This weekend is going to be a hot one, but that won't keep us from the State Fair. One reason why is because the fairgrounds are practically overflowing with liquid summer in a cup: lemonade. Among this year's new foods, we counted eight unique twists on lemonade — infused with rosemary or pickle, mixed with boba or jam, frozen on a stick or right inside the lemon. We also dug back a couple of years to revisit some favorites. Here are our picks for ultra-refreshing sippers to power you through this last, scorching stretch of the fair.
New on the scene
Jam'nades
Jammy Sammies by Brim • North End • $7
Two kinds of housemade jam take Brim's tasty lemonade into "something special" territory. Use the boba straw to slurp up blueberry mint or strawberry jalapeño.
Lemonade Sorbet
Quench'd • Dan Patch Av. between Nelson and Underwood Sts. • $5
An adorable palate cleanser, this refreshing frozen lemonade is mounded into a half lemon, for a sipper you can eat with a spoon.
Rosemary Lemonade
Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop • Dan Patch Av. between Cooper and Cosgrove Sts. • $6-$7.50
It's hard to look past the booth's maple cream nitro, but this sweet-tart beverage makes a good case for it. Rosemary really shines through thanks to an herb-infused simple syrup.
Fresh Squeezed Boba Lemonade
Donut Family • Mighty Midway • $9
What's a fun new way to experience lemonade at the fair? Fruity, bursting boba pearls. We appreciate the joy of it.
"Kind of a Big Dill" Pickle Lemonade
Nordic Waffles • West End Market • $6
Next to lutefisk, this new entry might have caused the most trepidation pre-fair. But now we know that pickle lemonade is not that big of a dill at all. Just a well-balanced drink infused with pickling spices.
Fresh-Squeezed Pineapple Lemonade
R&R Ice Cream • Randall Av. and Underwood St. • $9
This tractor-powered ice cream stand is a sleeper for huge cups of cooling lemonade with slices of pineapple for a fruity boost.
Dill Pickle Lemonade Paleta
Hamline Church Dining Hall • Dan Patch Av. between Underwood and Cooper Sts. • $6
A neon green ice pop plays up the surprisingly refreshing flavors of sweet relish, for a treat that sounds stranger than it is.