Fresh Mint Lemonade (Limonana)
Ice cold, intensely minty, and perfectly sweet-tart. This Middle Eastern lemonade is the only thing I want to drink when it is hot outside.
Drinks · Prep 10 min · Serves 4 · Easy · By Tina · Published
Ingredients
- 4 large lemons, juiced (about 200ml)
- 1 large bunch fresh mint, about 30g
- 80 g sugar, or to taste
- 800 ml water, cold
- 2 cups ice
- 1 pinch salt
In the Middle East, this drink is everywhere — every cafe, every street stall, every grandma makes it. It is called limonana (lemon + nana, which means mint in Arabic) and it is the most refreshing thing on the planet.
The secret is blending the mint into the lemonade, not just muddling it. When you blitz fresh mint with lemon juice, sugar, and ice, the mint releases oils that make the whole drink taste cold in a way that regular lemonade never could.
I make a pitcher every weekend in summer. It lasts about 20 minutes before it is gone.
Pro Tips
- Use a LOT of mint. Like, an obscene amount. A full big bunch.
- Blend with ice for a slushy consistency, or strain for clear lemonade. Both are great.
- Adjust sugar to your lemons. Some are sweeter than others.
- A tiny pinch of salt makes the flavors pop. Trust me.
Serving
Pour over ice in tall glasses. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lemon wheel. Add a splash of soda water if you like bubbles.
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