As those lazy hazy days of summer linger, keep your cool by heading to Del’s Lemonade. Purveyor of frozen lemonade made from crushed ice, lemons, and sugar, it’s slush worth slurping from a cup. “Stop at the Sign of the Lemon.”
Whether you’re cruising by convertible with The Beach Boys harmonizing 'round round get around' or hugging the road nondescriptly on a summer day, treat yourself to Del’s Lemonade, a Rhode Island original. In fact, in 1993, when Rhody’s legislature made an attempt to decide on an official state beverage-- coffee milk won over Del’s in a close call.
The Del brand typically found in the Ocean State and southeastern Massachusetts is now available in 36 states and even gone international. Be cool, “Stop at the Sign of the Lemon,” and slurp a cup of frozen lemonade consisting of ice, lemons, and sugar.
A family enterprise, great grandfather DeLucia made the earliest Del’s Frozen Lemonade in 1840, Naples, Italy during the winter when he carried snow into nearby caves and insulated it with straw. When summer arrived and the lemons were ripe, he mixed the juice with sugar and snow, then sold his refreshment at the local market.
Grandfather Franco brought his father’s recipe to America at the turn of the twentieth century. His son Angelo worked on a machine to produce frozen lemonade to perfect a method of making it consistently.
In 1943, Del’s Frozen Lemonade began as a stand in Cranston. Soon, Angelo had designed the first mobile units to serve the stuff anywhere in the state. Those Del Trucks are still used in addition to 20 storefront locations in Rhode Island, the most in the USA. Since Angelo’s son, Bruce, entered the family biz, there are now many Del’s franchises worldwide.
Residents and tourists in need of quenching one’s thirst or keeping cool during the hot summer should “Stop at the Sign of the Lemon.” While you’re in line at the take-out window you can make up your mind about which flavor to slurp: lemon, lite lemonade, watermelon, cherry, peach/mango, blueberry, grapefruit, or pomegranate.
Not that anyone needs specific instructions on how to enjoy Del’s frozen, but it is suggested that one shake the cup so the heat from your hand will slowly melt the ice. No straw is required for sipping either.
By the time I’m finished with a Del, my paper cup is wilted and flattened with only a telltale lemon rind left at the bottom. It’s that refreshing! Nachos and warm pretzels are available for snacking on, and it’s not uncommon to see people dunking their pretzels in the slush.
Del's “make-at-home” mix and liquid lemonade, pint or gallon size can be found in grocery stores throughout the world, or ordered online along with other gift products. Candles, Christmas ornaments (Del’s Cup, Del’s Lemonade Truck), mouse pads, T-shirts, toys (logo doll, mascot doll), mugs, water bottles, and hats commemorate the franchise’s fame as well as pay homage to Rhode Island.
You might say that when handed lemons, Great Grandpa DeLucia made lemonade of the frozen variety. Soon after immigrating to this country and settling in Rhode Island, Franco set up a lemonade stand which grandstanded into a world renowned franchise. As you round round get around during the summer, be sure to “Stop at the Sign of the Lemon.”
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