Z's Lemonade is a bright, tangy frozen treat made with fresh lemon, created because Z asked for it for his 4th birthday. It tastes like a perfect glass of lemonade on a hot afternoon, sweet and sharp in all the right places, and it has become a favorite with kids (and plenty of grown-ups) everywhere. It's gluten-free.
Some flavors start with a family recipe. This one started with a birthday wish. Here's the story of Z's Lemonade, a quick trip through the long and surprisingly global history of lemonade, what our version tastes like, and a few fun ways to serve it.
The story behind Z's Lemonade
Z is a big part of the Elaka story. We like to say he embodies the essence of our brand, and this flavor is his.
For his 4th birthday, Z put in a request: a lemonade flavor. So that's what we made. It turned out to be one of those flavors that just works for everyone. The tang wakes you up, the sweetness makes you smile, and the whole thing disappears faster than you'd think possible.
It's one of the flavors with family in it, alongside Sulaimani Sorbet and Strawberry Hot Chocolate. You can read more about those on our Our Story page. Z's Lemonade has since been loved by Z and countless kids around the world, and we think that's about the best review a flavor can get.
A short history of lemonade
Lemonade feels like it belongs to summer porches and sidewalk stands, but its story goes back much further and much farther afield.
The exact origins of the lemon itself are still debated, and historians give a range of dates for when lemons first reached the Mediterranean world. One of the earliest clear written mentions of the lemon tree comes from an early 10th-century work on farming, and the Persian traveler Nasir-i Khusraw described lemons in Egypt in the 11th century.
Egypt is where lemonade's story really takes shape. Records from the Cairo Geniza, a huge collection of documents kept by Cairo's medieval Jewish community, mention a drink called qatarmizat: lemon juice sweetened with plenty of sugar, bottled, enjoyed locally and even exported. The 12th-century physician Ibn Jumay', wrote a treatise about lemons and how to drink them. Before lemons arrived, some sources say, Egyptians had enjoyed a fermented barley drink flavored with mint and citron leaf, so a taste for tangy, refreshing drinks was already there.
From the eastern Mediterranean, lemonade traveled to Europe. In 17th-century Paris, lemonade sellers known as limonadiers were popular enough that they were organized into a guild, most sources say in 1676. Over the following centuries lemonade spread around the world, and by the time it reached the American lemonade stand, it had already been delighting people for centuries.
We love that history. A drink with roots in medieval Cairo now has a frozen cousin named after a four-year-old. That's exactly the kind of story Elaka exists to tell.
What Z's Lemonade tastes like
Sunshine, mostly. The first taste is tart and zingy with fresh lemon, then the sweetness rolls in to balance it out. It's clean, bright and refreshing, the kind of flavor that makes your eyes go a little wide on the first spoonful and then has you reaching straight for the second.
As with every Elaka flavor, a touch of cardamom is part of the recipe, though here it stays in the background and lets the lemon shine.
Key ingredients: fresh lemon.
Dietary: gluten-free. Z's Lemonade doesn't carry our vegan badge. Our badges describe the ingredients in each flavor and are not a promise that a product is free of any allergen, so please check the label on your pack every time and contact us with any allergy questions before you order.
How to serve and pair it
- At a birthday party, of course. It was born for one. Serve it alongside cake, or let it be the main event for a summer birthday. Kids get it immediately.
- With fresh berries and mint. Blueberries, raspberries or sliced strawberries plus a few torn mint leaves turn a scoop of Z's Lemonade into a fancy little dessert in about thirty seconds.
- As a float. Drop a scoop into a glass of sparkling water or a chilled iced tea. It fizzes, it melts, it becomes a frozen lemonade drink. Grab a spoon and a straw.
Where to find Z's Lemonade
Order a Z's Lemonade 4-pack, or choose it in a mix and match 4-pack from all flavors. It's also in two curated packs:
- Family Favorites: Z's Lemonade with Strawberry Hot Chocolate, Plantain and Rose, so everyone gets a turn at the spoon.
- Golden Hour: Z's Lemonade with Pineapple Hibiscus Sorbet, Sulaimani Sorbet and Carolina Peach Sonker, bright, fruity and best enjoyed outside.
Both packs contain nuts, and Golden Hour isn't gluten-free because it includes Carolina Peach Sonker, so check the badges when you shop for others. Every order ships frozen on dry ice. See how shipping works.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Z?
Z is part of the Elaka family and the inspiration behind this flavor. Z's Lemonade was created because he asked for it for his 4th birthday.
Is Z's Lemonade a sorbet?
We call it a frozen treat. It isn't labeled as one of our sorbets and doesn't carry our vegan badge. It's made with fresh lemon and is gluten-free.
Is Z's Lemonade good for kids' parties?
It's one of our most kid-friendly flavors. It was literally invented for a birthday. The Family Favorites pack pairs it with three more crowd-pleasers.
Where did lemonade come from?
Some of the earliest records of a lemonade-like drink come from medieval Egypt, where sweetened lemon juice called qatarmizat was bottled and traded. It later spread to Europe and around the world.
Make a four-year-old's birthday wish your new favorite. Grab a Z's Lemonade 4-pack, round up the kids, and start making memories today!
