At the table
Stir before sipping. Leave the lemon slices and seeds in the glass; they need not be eaten.
Contains added sugar and salt. Honey versions are not vegan; confirm the sweetener. The plain recipe has no tea or coffee, and lemon seeds may remain.
Sweeteners vary: some versions use honey as well as sugar. Other old-salt fruit drinks use different fruits and are not all lemon drinks.
Know what you’re trying.
- Specification
- Slice and lightly press fresh lemon, dissolve salt and sugar in water, then mix with the lemon and chilled water. Sweeteners vary: some versions use honey as well as sugar. Other old-salt fruit drinks use different fruits and are not all lemon drinks.
Ingredients
Fresh lemon, salt, sugar and water; honey optional in other versions.
Origin & regional roots
Hainan
Associated with Hainan.
About this regional connection
Hainan: Haikou/Hainan fresh-fruit drink culture.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有海南老盐柠檬水吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
Hainan salted lemon water
This account describes a tradition or story, rather than an established historical fact.
Hainan's old-salt drinks combine fresh fruit with sweet and salty seasoning. Lemon is a familiar example in Haikou drink-shop culture; the name does not establish a precise age for the salt.