This made at home Lemon cordial is so sweet, tangy and refreshing it wont last in your fridge long because everyone will want a glass…..or two!

Homemade Lemon Cordial – Delicious

There’s nothing so refreshing as a cool glass of lemon cordial. Topped with ice and a bit of mint it’s the perfect tonic on a hot summers’ day. Making it at home from lemons you grew in your backyard makes it even more satisfying. Even the mint is easy to grow in a tub in a shady spot in your garden.

This lemon cordial is easily stored for up to 1 month in your cupboard, but it can be kept in your fridge or frozen for longer storage. To be honest it’s so delicious you’ll probably drink it all before then and look to make another batch!   

Make sure you pick nice bright yellow lemons that are ripe. You’ll know they’re ready to be picked when they come easily off the tree, or you notice them starting to drop on the ground naturally. If you don’t have a lemon tree it’s fine to buy them at your local fruit vendor or supermarket. It might sound stupid obvious, but they should smell kind of lemony!

Or better yet find a neighbour that has a backyard tree. Maybe you can swap them for a bottle or fresh lemon cordial for a bucket or so of lemons.

What you need:

• 1 x Dozen lemons (12)
• Up to 1 kilo of sugar
• Water

Equipment:

• 6 tall Cordial storage bottles ( with stops or caps)
• 1 large pot (for sterilizing)
•  1 Large pot (for the cordial)
• 1 large jug
• A sieve
• Grater to zest the lemons
• A cheese cloth (for straining)
• Wooden spoon
• 1 Tablespoon
• Measuring cup
• Juicer
• Labels

Preparation:

Sterilize all equipment with boiling water in a large pot. You can also use your choice of chemical sterilizers. Wash all the lemons under cool running water and secure the cheese cloth or straining cloth over the top of the sieve and place that inside the jug, ready for straining the pulp and seeds from the juice.

Method:

1. Using the grater remove the zest or 2 – 3 lemons
2. Juice all the lemons using your hand juicer or electric juice maker.
3. Transfer the juice and lemon zest into the sieve and cheese cloth and strain
4. Remove the cloth (don’t forget to gently squeeze out the cloth for the remaining juice)
5. Measure the juice by volume and pour into the cooking pot
6. Add equal volume of sugar to the juice
7. Add equal volume of water into the juice and sugar
8. Turn the pot onto a low simmer and stir until the sugar dissolves.
9. Increase the temperature and bring the pot gently to a boil
10. Boil for 5 minutes then remove from the heat
11. Allow the cordial to cool to a safe handling temperature (I recommend using heat protective gloves)
12. Carefully transfer to your cordial bottles using your funnel.
13. Seal your bottles
14. When completely cool, wash the bottles with a clean damp cloth and dry them.
15. Attach your labels including your date made.
16. Store in your refrigerator or a cool dry cupboard.
17. If you wish to freeze the cordial I suggest transferring the mixture to ice cube trays or sealed containers. ( Please do not freeze the glass bottles as they will crack) 

Serving suggestion:

Pour a generous amount of cordial into your glass (maybe a quarter or less of the glass size) and top with cold water. Add a couple of ice cubes and some mint and you’re good to go.

You could try sampling some nice cheese and crackers at the same time maybe. Or serve it up at your next summer barbeque , picnic or pool party!

Enjoy.