The Most Beautiful Village on the Plains is known for many things: tree rolling, true community, Obie the Tiger, Samford Hall, etc. But I think Toomer's Drugs is one of the most meaningful places in our hometown.
Toomer's is not only steeped in Auburn University tradition and history, but also serves as a central part of our community.
Whether you're giving friends and family a tour around town or just spending the afternoon outside, Toomer's Lemonade is the go-to drink to sweeten any moment. Some call it “the heart of Auburn,” and we think they'd agree.
When I decided to study abroad for a semester, I knew I would miss Auburn — my friends, my hometown, the Southern accent — but I missed Toomer's lemonade the most (along with many other “American foods”).
I've heard a lot about Toomer's making the “best lemonade in the world,” so I decided to put that claim to the test. I tried as many lemonades as I could at as many stops over the weekend, rating them based on taste, balance of bitter and sweet, texture, and drinking experience.
Austrian Lemonade
Sami Grace Donnelly | Communications Officer
Austrian Lemonade
I was in Vienna, Austria, and went out to eat at a restaurant downtown. The city was dark and rainy, but the warm light of the restaurant was calming and welcoming. I ordered a “Lemon Almdudler,” which the waiter described as “like lemonade” and “a very typical Austrian drink.”
It looked like white wine or beer, probably because it was served at room temperature without ice. It had a juice-like consistency and a sweet lemon flavor. It was not bitter or watery and went very well with the meal. I would rate it 4/5.
Catalan Lemonade
Sami Grace Donnelly | Communications Officer
Catalan Lemonade
Many Spaniards consider Catalonia to be very different from the rest of Spain, and although I don't want to get too political in an article about lemonade, I decided to try the lemonade in one Catalan city in particular to see if it's something unique, like the dialect or the culture.
I liked the orange twist. The ice was good too. Overall it was sweet, not bitter or strange tasting. However, I found it to have too much pulp and the lemon flavor was too weak for my taste. I would rate it 3.5/5.
Swiss Lemonade
Sami Grace Donnelly | Communications Manager Swiss Lemonade
I was visiting Geneva and decided to eat at a restaurant serving traditional Swiss cuisine, I ordered a lemonade as a drink along with a delicious gluten free crepe and I thought it looked amazing too.
I felt very elegant while reading a book by the window, but the taste was completely different from what I expected. It was like drinking apple juice. I couldn't taste any lemon at all. I would rate it 2/5, but if I add 1 point for a clean glass, it would be 3/5.
French Lemonade
Sami Grace Donnelly | Communications Manager French Lemonade
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I was in Paris, the city of love, but not the city of lemonade. I have very few opportunities to go to restaurants due to my celiac disease, so I probably didn't find the best options for French lemonade. This was the best I could do under the circumstances.
The bottle was trendy but it made me feel like I was taking a spicy pill. I actually found it interesting because ginger was one of the main ingredients and it was sold as regular lemonade. I remember it was bitter and I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I'd rate it 1/5.
Italian Lemonade
You may have noticed that I haven't included any photos of the lemonade I tried in Italy. I was in Florence for a few days and wanted a fun drink to have while enjoying the city. Italy is known for caring for those with Celiac Disease and offering a number of gluten free options.
So you can imagine my surprise when I tried to order a lemonade and the waitress told me it wasn't gluten free. I don't know which ingredients contain gluten but unfortunately I didn't get to taste the Italian Lemonade. For this reason I rate it 0/5.
Castellano Lemonade
Sami Grace Donnelly | Communications Director Castellano Lemonade
The other Spanish lemonade I tried was the Madrid Lemonade. I was glad I did, it was a bubbly, carbonated drink instead of a watered down, slightly orange flavoured drink, I was surprised and had to taste it and double check to make sure I hadn't accidentally ordered carbonated water with lemon.
The Schweppes building is in downtown Madrid so I imagine they took a bottle or can of Schweppes, added a little lemon juice, and topped it with a slice of lemon and some mint leaves. That's exactly what it tasted like. Thanks for featuring Schweppes as a local loyalty. Although the taste wasn't the best I'd rate it 4/5.
Toomer's Lemonade
Sami Grace Donnelly | Communications Manager Toomer's Lemonade
Now, the moment we've all been waiting for. I took this photo just a few days after arriving back in the U.S. Besides being reunited with my loved ones, getting some Toomers was my top priority.
Although I prefer it bottled, this refreshing, ice-cold lemonade has the perfect balance of sweet and sour no matter how you drink it. It fosters local pride and represents so many memories, traditions and happy moments. It can hydrate you on a hot Alabama day, celebrate a sports victory or relive memories of the Plains. I think the 5/5 rating is justified and it has proven that it deserves the title “World's Best Lemonade.”
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Sami Grace Donnelly | Communications Officer
Sami Grace Donnelly, a fourth-year English major, began contributing to The Plainsman in fall 2021. She has worked as a columnist, opinion editor and foreign writer, and currently serves as an executive member of The Plainsman’s editorial board.
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