A history of lemonade

A History of A History of LemonadeLemonadeBy Jill Dresser and Hermann-Grima / Gallier Historic Houses By Jill Dresser and Hermann-Grima / Gallier Historic Houses

photo used with Creative Commons license from paparatti on flickr

Lemonade has been Lemonade has been around for hundreds of around for hundreds of

years all over the years all over the world. world. Let's learn Let's learn

some history aboutsome history aboutits few ingredients: its few ingredients:

lemons, sugar, water, icelemons, sugar, water, ice

This map shows you where the most This map shows you where the most lemons are grown. lemons are grown.

What type of climate is needed for What type of climate is needed for lemon growing?lemon growing?

The Many Uses of Lemons The Many Uses of Lemons

Thru HistoryThru History

can save you if you accidently

took some types of poisons

smelled nice (remember how smelly the streets used to be!)

flavoring food

ornament (decoration)

medicine

cleaner

1 ingredient 1 ingredient down...3 to go!down...3 to go!

In the 1700s and 1800s in New Orleans, people drank In the 1700s and 1800s in New Orleans, people drank rain water that was collected in large tanks called rain water that was collected in large tanks called cisterns. This water would come off the roof of the cisterns. This water would come off the roof of the house, go through gutters and stay in the cisterns. house, go through gutters and stay in the cisterns.

Because it's so hot in New Orleans, people drank a lot of Because it's so hot in New Orleans, people drank a lot of liquids. They were always looking for ways to make liquids. They were always looking for ways to make their water taste better. Adding lemon juice and sugar their water taste better. Adding lemon juice and sugar was a great idea.was a great idea.

These are the cisterns at Hermann-Grima / Gallier Historic Houses. These are the cisterns at Hermann-Grima / Gallier Historic Houses. This is where all drinking, bathing and cooking water sat. This is where all drinking, bathing and cooking water sat.

(It's also where mosquitos made their homes!)(It's also where mosquitos made their homes!)

What about What about sugar?sugar?‘the sweet salt’Sugar has had a wild past. It was first used as a sweetener in Sugar has had a wild past. It was first used as a sweetener in

Asia hundreds of years ago. People in Europe didn't find out Asia hundreds of years ago. People in Europe didn't find out about it until they went to Asia looking for spices to trade and about it until they went to Asia looking for spices to trade and people to conquer. Before this time, the only sweetener that people to conquer. Before this time, the only sweetener that people used was honey. Can you imagine only having honey people used was honey. Can you imagine only having honey to make candy and cakes out of?to make candy and cakes out of?

Sugar is, "very necessary for the use and health of mankind."

William of Tyre 12th Century

Sugar comes from sugar cane. Sugar cane grows in parts of the Sugar comes from sugar cane. Sugar cane grows in parts of the world with lots of water and warmth. To get the sugar out of the world with lots of water and warmth. To get the sugar out of the cane is very difficult to do and requires much hard work.cane is very difficult to do and requires much hard work.

Photo used with Creative Commons license from Benderish

Here's what you have to do:Here's what you have to do:1. cut and bulk together the cane1. cut and bulk together the cane2. crush the cane to get the juice2. crush the cane to get the juice

3. boil the juice to make it concentrated3. boil the juice to make it concentrated

Photo used with Creative Commons license from pintxomoruno

Europeans brought sugar back to Europe with them. However, they Europeans brought sugar back to Europe with them. However, they did not want to do the hard work of cutting it down, bulking it did not want to do the hard work of cutting it down, bulking it together, crushing it, boiling it and packaging it.together, crushing it, boiling it and packaging it.

But they really, really wanted that valuable sugar...But they really, really wanted that valuable sugar...

