As usual, do share your creations with me tagging @FabFood4All on social media! I love to see my recipes come to life! You could also leave a comment below, don’t be a stranger!

Pin for later!

Old Fashioned Lemonade Pinterest image.

Old Fashioned Lemonade in a glass with ice and lemon.
Print Pin
5 from 14 votes
Save Saved!

Old Fashioned Lemonade

Old Fashioned Lemonade - no fizz, just lemon juice, zest, water and a little sugar for the perfect refreshing summer drink!
Course Drink
Cuisine British
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
20 minutes minutes
Total Time 10 minutes minutes
Servings 1 .35 ltrs
Author Camilla Hawkins

Ingredients

  • 3 large unwaxed or washed lemons
  • 130 g granulated sugar
  • 750 ml boiling water + 500 ml cold water
  • Garnish
  • 1 lemon sliced
  • Ice cubes

Instructions

  • Start by placing 500 ml cold water in the fridge to cool.
  • Thinly par (slice or peel) the rind off the lemons in strips (trying to avoid as much pith as possible).
  • Place the pared lemon strips with the sugar in a heat proof jug and pour on the boiling water.
  • Agitate with a wooden spoon to help dissolve the sugar and leave to infuse for 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile cut the 3 lemons in half and juice then place in fridge.
  • Once the 20 minutes is up remove the parred lemon strips with a slotted spoon (or strain). Add the chilled water and juice.
  • Place back in fridge and when ready to serve add the lemon slices and plenty of ice.
  • Enjoy!

Sharing is caring!

Previous Post: « Lemon & Elderflower Curd Cupcakes
Next Post: 10 Minute Mushroom Pasta – a fab vegetarian family meal! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anji Lomas

    12/06/2023 at 2:23 pm

    I’m confuse. Surely you mean the lemons are pared, and not parred? I have a couple of paring knives (short blade, angled tip) which I use to pare fruit and vegetables – is this what you mean? To pare something is to remove the outer skin. If this isn’t what you mean, can you give a detailed explanation please?
    Cheers,
    Anji L.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      12/06/2023 at 4:55 pm

      Thank you for spotting this typo, off to fix it now:-)

      Reply
  2. Norah Herbert

    07/08/2021 at 11:08 am

    I knew that when we made real lemonade at school, we boiled the carefully parred strips of lemon peel. I remember it tasted lovely and there is no sugar syrup in this recipe, as back in 1964 no one had ever heard of sugar syrup here in England.
    Thank you so much for putting this recipe online.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      07/08/2021 at 11:14 pm

      So glad you like the recipe Norah, hope you can enjoy a glass soon:-)

      Reply
  3. Mette

    16/06/2020 at 1:58 pm

    This is so good in the heat! – next time I will use a less sugar though. Greetings from Denmark

    Reply
    • Camilla

      16/06/2020 at 2:53 pm

      Thank Mette, yes make it to your own taste:-)

      Reply
  4. Janice

    08/07/2017 at 9:50 pm

    I love the sharpness of homemade lemonade, it’s so refreshing too.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      09/07/2017 at 12:00 am

      Yes, I must make some more:-)

      Reply
  5. Amy Fidler

    01/05/2017 at 10:00 am

    Think i’ll attempt this,for my next BBQ x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      01/05/2017 at 10:19 am

      Great Amy:-)

      Reply
  6. Amy Fidler

    28/01/2017 at 12:21 pm

    Love old fashioned lemonade and love this recipe x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      30/01/2017 at 12:23 am

      Thank you Amy, it is lush:-)

      Reply
  7. Richard Eldred Hawes

    20/01/2017 at 11:06 pm

    I often think that you cannot beat some of the old recipes

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/01/2017 at 12:34 am

      I agree:-)

      Reply
  8. A S,Edinburgh

    10/01/2017 at 11:28 pm

    This looks gorgeous. I love the idea of a lemonade recipe featuring less sugar; I think I bought a low-sugar natural lemonade once and it tasted much nicer than the standard varieties anyway, so I’d love to be able to make some at home!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/01/2017 at 11:55 pm

      Thanks, it is lush:-)

      Reply
  9. glenn hutton

    06/11/2016 at 4:56 pm

    This is at my level of difficulty and sounds delicious 🙂 will try this recipe out!

    Reply
  10. Richard Eldred Hawes

    28/10/2016 at 9:39 pm

    So easy to make and so much better than what you buy in the shops

    Reply
    • Camilla

      29/10/2016 at 12:01 am

      Thanks Richard:-)

      Reply
  11. Lindsey Stuart

    25/10/2016 at 1:42 pm

    I love lemonade, I used to make some with my mum when I was younger! I will be trying this with my little girl, thankyou for sharing with us.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      25/10/2016 at 10:28 pm

      Thank you Lindsey, enjoy:-)

      Reply
  12. William Gould

    24/10/2016 at 8:50 am

    I do love proper lemonade, something that has a real smack to it!

    Reply
  13. Katie Bryson

    31/07/2016 at 1:06 pm

    Such a refreshing drink on a muggy summer’s day… I’ve never actually made this myself and am bookmarking for future reference!!! Lush pictures Camilla – very very summery! Thanks again for hooking up with this month’s Simple and in Season 🙂

    Reply
    • Camilla

      31/07/2016 at 6:55 pm

      Thanks Katie, always a pleasure to take part in Simple & in Season:-)

      Reply
  14. Pauline Burroughs

    24/07/2016 at 1:20 pm

    This sounds delicious and refreshing. I’m really going to have to give this a try x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      24/07/2016 at 5:26 pm

      Thanks Pauline:-)

      Reply
  15. emdarlington

    24/07/2016 at 10:43 am

    This looks so refreshing . Going to give it a go over the weekend.. x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      24/07/2016 at 10:45 am

      Fabulous, do let me know what you think:-)

      Reply
  16. Ickle Pickle

    22/07/2016 at 9:07 pm

    Oh this looks so delicious – I bet it is super refreshing too! I will definitely try and make some. Kaz x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      23/07/2016 at 12:28 am

      Great Kaz, enjoy:-)

      Reply
  17. kate @veggie desserts

    22/07/2016 at 1:55 pm

    OOoooh lemonade is perfect for this weather! Looks so refreshing.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      22/07/2016 at 5:52 pm

      Thanks Kate, just what we needed in the heatwave!

