I was out foraging with a friend and she taught me how to make ‘lemonade’ out of sumac.

If you gently lick a sumac ‘plume’ (actually called a sumac bob), you can definitely see how this is possible. It has a lovely sour taste.

To make the sumac lemonade:

I used about a dozen sumac bobs, a litre of filtered water and about 1/4 cup of raw agave (use your favourite sweetener to taste).

Rub and gently squish the bobs into the filtered water and let them sit in the water for 15 – 20 minutes.

Strain the water with a fine colander or cheese cloth.
Add your sweetener.
Serve over ice in a tall glass.

Very refreshing on a hot day!

Note:
Take care to identify sumac correctly.
Some varieties of sumac can be very toxic.
Sumac with smooth white berries, toothless leaves, which usually grows in or near swamps is poisonous.