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    Home » Recipes » Beverages

    Foraged Pink Staghorn Sumac Lemonade

    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons!

    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons!  Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it's delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails. Sumac spice | sumac lemonade foraged from sumac tree | sumac recipes | sumac benefits #sumac #foraging #recipe
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it’s delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails.

    What is sumac

    Sumac is a vine or shrub-like tree that grows wild across most of the united states. It’s easy to forage for sumac in the wild. And sumac’s tart, citrusy berries have many culinary uses and a TON of health benefits.

    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons!  Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it's delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails. Sumac spice | sumac lemonade foraged from sumac tree | sumac recipes | sumac benefits #sumac #foraging #recipe

    Easy to find in the wild with a flavor that can’t be matched staghorn sumac is a fabulous flavor and health-packed plant that can be used fresh or dry to add a bright note and beautiful pink hue to all sorts of dishes like this blush pink cold brewed tea ‘lemonade’.

    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons!  Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it's delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails. Sumac spice | sumac lemonade foraged from sumac tree | sumac recipes | sumac benefits #sumac #foraging #recipe

    Ingredients

    Made like a cold brew tea Sumac Lemonade is just sumac and water.

    • Sumac berries – pick away any sticks or other leaves that might be clinging to your sumac clusters then break apart and remove berries from the woody sticks.
    • Water – cool water for cold brew method or simmering water for a quick simmer method.
    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons!  Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it's delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails. Sumac spice | sumac lemonade foraged from sumac tree | sumac recipes | sumac benefits #sumac #foraging #recipe

    Step by step instructions

    1. Prepare fresh sumac by picking away any sticks or other leaves that might be clinging to your sumac clusters. Then break apart and remove berries from the woody sticks.
    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons!  Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it's delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails. Sumac spice | sumac lemonade foraged from sumac tree | sumac recipes | sumac benefits #sumac #foraging #recipe
    1. Place sumac berries in a large pitcher or shallow bowl and cover with water. Crush the berry clusters in the water using a sturdy spoon.
    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons!  Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it's delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails. Sumac spice | sumac lemonade foraged from sumac tree | sumac recipes | sumac benefits #sumac #foraging #recipe
    1. Allow sumac to soak for at least a few hours or overnight, the longer it soaks the more flavorful it will be.
    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons! Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it's delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails. Sumac spice | sumac lemonade foraged from sumac tree | sumac recipes | sumac benefits #sumac #foraging #recipe
    1. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, clean kitchen towel or coffee filter.
    2. Then sweeten to taste with sweetener of your choice, if desired.
    3. Serve chilled.
    4. Enjoy!
    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons! Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it's delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails. Sumac spice | sumac lemonade foraged from sumac tree | sumac recipes | sumac benefits #sumac #foraging #recipe

    How to serve

    Serve sumac lemonade chilled straight from the pitcher. You could also use Sumac Lemonade as a base for other creations like sumac beer, wine, and kombucha. Or mix up sumac mocktails and cocktails.

    Or try my favorite sumac cocktail, the Sumac Spritzer. Sumac Lemonade + simple syrup + vodka (or gin) either mixed ahead of time or mixed straight in the glass. When ready to serve top with sparkling water for a sparkly pink foraged cocktail!

    Shelf life

    Sumac lemonade will keep for up to three days refrigerated. You can also steep the sumac for longer than the recipe calls for. The longer it brews the stronger and more intense the flavor. Leave for up to 2 days before straining for maximum color. Just make sure to include steeping time in the total three day shelf life.

    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons! Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it's delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails. Sumac spice | sumac lemonade foraged from sumac tree | sumac recipes | sumac benefits #sumac #foraging #recipe

    Foraged Pink Staghorn Sumac Lemonade

    Sumac Lemonade refreshingly, lightly floral and tart this beverage brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    steeping: 1 hour
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    beverage, eating local, foraging, sumac
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 1kcal
    Author: Tristin Rieken

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup sumac berries from 1 large cluster
    • 4 cups water cool or room temperature
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Pick away any sticks or other leaves that might be clinging to your sumac clusters then break apart and remove berries from the woody sticks.
    • Place sumac berries large pitcher or shallow bowl and cover with water.
    • Crush the berry clusters in the water using a sturdy spoon then allow sumac to soak for at least a few hours or overnight, the longer it soaks the more flavorful it will be.
    • Strain through a fine mesh strainer, clean kitchen towel or coffee filter than sweeten to taste with sweetener of your choice. Served chilled.

