Homemade Lemon Cordial (Lemon Syrup)
Ingredients
- 8–10 large lemons
- 4 cups (800 g) granulated sugar
- 4 cups (1 liter) water
- 1 tsp citric acid (optional, helps preserve freshness)
- 1 tsp lemon zest (optional, for extra flavor)
Instructions
- Prepare the lemons
- Wash the lemons thoroughly.
- Zest 1–2 lemons if using zest.
- Juice all the lemons. You should get about 1½–2 cups of fresh lemon juice.
- Strain out the seeds and excess pulp.
- Make the syrup
- In a large saucepan, combine the water and sugar.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Do not let it caramelize.
- Cool slightly
- Remove from heat and let the syrup cool for 10–15 minutes.
- Add lemon
- Stir in the fresh lemon juice.
- Add citric acid and lemon zest if desired.
- Mix well.
- Strain
- Strain the cordial through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth for a smooth finish.
- Bottle
- Pour into sterilized glass bottles.
- Seal tightly.
- Store
- Refrigerate for up to 1 month.
- For longer storage, freeze in small portions.
🥤 To Serve
Mix:
- 1 part lemon cordial
- 3–4 parts cold water or sparkling water
- Add ice cubes and fresh lemon slices.
- Garnish with mint leaves if desired.
🍹 Variations
- Add fresh mint while the syrup is warm for a refreshing mint-lemon cordial.
- Mix in a few slices of fresh ginger for a spicy kick.
- Use sparkling water instead of still water for a fizzy lemonade.
- Add a splash of vanilla extract for a subtle twist.
Tips
- Sterilize bottles by boiling them for 10 minutes before filling.
- Adjust the sugar to taste if you prefer a less sweet cordial.
- Fresh lemons produce the brightest flavor, so avoid bottled lemon juice.
