Lemon: Hot Water or Cold?

Many people believe that lemon should not be steeped in hot water, as this would cause the loss of vitamin C from the lemon. Actually, this understanding is incorrect. The best way to steep lemons is with hot water, at least above 60 degrees Celsius.

If the water used for soaking lemon slices is too cold, the fragrance of the lemon will not be released effectively; you can try it to see for yourself. Moreover, vitamin C is highly stable under acidic conditions and is not easily destroyed as you might think. Using hot water above 60 degrees Celsius to steep lemons does not result in a loss of vitamin C.

Of course, lemon water made with hot water will have a stronger sour taste, but we can simply let it cool before drinking.