They decided that they would steal They decided that they would steal workers to grow and process workers to grow and process that sugar. This is one of the things that sugar. This is one of the things that led to Europeans going to Africa that led to Europeans going to Africa and stealing African people and and stealing African people and enslaving them. Sugar was as valuable enslaving them. Sugar was as valuable as pearls and spices. Slaves that were as pearls and spices. Slaves that were stolen were free. This meant that stolen were free. This meant that Europeans could make a LOT of Europeans could make a LOT of money.money.

The enslaved Africans were brought to Europe at first. Then, The enslaved Africans were brought to Europe at first. Then, as Europeans began exploring North and South America, as Europeans began exploring North and South America,

they brought the stolen slaves with them. This map shows they brought the stolen slaves with them. This map shows you where Europeans and Africans went in the 1400s you where Europeans and Africans went in the 1400s

through 1800s. Can you see New Orleans?through 1800s. Can you see New Orleans?

Can you find the sugar Can you find the sugar plantations?plantations?

These are the slave quarters located on a Sugar These are the slave quarters located on a Sugar Plantation near Bunkie, Louisiana. In the background, Plantation near Bunkie, Louisiana. In the background, you can see the large sugar house. Notice how many you can see the large sugar house. Notice how many

buildings there are. Sugar plantations had many buildings there are. Sugar plantations had many slaves working on them.slaves working on them.

Enslaved workers on a Enslaved workers on a sugar cane fieldsugar cane field

Processing sugar cane was a very difficult and dangerous Processing sugar cane was a very difficult and dangerous job. Many, many enslaved workers were burned from the job. Many, many enslaved workers were burned from the

boiling sugar cane syrup or died in the heavy and hard boiling sugar cane syrup or died in the heavy and hard process. People were constantly looking for a solution.process. People were constantly looking for a solution.

Norbert Rillieux found the answer. Norbert Rillieux found the answer.

Norbert Rillieux was born in New Orleans. Norbert Rillieux was born in New Orleans. His father was a white, sugar planter. HisHis father was a white, sugar planter. His

mother was an enslaved worker.mother was an enslaved worker.

Norbert's father sent him to France to be Norbert's father sent him to France to be educated, as many other Creole families educated, as many other Creole families did.did.

Norbert was very intelligent. He Norbert was very intelligent. He discovered a way to boil the sugar cane discovered a way to boil the sugar cane that was much less dangerous and much that was much less dangerous and much faster.faster.

This sugar processor made it much safer. This sugar processor made it much safer. Norbert Rillieux saved many lives and Norbert Rillieux saved many lives and

many dollars. He is certainly a local hero!many dollars. He is certainly a local hero!

Okay, so we've talked about lemons.Okay, so we've talked about lemons.We've talked about water.We've talked about water.We've talked about sugar.We've talked about sugar.

What are we What are we missing?missing?

ICE!

Think about how hot New Orleans is in the summer time.Think about how hot New Orleans is in the summer time.

Think about life without air conditioning or fans.Think about life without air conditioning or fans.

Think about life without a refrigerator. Think about life without a refrigerator.

Think about life without ice cream. Think about life without ice cream.

Think about life without ice.... Think about life without ice....

Wait a second... Wait a second... isn't there always ice in some isn't there always ice in some

places in the world?places in the world?

Ice Trade!Ice Trade!It started in Massachusetts.

A man named Frederic Tudor figured out that he could sell the ice in his pond to people in hot places.

So, he began cutting up the ice in his pond. He cut big blocks of ice and packed it into a ship. Those ships

headed south, to New Orleans and other places nearby.

...aren't we lucky we don't have to do that anymore!

Think about the Think about the information you've information you've learned about the learned about the

ingredients for lemonade. ingredients for lemonade.

What information do youWhat information do youwant to include on want to include on

Lemonade Day about Lemonade Day about your lemonade your lemonade ingredients?ingredients?

special thanks to Hermann-special thanks to Hermann-Grima/Gallier Historic Houses in Grima/Gallier Historic Houses in

New Orleans for this presentationNew Orleans for this presentation

photo used with Creative Commons license from wallyg on flickr