This drink certainly has an interesting origin.
One has got to read the English nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons below to know where the idea comes from:
Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement’s.
You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin’s.
When will you pay me?
Say the bells at Old Bailey.
When I grow rich,
Say the bells at Shoreditch.
When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.
I do not know,
Says the great bell at Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
Chip chop chip chop the last man is dead.
This nursery rhyme, also a folksong and singing game, makes reference to the bells of the famous churches that are all located within the city of London. The Saint Clement’s drink, a non-alcohlic cocktail, therefore takes its origin from the first verse of this rhyme, using lemons and oranges as its key ingredients. This cocktail can be easily concocted and served as a drink to chill out in all occassions and at parties.
Ingredients:
- Orange juice: from 4 oranges, with slices reserved for serving.
- Lemon juice: from 2 lemons
- Soda water: 600ml (2 cans)
- Mint: 2 sprigs
Method:
- Combine orange juice, lemon juice and soda water together.
- Stir in mint stalks or use the mint sprigs to stir the drink.
- Leave in fridge to chill for 2 hrs before serving.
- Serve with orange slices and mint sprigs.
Disclaimer:
- This drink is usually concocted with equal parts of orange and lemon juices. I find that this combination is a bit too sour for my liking and therefore used less lemon juice in the mixture my own version of a sweet-tasting St Clement’s drink.
Serving:
4 – 6 persons
