Marylanders have enjoyed lemon peppermint sticks for more than 100 years.

When you think of summertime treats, you probably think of ice cream, snowballs, and other frozen treats. But for longtime Maryland locals, it’s the lemon peppermint stick. This simple fruit snack consists of a lemon half and a soft peppermint stick. You are supposed to suck the juice through the peppermint stick and the peppermint and sugar make it taste like sweet lemonade. You can also dip the peppermint stick in the lemon if you don’t get the “straw” to work.

Lemon peppermint sticks are made and sold at fairs, festivals, and ice cream stands around the city. No one knows exactly where it came from but it first appeared at the Baltimore Flower Mart in the early 1900s. Ask any longtime Maryland resident and they will remember eating them in the summer during their childhoods.

Many of the traditional fairs, farmers' markets, and summer events have been scaled down or canceled in the past couple of years due to the pandemic. So, when the Flower Mart returned to Mt. Vernon in April, and the lemon peppermint sticks were sold, it created a renewed interest in the simple snack.

Photo by Christa Emmer

You could spend the summer searching for a vendor that sells lemon peppermint sticks or you could just make your own at home. You only need two ingredients: lemons and peppermint sticks.

First, you’ll need to find the peppermint sticks which are a bit out of season. You need a soft peppermint, the kind that melts in your mouth like Bob’s or King Leo's. To get the juiciest lemon you can, roll it on the counter or put it in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds. Cut the lemon in half, insert the peppermint stick, and enjoy! You can also cut the top off and use the whole lemon; there really are no rules.