There are lots of lemons around in Melbourne at the moment. Even my tree which I have been dutifully cutting them off, so it can concentrate on growth, has one on it. Its not ready yet but until it is, or rather until my intended bumper crop next year, I will just have to keep on getting them from mum & dads trees. They have a Eureka Lemon and a Meyer Lemon, and I enjoy fruits from both. I make my usual salad dressing from the juice of Meyer lemons, I regularly add the rind to pasta dishes and I use the Eureka Lemons regularly with fish. I often make Lemon Butter (or curd as it is often known) and I love lemon icing on cakes. But this week I fancied making them into a drink. When I was at my parents place this week I grabbed a large bag of fruit, more than enough to make cordial. As its my mums fruit I have used one of her recipes – I’m not sure where it originated but it is very good.
I love this cordial, partially because I love mint but also because it is wonderfully refreshing mixed with water and is equally good with some soda and a splash or two of rum. The other good thing is that the kids aren’t actually that keen on it (not sure why) so I get to drink more of it and I don’t have to feel guilty about giving them too much sugar – its all upside !!!!
For this recipe I have used a decent whack of mint – about 40 or so large leaves, if you prefer a more lemony cordial reduce the number of leaves.
Lemon & Mint Cordial (makes about 1.25 litres)
- zest of 6 large lemons (you are going to strain it later so keeping the zest in large pieces is preferable – I do this by using a potato peeler to remove it from the lemons.)
- 500g sugar
- 500ml lemon juice (around 10 lemons depending on size and volume of juice)
- 500ml water
- 40 large mint leaves ripped into pieces
Place the sugar, water and zest into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Boil for about 30 seconds and then leave to cool. Once fairly cool add the lemon juice and once again bring to the boil. Remove from heat, add the mint and leave to cool. Once cool strain and bottle.
To serve dilute with about 1 part cordial to 6 or more parts water, to taste. I tend to store this cordial in the fridge and I have to admit it is usually drunk fairly quickly so I’m not sure how long it would store for.
I am sharing this recipe as part of the Garden of Eden’s Thursday Kitchen Cupboard series.
It must be so nice to have fresh fruit like that. I am not fond of mint but do make lemon aid but that is just without the mint which is great in the summer. Thanks for sharing.
I am a big fan of lemonade – its so nice to have home made drinks in summer.
You know I don’t even like mint but I really think I would like this. Thanks!
You’ll just have to try – perhaps with a few less leaves than I used though – it does come out pretty minty.
Looks great. thanks for sharing i just may have to try this next time i see lemons on sale!
Thanks Mrs Pickles – I love your name so I just couldn’t resist typing it….
Wish I had a Lemon tree – but I don’t think it would do well in my garden, which is a shame since we use lots of lemons. As essential store-cupboard ingredient I’d say.
Lemons are wonderful – in fact I’m pretty keen on all citrus – I have jsut spent a fortune on dwarf citrus trees for pots on my paved areas I hope they grow well for me.
I like the sound of this, and might even have a go at it, now I just need to find someone with a lemon tree.
I would love to offer you some but I don’t think the one lemon on my tree would go very far…….I reckon do a quick tour around the neighbourhood and find a laden one and befriend the occupants….
Ooooh I love this recipe. I always have a ready supply of lemons from my grandfather’s tree – mine officially died some weeks ago, but hopefully Santa is bringing me another – and I’m partial to home made cordial. It’s a pity my mint is in such poor condition, looks like I’ll have to around to repotting it and cutting it all back to see if that helps, just so I can try this one.
Mint should respond really well to repotting. That’s a lovely present idea – have you written to Santa with your request yet? I got my kids to write early this year – less scope for last minute changes of mind that way……
Drinking this on hot weather while gardening will be so refreshing. Well not only hot weather but any kind of weather will also be nice. I will really enjoy a glass of this while admiring your garden ;-).
This sounds wonderful! I bet it would be great with some seltzer and maybe a little vodka too!
Thank looks wonderfully wonderful! So fresh and bright! Another lovely post. I just put up something new on my blog too and would love to hear from you, so do drop by soon 😀
I am SO going to do this next Summer at the farm. Thanks for sharing, delicious!!!
Made this a couple of hours ago.
OMG!!! Lovely.
Really glad you enjoyed it!!!!!
I don’t have any fruit trees but this sounds like a wonderful recipe with store-bought organic lemons, and I do have mint growing in the back yard!
Thanks for sharing the recipe. Sounds delicious, no matter what time of the year!
visiting from Down To Earth
Hi there,
Prepared this cordial and it is great with fresh mint, ice and vodka. Tried it with chilled white wine and its yummie too! Oh well see I like alcohol, would I resist the temptation? Also great as a long drink with Malta’s favourite summer food, bread with olive oil and tomatoes!
Really glad you enjoy it and thank you so much for the feedback! Our tomato season has jsut finished and I’m missing them already.
As a lemon cordial fan it never crossed my mind to add mint but this sounds tops so I will use it for the batch next week but in the meantime as one of the kids is drinking it you can keep it healthier by only mixing in the lemon juice when everything is cold. Why? Because heat destroys the Vitamin C with which the juice is chokka.
Good tip about the Vitamin c. Hope you enjoy the cordial.
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Made one batch, tried it, and decided to make another two! So delicious, the mint is perfect with the lemon. Think we have found the solution to our overflowing lemon tree 🙂