Fig lemonade

This is a lemonade for hot weather - like Switchel or Shrub - very tart (only 1T or a teaspoon of honey).  Alexis Soyer called it a "Cooling Lemonade" in 1849, and a later cookbook author named it "Picnic Lemonade."  The vivid pink color happens instantly when lemon juice is added to the liquid from boiling the figs and yellow of the lemon peels.

Cooling Lemonade.
Put a quart of water in a stew pan to boil, into which put two moist

dried figs, each split in two; let it boil a quarter of an hour, then have ready the peel of a lemon, taken off rather thickly, and the half of the lemon cut in thin slices; throw them into the stewpan and boil two minutes longer; then pour it into a jug, which cover closely with paper until cold, then pass it through a sieve: add a teaspoonful of honey, and it is ready for use.        (Soyer, 1849)
 
Picnic Lemonade

1 quart water,                                     3 figs,

Peel and juice of 2 lemons,               1 tablespoonful honey.

Put the water into a stewpan to boil; add the figs cut in two; let the water and figs boil a quarter of an hour; add the lemon peel cut in thin slices; boil ten minutes longer; pour into a jug; cover closely with paper until cold; pass through a sieve and add the honey and lemon juice. Sugar can be used in place of honey. (Curtis, 1909)

Sources
Curtis, Isabel.  Mrs. Curtis's Cook Book. NY: 1909
Soyer, Alexis. Modern Housewife. London: 1849

©2020 Patricia Bixler Reber
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