'Lime-ing'

If you use limes instead of lemons, they are just as nutritious and refreshing. The West Indian lime became known in the region through missionaries who travelled to the Caribbean. The nutritive value of limes is similar to that of lemons. The health benefits of limes are enormous due to their phyto-chemicals which are known for their anti-cancer properties.

Lemonade is a critical ingredient in many bars as it is used to make a beverage or even when 'lime-ing' with friends at home.

Limeade Margarita

Ingredients

6oz limeade

6oz water

4oz tequila

2oz orange liqueur

Directions

Combine and serve on the rocks or frozen by adding 2 cups of ice instead of water to blender.

Wet sugar

If you were fortunate to live near a sugar factory where you could get wet sugar, you would truly enjoy true Jamaican lemonade or wash. The word 'wash' was used for this beverage as it was used to wash down a hearty meal made by labourers in the field - a meal of cartwheel-sized dumplings, ground provisions and a 'watchman' of a little meat or fish cooked down to provide moisture for the food. Wash could never be omitted from daily meals. Slaves had wet-sugar lemonade as a popular drink which helped to cool them as they worked in the sun on the plantations.

OLD-FASHIONED LEMONADE

Ingredients

6 lemons

1 cup wet sugar

6 cups cold water

Directions

1. Juice the lemons to make 1 cup of juice. To make your job easier, firmly roll the lemons between your hands and counter top before cutting in half and juicing.

2. In a gallon jug, combine lemon juice, wet sugar and water. Stir. Adjust water to taste. Chill and serve over ice.