Limonana

Limonana served in Damascus, Syria.

Limonana (Arabic: ليمون نعناع‎; Hebrew: לימונענע‎) is a type of lemonade made from freshly-squeezed lemon juice and mint leaves that is popular in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria.[1]

Etymology

Limonana is a portmanteau of the Arabic and Hebrew words limon (Arabic: ليمون‎, Hebrew: לימון‎, meaning lemon) and nana (Arabic: نعناع‎, Hebrew: נענע‎, meaning mint),[1] referring to its two main ingredients, freshly-squeezed lemon juice and mint leaves.[2]

History

Limonana may have originated in Syria or Turkey.[3] In Israel, the name came from an advertising campaign conducted in the early 1990s. At that time, public-bus advertising was in its infancy in Israel. The Fogel Levin advertising agency undertook a bus-only campaign to prove the effectiveness of this new medium. Fogel Levin advertised a soft drink called Limonana and printed its ads through the Galgalei Zahav (Wheels of Gold) company.[4] The ads, describing the drink as a blend of lemon and mint, reported, "Rabinowitz drinks Limonana" and, "Ohana drinks Limonana",[5] referring to celebrities of the time. The ad campaign created a buzz[4] and consumers flocked to stores and kiosks to try the new flavor. Two weeks into the campaign, with consumers and stores clamoring for the product, the advertising agency admitted that no such drink existed.[6][7] Spurred by customer demand, first restaurants and then soft drink manufacturers began to produce the flavor combination.[7]

It is on the menu at Aroma Espresso Bars in New York, Florida, and Canada.[7]

Limonana can be prepared as a lemonade, a smoothie,[2] and a slush.[8] It has also been incorporated into sorbet[9] and yogurt.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Limonana: Not your average lemonade". Zomppa. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ice Limonana – Mint lemonade, the drink of the Israeli summer". Cafe Liz. 4 July 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "Mint Lemonade". ifood.tv. 2009.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 הפלאפל ברדיו עובד,הפרסום פחות [The Falafel on Radio Works, The Advertising Less So] (in Hebrew). tapuz.co.il. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  5. ↑ Sharon-Rivlin, Vered (14 October 1997). מה בולט ושורץ בגוש דן [What is Prominent and Swarming in Gush Dan?]. Globes (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  6. ↑ Siegal, Lilach (29 May 2001). לימונענע וירטואלית [Virtual Limonana]. The Marker (in Hebrew). Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Martinelli, Katherine (11 July 2011). "Limonana: Sparkling Summer". Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "The Frozen Seat". Da’at Travel. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Moskowitz, Laurie (11 January 2011). "The New Basics". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  10. ↑ טרה משיקה משקאות יוגורט פרי עם תוספים בריאותיים [Tara Produces Fruit Yogurt Drinks With Healthy Additives]. Ynetnews (in Hebrew). 18 June 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2012.