I buy mint leaves with the very best of intentions. I’ve tried growing them many times, but that’s another story. All is fine for a day or two. Then the leaves begin to wilt, while I rack my brains to come up with ways to use them up. I just cannot resist this fragrant herb, so I end up buying them every week. One way I preserve them for future use is to blend the leaves with a little bit of oil. I then freeze the mixture in ice trays. A couple of cubes can be added to curries and soups as needed, but not in any recipes that call for fresh mint, of course.
When we visited India a couple of months back (when it was already unbearably hot), there was one item I always ordered whenever we dined out – lemon and mint juice (or sometimes, lemon and mint soda). I did try it out on my own. But again, it is best with fresh mint leaves.
This led me to think about making a juice concentrate with my slightly wilted leaves. Mind you, the leaves were still green. You do not want to use completely ruined leaves. But mint leaves that are a couple of days old will be fine. I had a vague idea of how to go about it. My mom used to make aam panna or green mango and ginger concentrate during summer. I didn’t see why I couldn’t recreate that using lemon, mint and ginger.
To start with, I boiled some water with crushed ginger and mint leaves, and allowed them to steep for half an hour. Then I strained the solution, added sugar and lemon juice and placed it on the stove again. From then on, it was a matter of time. I reduced the solution till I ended up with a light syrup-like consistency.
There is no exact recipe here (but I will try!). It was all done by constantly checking the concentrate to see if it had reached a consistency I liked. You may stop when the solution starts to lightly coat a spoon dipped into it. You will know the difference between sticking a spoon in liquid and a light juice concentrate. Trust me, you will.
The prepared concentrate was cooled completely, filled in a clean jam bottle and refrigerated. Whenever you need a refreshing drink, simply add a tablespoon or so to a glass of cold water or soda.
I ended up with a jam bottle’s worth of concentrate, but I am pretty sure the recipe can be scaled up. I had to literally hide the bottle from my hubby so that I could take pictures! So as you can see, most of it was already gone.
LEMON-MINT-GINGER SUMMER COOLER
You will need:
- Water – 4 cups
- Mint leaves – a large handful, say around 30 leaves
- Ginger – 2 tbsp, crushed
- Sugar – 3/4 – 1 cup (as per taste)
- Lemons – 4-6, large (as per tartness desired)
How to:
- Add the ginger and mint leaves to the water and bring to a gentle boil. Cover the pot and allow to steep for at least half an hour.
- Strain the liquid and return to the pot. Add sugar and place the pot on medium heat.
- Meanwhile, juice the lemons. Do this in another bowl, so that you do not accidentally get any seeds in the solution.
- Add the lemon juice and reduce the solution to around 1/3rd the original quantity. You know you are done when a spoon dipped into the concentrate has a thin film of liquid sticking to it.
- Remove from heat and cool completely. Store in a clean, dry bottle and refrigerate.
- To prepare a drink, add a tablespoon or so of the concentrate to a glass of cold water or soda. Again, the amount depends on the level of sweetness and tartness you like. I personally prefer a light drink.
And there you have it – a refreshing lemon-mint-ginger cooler. Perfect for the hot summer months ahead.
Here are some more cool ideas!
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LOVE your blog! Can I use some recipes on my recipe blog, giving full credit to you?
Thank you. I am happy to inspire you!
I would appreciate it if you could link back to my blog and blog post!
Okay! Thanks for telling me 😀
Thanks for sharing with us at Marvelous Monday I’ll be featuring this refreshing drink on my blog on Sunday! Pinned also
Thanks so much. Appreciate it!
Yum! I can’t wait to try this! It’ll go great with the new bar cart I just set up in my dining room 🙂
Do try it. I am sure you’ll love the summer flavors!
This looks really good and since I raise my own mint will be a welcome addition to our cool summer drinks. Hopping here from What to Do Weekends and following on Bloglovin’
Marie @ http://countedcrossstitchcafe.com
I like your method of freezing mint. Another way to save mint is to powder it. It retains its colour when dried in a cool, dry place. That is what I did when I had them growing in my garden and spreading like wild fire. I add the powder to biriyani, chutney and pretty much in all recipes requiring mint. Mint lemonade is my favourite drink.
That’s a great tip, Sreedevi!
Mint lemonade is very refreshing. Never added ginger to it. gotta try sometimes. Thanks.
Do try it, I am sure you’ll love it!
Ginger and lemon make everything taste better and healthier. Lovely drink
They sure do, Kathy!
lime, mint, ginger – awesome never fail combinations. Nice pictures Anjana.
Thank you, Namrata. I love anything with lemons/limes 🙂
Sounds so refreshing. There is something about mint and lemon in the summer!
Thank you. Lemons are so summery!
I agree- it’s summer in a glass, Anjana! 🙂
🙂
That sounds heavenly. So light and refreshing on a hot day! I love the combination of ginger and lemon and I don’t do it often enough. Then to add mint to the mix. Summer in a glass!
Thank you, Sarah! You put it perfectly, it is summer in a glass!!
Ginger lemon is always so welcome…..
“I just cannot resist this fragrant herb, so I end up buying them every week.” All I can say is tell me about it!
Lol! I know, right?!!Some things are just irresistible.
😀
A…I love your inventive drinks…They all look sooo good! Wish I could just pick up a glass out of the screen 😉
Thank you, Dimple! That’s why I say we must have smell-and-taste technology!!