Vietnamese Preserved Lemons & Salty Lemonade (Chanh Muối)
If you have plenty of lemons (or limes), you can preserve them in a salty brine that will keep for eternity. That’s exactly what I did when I rummaged through my sister’s backyard and looted her lemon tree.
It’s typical to see dusty jars of preserved lemons and limes in a Vietnamese household. The dustier the jar, the older the folks who made it. I am now on that level with two dusty jars of my own.
In Vietnam, we called lemons preserved in a salty brine Chanh Muối and the refreshing iced drink made with them, Nước Chanh Muối.
Nuoc Chanh Muối is made with a mixture of preserved lemons, ice, sugar, and water. Sometimes carbonated/soda water is used instead, called Soda Chanh Muối.