Uses
In the US, lemonade is usually sold as a summer refresher. It is commonly available at fairs and festivals, known in some regions as a "lemon shakeup", with the shell of the squeezed lemon left in the cup. Lemonade was also the traditional mixer in a Tom Collins, but today it is commonly replaced by a bar mix.
UK-style lemonade and beer produce a shandy. Lemonade is also an important ingredient in the Pimm's Cup cocktail, and a popular drink mixer. As UK-style lemonade is a popular drink mixer, British & Australian visitors are often disappointed when they order a mixed drink in the US and end up getting US-style lemonade. American bartenders are also sometimes puzzled by the ordering of lemonade in some mixed drinks.
Many children start lemonade stands in Canadian and US neighborhoods to make money in the summer months. The concept has become iconic of youthful summertime Americana to the degree that many parodies and variations on the concept exist in a wide variety of media. The computer game Lemonade Stand, created in 1979, simulates this business by letting players make various decisions surrounding a virtual stand. Some unlicensed lemonade stands have run afoul of health regulations.
Daily consumption of 120 ml of lemon juice per day, when mixed with two liters of water, has been shown to reduce the rate of stone formation in people susceptible to kidney stones. Lemons contain the highest concentration of citrate of any fruit, and this weak acid has been shown to inhibit stone formation.
"Cloudy" lemonade made with hot water, infused with mint, and sweetened with honey is a common folk remedy for sore throat in the Middle East.
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