Lemonade, oh the perfect summertime treat!
This recipe is ideal for an afternoon pick-me-up… the kind to enjoy when you remember you don’t get a “summer recess" anymore, the one you make when you really want a stronger drink but it's too early in the day, or when you really just need to make it through the rest of your meetings. It can be prepared in advance for the week, and it is built on superfoods like Moringa and adaptogens like Pine Pollen.
This recipe uses Sun Potion's raw, bio-active Marri Honey — a rare Western Australian honey and a beautiful alternative sweetener. The honey and the herbs work harmoniously together to create the concentrated base of this tart, honey-sweetened lemonade.
Meyer Lemons
Meyer lemons are a sweeter variation of the citrus — perfect for baking with, dehydrating, zesting and, most importantly, for making lemonade. They are less sharp than a standard lemon, which is exactly what you want here, and they carry a lovely floral note that a Eureka lemon simply doesn't have.
Moringa
Moringa, known as the miracle leaf, is a wonderful plant native to tropical and sub-tropical climates, and it has been used in traditional food and drink in those regions for a very long time. Moringa leaves are most commonly brewed into tea. The taste is algae-like but milder — a green, smooth powder that is great in both sweet and savoury recipes. It can be transformed into a salad dressing, added to miso soup, stirred into a matcha latte, or used in tonics like this lemonade.
Pine Pollen
Pine Pollen — oh, the beloved adaptogen, collected from the Mason Pine trees at the peak of their season. A perfect addition to a lemonade with its vibrant bumblebee hue and subtle, gentle taste. It is also lovely in teas, especially Matcha and Genmaicha.
Pine Pollen is a classic ‘Jing’ tonic. Jing, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, simply means ‘our essence’ — our life force — which is said to be stored in the kidneys. It is nutrient-rich, containing minerals and enzymes as well as B-vitamins and amino acids, and it is traditionally taken frequently in small amounts.
Bio-Active Marri 40+ Honey
This magical honey is Bio-Active Marri Honey, and it hails from Western Australia where the bee colonies thrive in pristine forests in the wilds of the west, in a unique bio-secure habitat. It has been treasured by the local Noongar Aboriginal people for generations, and enjoyed simply as a sweet nectar by the spoonful. It is potent and raw, with a high active oxygen content — its AHF (Active Honey Factor) is 40+, an independently measured figure. Dark, dense and complex, it has rightly earned the name ‘liquid gold’.
The honey works beautifully as the sweetener here, balancing the acidity and tartness of the Meyer lemons. The concentrate can be stored in a mason jar and used not only for lemonade but in fruit-based desserts, iced tea, or with a high-grade agave spirit for a very good summer cocktail.
Meyer Lemonade with Moringa + Pine Pollen
Ingredients(serves 2-3) 6 Meyer lemons 1 tsp. Moringa 2 tsp. Pine Pollen 4-5 tbsp. Bio-Active Marri Honey 2 tbsp. lukewarm water 16 oz. chilled water |
MethodJuice all the lemons (remove seeds) and put into a liquid measuring cup Add 4-5 tbsp. Marri Honey to the cup and stir gently (4 tbsp. for a more tart lemonade) Add the Moringa and Pine Pollen to the mixture Add the 2 tbsp. lukewarm water to melt the honey Stir together to create a concentrate Pour the concentrate into a cocktail shaker or mason jar, add water the rest of the way, add a few cubes of ice and shake well Pour into cups and add a bit more cold water if needed, with or without ice IN JOY! |
Photos: Nikki Haun
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Meyer lemons rather than regular lemons?
Meyer lemons are sweeter and more floral, so the lemonade needs less honey to balance. Regular lemons work — you will just want the full 5 tablespoons.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Make the concentrate and keep it in a mason jar in the fridge, then dilute by the glass through the week.
What does Pine Pollen taste like?
Subtle and gentle, with a golden colour that makes the lemonade glow. Pine Pollen is also lovely in matcha and genmaicha.
What else can I use the concentrate for?
Fruit desserts, iced tea, or shaken with an agave spirit for a very good summer cocktail.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
