Watermelon Limeade

published about 2 hours ago

This year, I’m celebrating Juneteenth with a full glass of red drink. The color red represents resilience in the Black community, and its symbolism can be traced back before slavery to Africa. In the context of Juneteenth — an annual celebration honoring the liberation of enslaved Americans — the color represents the bloodshed of those striving for freedom. As a nod to that history, red drinks are a staple at any Juneteenth celebration.

Now, you may be wondering why I’m referring to color versus a flavor, but in all honesty, red is a flavor in the Black community. We say “red” for strawberry, cherry, watermelon, and hibiscus-flavored drinks because of the emblematic ties back to our checkered roots. But on Juneteenth, we celebrate progress — and we do it collectively.

Along with 40+ Black cooks, I celebrate via an initiative we call The Juneteenth Virtual Cookout , a recipe round-up of celebratory foods inspired by the Black experience. This year’s menu is full of red drink options like Mariama Bramble of The Brownbelle’s Strawberry Collins , her Freedom Day spin on a traditional gin Collins. There are also refreshing family-friendly options on the list like the Summer Watermelon Fizz and Strawberry Basil Pineapple Mocktail contributed by HandyChef’s Sharilyn Metellus, and Orchid and Sweet Tea’s Shanika Graham-White, respectively.

At the Temple household, there’s a battle brewing for the top red drink. My husband, chef Kenneth Temple, contributed his recipe for Hibiscus Rum Punch to the Juneteenth Virtual Cookout, adding a hibiscus-infused simple syrup to his classic rum punch recipe.

But me? I’ll be refilling glasses with my homemade Watermelon Limeade. Right now is the best time for the sweetest and juiciest watermelons in Texas. So, like my ancestors, I’m blessing my guests with drinks that reflect the bounty of the season. This Watermelon Limeade is sweet, tangy, refreshing, and the perfect vehicle for booze, should you want to elevate it to a cocktail.

Check out the complete list of Juneteenth Virtual Cookout contributors to see not only red drinks, but a full menu of entrees, sides, and desserts to cultivate the perfect at-home Juneteenth celebration.

Credit: Brittany Conerly

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