Iraqis have a certain love affair with watermelons. You are not a ‘proper’ Iraqi if you don’t know how to examine, tap, smell and predict a good ripe juicy watermelon;  Oh the shame on your house ! I like to leave the tapping and smelling of the watermelon to my husband. When I buy a watermelon it is usually already been cut and thus I know the colour, if there are a lot of seeds and how sweet it is by seeing the crystallised sugar on the flesh.  Or I like to live dangerously and just pick one and hope for the best. By the way, watermelons are never sold cut in the Middle East, hence the presctigous watermelon diploma every man woman holds when choosing a watermelon!

Nothing quenches your thirst on a hot summer day like a cold sweet watermelon and that incredible perfumed taste, mmm sends you to heaven that does. To make a medium size jug of this drink you need an electric blender. I have not used a juicer but a friend told me it taste even better , but I like the thickness that the flesh adds to the drink. Try either method and tell me which is best…

Ingredients

1 large bowl of watermelon chunks

1 teaspoon of rose water

2 table spoons of sugar (depends on taste)

few leaves of mints

Method

Step 1. Place the watermelon chunks in the electric blender and add the rose water and sugar. If you think you need to reduce the thickness slowly add water to your desired thickness.

Step 2. Pour the drink into a jug and add a few mint leave that you cut thinly and stir. place in the fridge to cool. Remember to stir once more before serving. You can add ice cubes if you like.

Tip: You can add fresh lime juice when blending to give it another kick if you do not have rosewater.