General Instructions:

Completely dissolve the sugar into the juice.  A mixing pitcher can be very useful.  Do a search for “mixing pitcher.”  I like the Norpro Turbo mixing pitcher.  Once the sugar is dissolved, add the water and mix or stir thoroughly.  Pour the ade into a sealable bottle, or multiple sealable bottles as needed.  Glass bottles are best since they are non-reactive and will better keep the flavor the way you made it.  If you have used freshly-pressed juice and want a pulp-free ade, strain it through a fine mesh strainer as you pour it into the bottle(s).  Seal the bottle(s) and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. To make a so-called ranch-hand’s version of any of these ades, simply double the amount of water.

Cranberry-ade

4 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — cranberry juice (pure)

1 part [for example: ½ cup (8 tbsp./120 ml.)] — granulated cane sugar

6 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water

Note: this is like commercially-produced cranberry-ade that is sold as “Cranberry Juice Cocktail.”

Lemon-ade

2 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — Eureka lemon juice (freshly-pressed)

1 part [for example: 1 cup (16 tbsp./240 ml.)] — granulated cane sugar

3 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water

Elderflower Lemon-ade

6 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — Eureka lemon juice (freshly-pressed)

4 parts [for example: 1-⅓ cups (320 ml.)] — elderflower syrup*

9 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water

*Saft Fläder elderflower drink concentrate from Ikea does nicely

Lime-ade

6 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — lime juice* (freshly-pressed)

4 parts [for example: 1-⅓ cups (32 dsp./320 ml.)] — granulated cane sugar

9 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water

*Key or Persian

Orange-ade

8 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — orange juice* (freshly-pressed)

1 part [for example: ¼ cup (4 tbsp./60 ml.)] — granulated cane sugar

12 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water

*Valencia or navel

Orgeat Orange-ade

4 parts [for example: 2 cups (16 fl-oz./480 ml.)] — orange juice* (freshly-pressed)

1 part [for example: ½ cup (8 tbsp./120 ml.)] — orgeat syrup

6 parts [for example: 3 cups (24 fl-oz./720 ml.)] — good drinking water

*Valencia or navel