"End of the summer" plum lemonade

I bought a bottle of sparkling water, as I knew, they will ask for a lemonade. They did. I made this overnight shrub like (but without vinegar) plum and sugar mix, and then lemonade. We baked cookies during the day, we went to sauna and then it was THE time for lemonade. I neatly poured the syrup in bottles and opened the sparkling water bottle. But, oh my, there was no “shhhh” sound that satisfies your ears, when the bottle is opened, because, as it turned out, I did buy still water. Without saying anything, I made the drinks and served. The first surprise, that it s not sparkling, disappeared after the second sips, as it was so tasty, that they did not care. And it truly was. So, you can make it with or without sparkling water, kids approved.  

Ingredients

250 g sweet and sour plums
150 g demerara sugar
¼ tsp vanilla powder
½ organic lemon zest, finely grated
pinch of sea salt
Sparkling or still water, at least 700 ml or more

Prepare

Place plums in a jar and squeeze them with your hands so that they release the juices. Add vanilla, sugar, salt and lemon zest, cover and leave for 24 h at a room temperature.

Pour the plums into a the sieve and let the juices drip in a bowl. Pour that juice in a big serving jar or individual bottles or glasses, fill up with water and serve. You can add ice if you wish.

Serves 4

Recipe and pictures: Signe Meirane
Camera: Sony Alpha 7s
Plates and table decorations: HM Home