This sweet and tangy lemonade is the perfect refreshing drink for Summer!
My kids love lemonade. So much so, that every time they open the fridge, I have to make sure they aren’t getting more out. to drink. Sorry kids, bedtime is no time for lemonade! Oye.
So after days of drinking the same old thing, I looked over at our dewberry stash and thought it might be fun to make a special dewberry flavored lemonade. The dewberry juice gives the lemonade a pretty pink color and is slightly sweeter than just regular tangy lemonade.
Ready to make some for yourself? Let’s gets started!
What Are Dewberries?
Dewberries are a smaller version of a blackberry. They’re a little more tart than a traditional blackberry, but grow in a bush more like a raspberry.
Where Do I Find Dewberries?
Bushes. No, but really they’re usually found in undeveloped areas – and only during the Summer. They are red until they’re ripe and ready for the picking. Word of advice…be careful of the thorns! The larger the plant, the more intense those thorns can be.
How Do I Wash and Prepare Dewberries?
Since you are picking something that is found in nature, chances are that “nature” is going to try to come home with you. One way to flush it all out and make sure your berries are clean is to put the dewberries in a bowl and cover it with 3 parts water and 1 part vinegar. Completely immerse them. Stir them occasionally and let them soak for a good 10 minutes.
Once they’re done, you’ll see tiny caterpillars, ants, and all sorts of stuff float up to the top. Strain and rinse them well. Pat them dry and keep them in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to use.
Can I Make this with Other Types of Berries?
Absolutely! This recipe will work with strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries! Get creative and have fun with it!
How do I Make Dewberry Juice?
Take your cleaned dewberries and put them in a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Suspend the cheesecloth or strainer over a bowl and squish the life out of them. Let them sit and drip for a bit and then come back and squish some more. A pound of dewberries should make about 4 ounces of juice.
Dewberry Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 cups water divided
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest grated
- 1 cup dewberries (or blackberries)
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan, bring 2 cups of water and sugar to a boil. Boil for two minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Stir in the lemon juice, zest, and remaining water. Cool slightly.
- In a blender, combine 1 cup of the lemon mixture and the dewberries; cover and process until blended. Strain and discard seeds. Pour dewberry mixture and remaining lemon mixture into a pitcher; stir well.
- Refrigerate until chilled. Serve in glasses over ice.
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