The prettiest village on the prairie is known for many things: the rolling trees, the real community, Aubie, the tiger, and Samford Hall. But I think one of the most meaningful things about our hometown is Toomer’s Drugs.
Toomer’s not only has history and is a big part of our tradition here at Auburn University, but it also serves as a liaison for our community.
Whether you’re playing tour guide for friends and family in town or enjoying an afternoon on the road, Toomer’s Lemonade is a staple that sweetens any moment. Some people call it “the heart of Auburn,” and I think they’re right.
When I decided to study abroad, I knew I would miss Auburn – my friends, my home, the Southern accent, etc. What surprised me, however, was how much I missed Toomer’s Lemonade. I craved it (along with many other “American foods”).
We’ve all heard that Toomer’s is the “world’s best lemonade,” so I decided to put that claim to the test. I tried lemonade at as many places as I could when I was out and about on the weekends. Here are my ratings based on taste, bitterness/sweetness ratio, consistency, and my experience drinking it:
Austrian lemonade
Austrian lemonade
I was in Vienna, Austria, and went to eat at a restaurant downtown. Although it was dark and rainy in the city, the warm light of the restaurant was calming and inviting. I ordered a “Lemon Almdudler,” which our waiter described as “like a 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 the consistency of juice and a sweet lemon flavor. It was neither bitter nor too watery and went really well with my food. I’d give it 4/5.
Catalan lemonade
Catalan lemonade
Many Spaniards feel that the region of Catalonia is very different from the rest of Spain. I don’t want to get too political in an article about lemonade, but I decided to try a lemonade from a town in Catalonia to see if, like the dialect and culture, it was different.
I liked the orange peel and the ice cream. It was mostly sweet and didn’t taste bitter or weird. However, it had a little too much pulp for my taste and the actual lemon flavor was a little watered down. I would give it 3.5/5.
Swiss lemonade
Swiss lemonade
I was visiting Geneva and decided to dine at a restaurant that serves classic Swiss cuisine. To go with my gluten-free savory crepe, I ordered a lemonade to drink, and I think it deserves extra points for presentation.
I felt very posh sipping it in the window reading my book, but the taste was not at all what I expected. I felt like I was drinking apple juice; I really couldn’t detect a hint of lemon flavor at all. I would give it 2/5, but the 1 point for the pretty glass brings it to 3/5.
French lemonade
French lemonade
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I stayed in Paris, the city of love, but definitely not the city of lemonade. Since my celiac disease limited my ability to visit restaurants, I know I probably didn’t find the best French lemonade. This was the best I could do under the circumstances.
The bottle was fancy, but I felt like I was drinking spicy medicine. It turns out ginger was one of the main ingredients, which was interesting because it was sold to me as regular lemonade. It was bitter and I remember not even wanting to finish it. I give it 1/5.
Italian lemonade
You may notice that I didn’t include a picture of the lemonade I tried in Italy. I was in Florence for a few days and was keen to sip some great drinks while enjoying the city. Italy is known for taking care of citizens with celiac disease and offering many gluten-free options.
So you can imagine my surprise when I wanted to order a lemonade and the waitress told me it was not gluten free. I don’t know what ingredient could contain gluten, but unfortunately I haven’t tried Italian lemonade. For this reason, I give it 0/5.
Castellano Lemonade
Castellano Lemonade
Lemonade from Madrid was the other type of Spanish lemonade I tried. And it was a good thing because instead of a diluted drink with a hint of orange, I found a fizzy and carbonated drink that surprised me. When I tried it, I double-checked that I hadn’t accidentally ordered lemonade with lemon.
Since the Schweppes building is in downtown Madrid, I assume they took a bottle or can of it, added a squeeze of lemon juice and put a lemon slice and a mint leaf on top. That’s exactly how it tasted. I appreciate the hometown loyalty that Schweppes brings and although it wasn’t the best, I give it 4/5.
Toomers Lemonade
Toomers Lemonade
Now the moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. I took this photo just days after returning to the U.S. Besides reuniting with my loved ones, Toomer’s was my top priority.
While I prefer the bottle, the refreshing, cold lemonade has the perfect combination of sweet and tart no matter how you drink it. It promotes hometown pride and represents so many memories, traditions and happy moments. It can rehydrate you on a hot Alabama day, help you celebrate a sports victory or bring back memories of the Plains. I think it rightfully deserves a 5/5 and truly proves that it deserves the title of “world’s best lemonade.”
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Sami Grace Donnelly, a senior studying English Literature, began writing for the Plainsman in fall 2021. She has been a columnist, opinion editor, expatriate writer, and is now a managing member of the Plainsman’s editorial board.
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