Bajan Lemondade

It is essential to stay well hydrated in the tropics ~ dehydration can make you feel truly awful ~ but the debate about what to drink is enormous.  To stave off said malady there are vendors on almost every major roadside selling carbonated sweet drinks; coconut water sellers offering the nutrient laden refreshment straight from the nut, and, of course, it almost goes without saying that the ubiquitous ‘Sundowner’ plays an enormous part of our culture.  Whilst there is nothing nicer than sipping on an ice cold rum punch while watching the sun set over the Caribbean, we can’t, in good conscience, be doing that in the daytime.  Cherries and umbrellas in drinks aren’t really acceptable during working hours, unless of course you are lucky enough to ‘have’ to entertain.  

Fresh cold water, and in our case, coconut water, are the obvious choices for everyday thirst quenchers, but sometimes you still crave some sweetness and for those moments there is nothing more tantalizing than home made Bajan lemonade and it is perfectly acceptable to add a shot of rum, a sprig of mint and even an umbrella or two if you want one.

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup Barbados brown sugar
Juice from 4-6 lemons
4 cups cold water

Blend 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring, until all of the sugar dissolves completely. Let this cool, then mix the lemon juice and add 4 more cups of water and stir.

You can also add your own twist by using either vanilla essence, mint, lemongrass or basil.

Keep refrigerated and enjoy.