Peach Cup (1920) ★★★★

12:00 AM 1920s , 20th century , 4 stars , beverages , egg-free , fruit , gluten-free , interwar , soy-free , united states 0 Comments

This recipe represents a very deep-rooted tradition of making fruit syrups for refreshing summer beverages.



Original Recipe:

PEACH CUP 

Place one quart of peeled and sliced peaches in a saucepan and add 

One pound of sugar,  

One cup of water. 

Cook until the fruit is soft and then rub through a fine sieve and add juice of one lemon. 

To use: Place one-half cup of the peach mixture in a glass and add 

Two tablespoons of cream, 

One-half cup of crushed ice, 

and fill with carbonated water. 

A box of straws to use in serving these iced drinks makes them doubly attractive.

The Verdict:
Well firstly, I was surprised at how much peach flavour the syrup actually had, because I used frozen peaches. That said, while I did taste the peach, it could have been even stronger, so I would suggest at least using some fresh peaches if you make this.
The cream was a little bit of a strange addition for my modern tastes. The flavour did grow on me, but it seemed like 2 tablespoons was a bit too much. Also, the syrup was very sweet, so maybe a little under 1/2 cup would be a better amount, but of course it all depends on how much carbonated water is added. I think even just using the peach syrup with carbonated water would be a yummy drink all on its own. Overall, this recipe is really nice and is definitely worth 4 stars!


Modernized Recipe:
(Adapted from Mrs. Wilson's Cook Book)

1 quart (4 cups) PEACHES, peeled and sliced
1 pound SUGAR
1 cup WATER
Juice of 1 LEMON
1-2 tablespoons CREAM
1/2 cup CRUSHED ICE
SODA WATER

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the peaches, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil and let it simmer until the peaches are very soft.
2. Strain the liquid through a sieve and gently push on the cooked peaches to ensure you get as much syrup as you can. Add the lemon juice to the syrup and stir well. (Tip: I saved the cooked peaches and blended them up in a smoothie! No need to waste!)
3. To make a "Peach Cup" put 1/2 cup of the peach syrup (cooled) in a large glass. Add 1-2 tablespoons of cream, as desired. Add 1/2 cup crushed ice and top the glass up with carbonated water, to taste. Stir well to combine and enjoy!