      Reply
  18. All That I'm Eating

    22/07/2016 at 9:38 am

    You’re so right about this Camilla, sometimes simple is just the best and this is perfect for summer.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      22/07/2016 at 10:19 am

      Thank you, simple is how we like it here:-)

      Reply
  19. Kavey

    22/07/2016 at 9:14 am

    I do love homemade lemonade. When I was a kid, my mum made nimbu pani (lemon water), and so did family in India, similarly simple and refreshing!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      22/07/2016 at 10:21 am

      Fab Kavey, I bet it was lovely:-)

      Reply
  20. Helen @ family-friends-food.com

    21/07/2016 at 10:30 pm

    That sounds SO refreshing! Definitely needed some this week – phew! Scorchio!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      22/07/2016 at 12:28 am

      Thanks Helen, yes total refreshment and much needed this week-)

      Reply
  21. Lucy

    21/07/2016 at 10:05 pm

    Well my girls will certainly love this and I like the fact you reduced the sugar so we will be trying to make our own lemonade over summer.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      22/07/2016 at 12:29 am

      Thanks Lucy, hope your girls enjoy it:-)

      Reply
  22. Cathy @ Planet Veggie

    21/07/2016 at 3:49 pm

    I made lemonade a few months ago for the first time. This has reminded me to make some more, especially as the weather’s perfect for it now!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 5:06 pm

      Glad to have reminded you:-)

      Reply
  23. Jacqueline Meldrum

    21/07/2016 at 3:24 pm

    I’ve not made homemade lemonade in such a long time, but wee Cooper has been asking if we can make some so I better try this recipe soon. Stumbled, yummed, pinned and tweeted 🙂

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 5:07 pm

      Aah, Cooper has good taste, many thanks Jacs:-)

      Reply
  24. Helen Clark

    21/07/2016 at 2:56 pm

    This sounds so nice, especially for the warm weather we’ve been having! I’ll definitely have a go at making it myself soon.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 5:07 pm

      Thank you Helen:-)

      Reply
  25. Erin Ek Rush

    21/07/2016 at 2:38 pm

    ohhh.. that sounds perfect for this weather and I love things really lemony!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 5:08 pm

      It is super tasty, thanks Erin:-)

      Reply
  26. Rhian Westbury

    21/07/2016 at 12:52 pm

    I love traditional lemonade but never realised how simple it was to make yourself. I’d definitely have to make mine extra lemony x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 2:22 pm

      Me too, don’t know why I’d left it this long to make:-)

      Reply
  27. Jo Wiggins

    21/07/2016 at 11:49 am

    Sounds very refreshing – I’ll be giving this a try x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 12:19 pm

      Thanks Jo, excellent:-)

      Reply
  28. Paighton Millington - The Lazy Baker

    21/07/2016 at 11:47 am

    Yum! I’ve always wanted to make homemade lemonade. This recipe is definitely going on my to do list

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 12:20 pm

      Fabulous Paighton:-)

      Reply
  29. Angela / Only Crumbs Remain

    21/07/2016 at 10:57 am

    Ooh I could just do with a nice jug of that in the fridge today Camilla, it looks so refreshing & I imagine it’s far far far nicer than shop bought stuff. I’m glad it’s not just me that has clung onto her recipe note book from school – I often find myself flicking through it even now. 🙂
    Angela x

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 12:21 pm

      I was mad about Home Economics so even have books from when I was 11 LOL:-)

      Reply
  30. Maya Russell

    21/07/2016 at 7:03 am

    I have never made homemade lemonade but having tasted other’s I know that you can’t beat it. Perfect for a hot day.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 12:22 pm

      You need to make some then Maya:-)

      Reply
  31. Heather Haigh

    21/07/2016 at 1:51 am

    Haven’t made this for years, used to love it, you’ve inspired me to start making it again. The colour of yours is fab.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 12:23 pm

      Fabulous Heather:-)

      Reply
  32. Nicola

    20/07/2016 at 11:22 pm

    You have great timing on this – literally the other day I was at a fair and they had delicious fresh lemonade but it was SO expensive, and I thought I should just make my own!

    Nicola

    Reply
    • Camilla

      21/07/2016 at 12:02 am

      Excellent, much better to make your own:-)

      Reply
  33. Jacqueline Bellefontaine

    20/07/2016 at 10:21 pm

    Love, love, love, homemade lemonade. Recently touring Spain one hotel we stayed in had flasks of ice cold lemonade to help yourself to. It was so refreshing when the mercury reaches 30C plus. This method is just like I made it at school (or college cant remember which) its a classic and it works.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      20/07/2016 at 10:52 pm

      Thanks Jacqueline, yay to the old fashioned way of making Old Fashioned Lemonade:-) How lovely that it was in your hotel!

      Reply
  34. Linzi - Lancashire Food

    20/07/2016 at 6:36 pm

    I love real lemonade, perfect post for the hot weather we are currently experiencing. Thanks for linking up with credit crunch munch

    Reply
    • Camilla

      20/07/2016 at 10:53 pm

      Thanks Linzi, yes I need this on tap at the moment!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Follow me on:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Threads
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · FabFood4All · Log in