You guys, look at that peach color. It's so pretty I want to cry! And will you believe me if I tell you this drink tastes as beautiful as it looks?
Okay, that was a lie. A. BIG. LIE. Because it actually tastes even BETTER.
If you've been following me on Instagram, you'll already know that August hasn't been very kind to me (my phone, camera and fridge broke and I was in a car accident - all this within the first week!) and I very much needed a treat. When I stumbled upon some lovely peaches at my local market the other day, this beautiful peach lemonade happened. It just had to.
Speaking of peaches, they are indeed not a Thai fruit, but I know we do grow them a little bit up in the mountains in the North of Thailand. I was really surprised to find such fruit at my local wet market because they don't usually do non-Thai fruits. Not to mention I actually got 3 large ones for only 57 baht, which was quite a bargain! I'm guessing they were some of those rare ones grown locally in Chiang Mai because the imported ones are usually more expensive. Though, even if that's the case, it's still strange because I remember they were never this cheap every time I visited Chiang Mai and they were in season. But cheap fruit isn't something one's to complain about, is it?
WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THIS PEACH LEMONADE RECIPE?
There aren't a lot of solids to be thrown away!
While most fruit syrup recipes will tell you to strain your cooked fruit and discard the solids, I choose to keep them because I don't like to waste food. So, instead of just straining, I blend the fruit that's been cooked with sugar and water until quite smooth in a blender first, and then I strain. Yes, you'll still have some solids to discard, but it'll probably be just about 1 tablespoon. And guess what, your drink will still be perfectly fine, it won't have the same consistency as a smoothie because you're adding a lot of lemon juice and water to it. In fact, I think this actually makes it peachier (is that a real word?) in terms of both color and flavor, which is great.
Even with an extra step, this peach lemonade is still one of the easiest peach drinks you can make at home on a hot day in the summer or for parties. If you're one of those lucky people who have a peach tree or a lemon tree in your yard and you're trying to use up your peaches or lemons, this peach lemonade is perfect for that too. Plus, it's sure to be loved by both kids and adults and will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days, if covered!
Fresh Peach Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced peaches about 1⅓ large ones
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- 4 cups cold water
- Ice to serve
- Peach and lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Combine diced peaches, 1 cup of water and granulated sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the peaches are fragrant and sugar fully dissolved, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, about an hour.
- Blend the peach mixture in a blender until quite smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on solids with the back of a spoon to release juices. Discard any solids (you may only have as little as 1 tablespoon left).
- In a large pitcher, combine the peach syrup, lemon juice and 4 cups of cold water (start with ½ cup of lemon juice and increase to your personal preferences from there).
- Pour the peach lemonade into ice-filled glasses and garnish with peach and lemon slices.
Notes
