Lilac Lemonade With Fresh Lilac Blossoms

This delicious lilac lemonade with fresh lilac blossoms gets a sweet twist from stevia. Lilac gives your lemonade floral tones with the citrusy taste we all love. You’ll need lilac blossoms, freshly squeezed lemon juice, stevia, and ice-cold water to create this wonderful, tangy, sweet refresher.

Lilac Lemonade: Perfect Refreshing Drink During Spring

Spring has fully arrived, and for me, the smell of Lilacs is a real sign that spring is here. I love the fragrant blossoms of Lilac so much that I can sit by it all day long! Lilac reminds me of my home in Poland and my grandmother, with whom I always cooked. 

Did you know that lilacs are edible? Lilac has delicious edible flowers!

I used to bring many lilac brunches home (they grow everywhere in Poland!). We used to make lilac syrup, lemonade, bubbly drinks, muffins, and cakes with them.

I also have a beautiful lilac bush growing in my yard in Colorado, so I will make a few things this season to enjoy the lilac flavor.

Remember, though, that lilac season is VERY SHORT!! So please hurry up and harvest their beautiful blossom to make a delicious treat for yourself!

If you love floral drink recipes like lavender lemonade, try making lilac lemonade with fresh lilacs!

Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) are deciduous shrubs or small trees native to southeastern Europe and parts of Asia. However, they are widely cultivated and can grow in various regions worldwide. Lilacs are prized for their beautiful and fragrant blooms, which appear in clusters of small, tubular flowers.

How to harvest Lilac?

1. Lilacs usually bloom for a few weeks, peaking in mid-to late spring. The exact timing can vary depending on the variety and your specific location. Once the flowers are fully open and fragrant, they are ready to be harvested.
2. Harvest lilac blossoms early in the morning when they are at their freshest. Gently pluck the flowers, being careful not to damage the plant or disturb pollinators. Choose blossoms that are fully open but still vibrant in color and fragrant.
3. Pick a plant that doesn’t grow near the road and car emissions.
4. Harvest only dry flowers, not after rain (for pollen).
5. Harvest lilac blossoms with fresh and newly opened blossoms (not dried, brown, or wilted).

How to use Lilac Blossoms and Leaves

1. The most delicious way to consume lilacs is to make lemonade or tea using the blossoms.
2. Another way of preserving this intoxicating scent of lilacs is to make Lilac blossom syrup. The process takes more effort because the syrup needs to rest for 3-4 days.
3. You can also blend the lilac blossoms in a bit of water and add them to muffins, smoothies, or frosting.
4. Another popular way of using lilac blossoms is in aromatherapy (essential oils). Why not add lilac blossoms to your bath and let the lilac fragrance melt your thoughts away?

Medicinal use of Lilac

In my old country, Poland, we used Lilac for gastric issues, such as constipation or flatulence.

My grandmother was also using lilac infusion to help lower fever.

Lilac has also been used as an anti-periodic, which stops the recurrence of diseases such as malaria.

Ingredients

Lilac Blossoms:

• Lilac blossoms have a sweet, floral fragrance that is alluring and distinctive. They are infused into a simple syrup to impart their fragrant flavor to lemonade. 

Lemons:

• Lemons have a tangy, refreshing flavor profile with a citrusy aroma. Lemons are juiced to extract their tart and zesty juice, which serves as the primary acidic component in the lemonade. The juice adds brightness and acidity to balance the sweetness of the lilac-infused syrup.

Sugar:

• Sugar is dissolved in water to create a simple syrup, which serves as the base for lilac lemonade. It provides sweetness and helps balance the acidity of the lemon juice.

How to Make Lilac Lemonade

You will need two or three flower heads of lilacs, sugar (I prefer coconut sugar or stevia), lemon juice, and lemons.

It’s very simple to make lilac lemonade. Place the blossom in water and add lemon juice, stevia, and sliced lemons. Put in the fridge overnight. Your lemonade will be ready in the morning and taste like lilac petals with wonderfully refreshing floral taste.

Strain the lilac blooms through a fine mesh strainer and discard them. Stir it, and voila!  

Can I use Lilac Syrup?

In this recipe, I used fresh lilacs because they are in season. But I always have lilac syrup in my pantry, so I can use it when the lilacs are out of season.

Instructions for Lilac Syrup:

1. Prepare the Lilac Syrup:
   • Rinse the lilac blossoms under cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Gently pat them dry with paper towels.
   • Combine 2 cups of water and 1 cup of granulated sugar in a saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved.
   • Add the rinsed lilac blossoms to the sugar syrup and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Allow the lilacs to steep in the syrup for 10-15 minutes , or until they are infused with their fragrance and flavor.
   • Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the lilac syrup cool to room temperature. Once cooled, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the lilac blossoms, pressing gently to extract as much flavor as possible. Discard the spent blossoms.
2. Juice the Fresh Lemons:
   • While the lilac syrup is cooling, juice the lemons to extract their fresh juice. Roll each lemon on a flat surface while applying gentle pressure to release the juice.
   • Cut the lemons in half and use a citrus juicer or reamer to extract the juice. Strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any seeds or pulp.
3. Mix the Lilac Lemonade:
   • Combine the strained lilac syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and water in a large pitcher. Stir well to thoroughly mix the ingredients.
   • Taste the lilac lemonade and adjust the sweetness or tartness to your preference by adding more sugar or lemon juice if necessary.
   • Add ice cubes to the pitcher to chill the lemonade or refrigerate it for  1-2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
4. Serve and Garnish:
   • Once chilled, pour the lilac lemonade into glasses filled with ice cubes, if desired.

Storage

After preparing the Lilac Lemonade, store any leftover portions promptly in the refrigerator. Transfer the lemonade to a tightly sealed container, such as a pitcher with a lid or glass bottle.

This lilac lemonade recipe has floral flavor and delicate floral scent, and it is perfect for hot day.

More Spring Recipies

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Wild Garlic Dip

Dandelion Green Pesto Recipe

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