# Sumac-ade

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**Sumac-ade**, also known as **bush-lemonade** or **Indian lemonade**, is a drink normally made with *[Rhus typhina](/source/Rhus_typhina)* or *[Rhus coriaria](/source/Rhus_coriaria)*, chilled [water](/source/Water), and frequently added, but not always added, [sugar](/source/Sugar).[1] With the taste normally described as tart, yet sweet, the taste bears a shocking resemblance to [pink lemonade](/source/Pink_lemonade).[2]

## Process

*[Rhus](/source/Rhus)* fruits are briskly rinsed, as they are removed from their stem. The berries are then dunked into a jar of cold or chilled water. After 5 minutes of vigorous shaking to the jar, the concoction is left alone for around 25 minutes. After that, it is shaken and a [potato masher](/source/Potato_masher) is used on the fruit.

*[Rhus vernix](/source/Rhus_vernix)* and *[Rhus radicans](/source/Rhus_radicans)* are not used as they are highly toxic due to their [urushiol](/source/Urushiol) content.[3][4]

## History

In the Americas, sumac-ade wasn't created by any modern inventor, but was passed down generations through [Native American](/source/Native_American) peoples of the [Cahokian](/source/Cahokian) tribes of central [United States](/source/United_States).[5] However, it is now drank by many people in the [Northeast United States](/source/Northeast_United_States), and in the [Midwestern United States](/source/Midwestern_United_States) by others, due to widespread trade of the main [recipe](/source/Recipe).

While there was a sumac "drink" commonly made in the Middle East, said "drink" was normally used as a souring agent for jellies and other sweet treats, rather than as its own drink.[6][7]

## References

1. ["Sumac-ade"](https://www.blackduckrevival.com/sumacade). *Black Duck Revival*. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

1. ["Sumac-ade; a Natural Alternative to Kool-aid"](https://healthstartsinthekitchen.com/sumac-ade-a-natural-alternative-to-kool-aid/). *Health Starts in the Kitchen*. 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

1. ["USDA Plants Database"](https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TOVE). *plants.usda.gov*. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

1. ["Poison Ivy Rash, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment"](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10655-poison-plants-poison-ivy--poison-oak--poison-sumac). *Cleveland Clinic*. [Archived](http://web.archive.org/web/20251124215425/https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10655-poison-plants-poison-ivy--poison-oak--poison-sumac) 2025-11-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

1. White, Adrian (2016-08-31). ["Making and Using Sumac-Ade in Herbalism | Iowa Herbalist"](https://iowaherbalist.com/2016/08/31/healing-sumac-ade-herbalism/). *Adrian White | Writer*. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

1. Martins, Sylvio (2022-02-28). ["Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sumac"](https://www.eater.com/2022/2/28/22947543/what-is-sumac-spice-how-to-use-cooking-recipes). *Eater*. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

1. ["What is Sumac Spice? | Origin, Taste, and Uses"](https://thespiceway.com/blogs/articles/sumac-spice). *The Spice Way - Nature with Benefits*. 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sumac-ade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumac-ade) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumac-ade?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.