History

Lemon & Paeroa was first produced in 1907 in the small Coromandel town of Paeroa, combining mineral water from the local spring with lemon juice. The original tagline 'World Famous in New Zealand' has become a national in-joke about NZ cultural exports. The recipe was bought by Schweppes in 1965 and is now manufactured by Coca-Cola Amatil; the original Paeroa spring water is no longer used commercially, but the bottle design and branding remain unchanged. A giant L&P bottle landmark stands in Paeroa town. L&P appears on every NZ supermarket shelf, every BBQ table and every late-night service station; alongside Marmite (NZ formula), it is the country's most-recognised home-grown food brand.

Make it at home

Yield Makes 1 litreHands-on 10 minTotal 15 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 750ml sparkling mineral water, chilled
  • 150ml fresh lemon juice (from 3-4 lemons)
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 50ml hot water
  • 1 tsp citric acid (optional, for tang)

Method

  1. Dissolve caster sugar in 50ml hot water; cool to room temperature.
  2. Combine sugar syrup with fresh lemon juice and citric acid (if using).
  3. Pour into a 1L bottle; top with chilled sparkling mineral water.
  4. Seal and chill at least 1 hour before serving.
  5. Serve over ice. Drink within 3 days for best fizz.

Tip from the editors. Real L&P uses Paeroa mineral water; a strong sparkling alternative works at home. Adjust sugar to taste, since the commercial version sits sweet.

Where to eat lemon & paeroa (l&p)

Lemon & Paeroa (L&P) in Auckland

Daily Bread Ponsonby ★ 4.4

BakeryBakery brunch$$NZD $12-22ponsonbyMon-Sun 07:00-15:00Walk-in

Daily Bread Ponsonby at 108 Ponsonby Road is the Auckland bakery's brunch counter. Kouign amann, sourdough toast, Coffee Supreme drinks and deli sandwiches.

Order: Kouign amann with a flat white

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