    Notes

    Note: will keep for up to 3 days refrigerated.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1kcal | Sodium: 8mg | Calcium: 5mg
    Made this recipe? Please share!Mention @freshflavorful or tag #FreshFlavorfulLife
    Nutrition Facts
    Foraged Pink Staghorn Sumac Lemonade
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 1
    % Daily Value*
    Sodium 8mg0%
    Calcium 5mg1%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Pin for later!

    Sumac Lemonade brewed from foraged sumac berries and cool water tastes like lemonade without any lemons!  Lightly floral, tart and refreshing it's delicious as-is or used as a mixer in cocktails and mocktails. Sumac spice | sumac lemonade foraged from sumac tree | sumac recipes | sumac benefits #sumac #foraging #recipe

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. JSC

      July 29, 2020 at 7:26 am

      Please be aware that the yummy sour taste of sumac berries is due to their calcium oxalate content. For most people, in small amounts, this is not harmful, but in large amounts, can potentially be toxic. Also, I’ve seen many medical personnel recommend that people who easily form kidney stones should consume as little oxalate as possible, so sumac “lemonade” would be a “no-no” for those people.

      Reply
      • ONE armed MAMA

        August 05, 2020 at 9:46 am

        Yes, there is some debate among foragers and health professionals regarding the safety of consuming foods high in oxalic acid, such as spinach, chives, and cilantro, due to over consumption possibly forming calcium oxalate crystals and leading to kidney stones. Although the current recommendations are that consuming sumac berries is very safe, just as consuming spinach is, anyone who is typically medically susceptible to food allergies and health problems should understand that food writers are unable to list every potential health concern for each individual person of each individual recipe ingredient and should use their own best judgment when trying foods for the first time.

        Reply
    2. Mary

      October 24, 2020 at 1:57 pm

      How much is too much sumac lemonade? How much can you safely drink in one day?

      Reply
      • ONE armed MAMA

        October 25, 2020 at 3:19 pm

        Hi Mary, I am not a doctor and am not giving medical advice and can only speak to my own experience. When researching it’s easy to find a whole slew of documents about the health benefits but very difficult to find much about the risks of sumac. As far as I can see sumac gets a bad wrap because of the poisonous WHITE-berried sumac and it’s relation to poison oak (also related to mangoes and cashews) and the issue with oxalic acid content is akin to worrying about consuming too much spinach, the health benefits generally outweigh any perceived risk. Personally, I’ve consumed an entire batch of sumac lemonade in one day by myself with no issues. My children snack on the sumac drupes and we eat a lot of meals flavored with za’atar as well as use sumac in other ways without issue.

        Reply
    3. Tavo

      August 21, 2021 at 12:49 am

      5 stars
      That is an impressive drink! I had no clue that sumac berries could be used in a drink!

      Reply
    4. Dannii

      August 21, 2021 at 3:13 am

      5 stars
      I love the look of this. Super refreshing.

      Reply
    5. veenaazmanov

      August 21, 2021 at 4:01 am

      5 stars
      Interesting, cooling and refreshing and a must try drink for sure.

      Reply
    6. Sue

      August 21, 2021 at 5:18 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely love this, we have sumac growing nearby and I’ve always used it as a spice, but never thought to make tea, I can’t wait.

      Reply
    7. Gina

      August 21, 2021 at 5:28 am

      5 stars
      Love using sumac in cooking but never realized how easily it was found right outside! This drink is such a lovely subtle hue of pink and so refreshing – thanks for all the great info!

      Reply

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    Inspired by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest recipe developer and food photographer, Tristin Rieken, shares easy recipes and simple ideas for eating, entertaining and adventuring your way to a Fresh Flavorful Life.

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