Rose Water Lemonade

Because it's so dang hot in Istanbul at the moment!

1/4 cup lemonade concentrate, or to taste (see below)
1/8 cup (~32ml) rose water
1/4 tsp rose essence – 1/4 tsp
2 1/4 cup water
ice cubes for serving

Combine all ingredients except ice cubes.
Stir well & refrigerate.
Serve cold, adding a few ice cubes if required.

Lemonade Concentrate

1 cup lemon juice (around 6 -8 large lemons)
1/3 cup water
1 cup sugar

Wash lemons thoroughly in running water.
Before cutting in half, place on a flat surface & roll with your palm; this will help to yield more juice.
Cut lemons & squeeze the juice.
Strain & discard the seeds.
Measure; ensure that you have exactly 1 cup lemon juice.
In saucepan boil water.
When water starts to boil, remove from heat & add sugar.
Stir well.
The water will look cloudy but keep stirring for a while until clear.
Allow to cool.
Then add lemon juice & stir well.
Use diluted 1:9, or to taste.

Other Variations:
Lime with Mint - make limeade using recipe above & add to lemonade with sprigs of mint
Watermelon - add puréed watermelon to taste to lemonade; garnish with watermelon slice
Lavender - add dried lavender & fresh lavender leaves to lemonade
Peach Tea - equal parts lemonade, peach nectar & iced tea; garnish with peach slices
Blackberry - add fresh blackberries & sage leaves to lemonade
Kiwi-Melon - add puréed honeydew melon to lemonade; garnish with honeydew & kiwi slices
Raspberry - add raspberry juice to lemonade; garnish with fresh raspberries
Ginger - add fresh ginger & pear slices to lemonade; garnish with stalk of sugar cane
Lemon Drop - use crushed lemon drops (or other lemon-flavoured sweets) & sugar to rim glass à la margarita, then fill with lemonade; garnish with lemon slice
Tropical - add guava juice to lemonade; garnish with papaya slice