Sparkling Sumac Lemonade Recipe

By
Tama Matsuoka Wong
Tama Matsuoka Wong
Tama Matsuoka Wong is an expert in meadow restoration and wild edibles. She provides wild ingredients to New York City restaurants and has published two cookbooks, focusing on making delicious dishes with weeds, scraps, and wild plants.
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Updated Aug. 30, 2018
20130924-sumac-soda.jpg
Photograph: Yossy Arefi

We have to hand it to the American Indians, using sumac in drinks is incredibly thirst quenching, perhaps due to its dry refreshing character, like a good white wine. Here is a modern take on "sumac-ade" to make a fun soda.

Recipe Facts

Active: 5 mins
Total: 20 mins
Serves: 8 to 9 drinks

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Ingredients

For the Sumac Syrup:

  • 2 cups water

  • 2 cups sugar

  • 3 tablespoons ground sumac

For the Soda:

  • 1 cup club soda or seltzer

  • 1/4 cup sumac syrup

  • 1 tablespoon juice from 1 lemon, plus 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Directions

  1. For the Sumac Syrup: Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. All to cool to room temperature. Add sumac, stir to combine, and allow to infuse for 5 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh strainer. Sumac syrup can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

  2. For the Soda: For each serving, combine 1 cup club soda, 1/4 cup sumac syrup, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a cup. Add ice and stir. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
183 Calories
0g Fat
47g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 9
Amount per serving
Calories 183
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 82mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 47g 17%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 45g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 6mg 30%
Calcium 45mg 3%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 69mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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