Buzz
This year, summer seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye. One moment, I was sweating buckets, sheltering from the intense sun, and the next, I was wrapping myself up in cozy blankets, escaping the rain. I wasn’t ready for summer to end, but it had already slipped away. Now, I find myself reaching for anything that reminds me of sunny days, like sorbet, iced coffee, and of course, these minty, tart lemon sticks.
The lemon stick, affectionately called the “Baltimore lemon stick,” doesn’t quite symbolize summer—it’s more of a springtime tradition marking the start of the “growing season” in mid-spring. Still, it tastes like liquid sunshine. You can traditionally find them at the Baltimore Flower Market in Mount Vernon, organized by the Women’s Civic League, but Baltimore locals enjoy them all throughout spring and summer at various social events. This treat strikes a balance between candy and beverage, with a sharp, sweet-and-tangy punch that’s reminiscent of a potent minty lemonade.
The process of making them sounds easy: Cut a lemon in half and pop a peppermint stick inside. Simple, right? Not exactly. A regular candy cane won’t do—its lack of porosity won’t allow it to absorb the juice. You’ll need a softer peppermint stick for the best results. Many Amazon users recommend using King Leo Soft Peppermint Sticks or Bob’s Sweet Stripes for this purpose.
Even with the ideal peppermint candies, there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to making the lemon juice flow through the stick. Fortunately, those opinionated Amazon customers came through once again:
These make perfect “straws” for the nostalgic pastime of extracting juice from oranges and lemons. Simply roll the fruit on your counter to soften it, create a hole halfway through with an ice pick, bite off a small piece from each end of the peppermint stick, and insert it into the hole you’ve made in the fruit. Then gently squeeze the fruit while sipping through the peppermint stick. Within moments, the peppermint “straw” becomes porous, and the flavor combo is simply delicious!—Romance Fan
The result is simply delightful. The sweet peppermint perfectly balances the tartness of the lemon juice. The flavor is surprisingly well-rounded—sweet without being overwhelming, and sour without being harsh. It’s refreshing, sunny, and helps lift the spirits during these early seasonal slumps. (Quite the accomplishment for just a piece of fruit and a candy stick.)
