Refreshing Mint Lemonade Recipe – Easy and Perfect for Summer

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Lemonade is a classic hot summer day drink to enjoy outdoors. It’s a frequent crowd pleaser for barbecues or summer parties and pretty easy to make. Adding a bit of mint to the classic lemonade adds a light mint twist to make it even more refreshing! Even skeptics of flavored lemonade may enjoy the light and fresh flavor in this refreshing beverage.

How Mint Lemonade is Made

This recipe calls for you to steep mint leaves in sugar and water to create a mint simple syrup. When leaves are steeped in a simple syrup, they provide a subtle yet beautiful minty flavor. Adding this mint simple syrup to homemade lemonade makes a delicious and refreshing summer beverage.

What Does Mint Lemonade Taste Like?

This mint lemonade has a beautiful balance of sweet and tart with a subtle mint flavor. If you’re not paying attention, you may not even recognize that this is a lemonade made with mint! That’s what makes this a perfect recipe to serve at a summer party. 

The Kind of Mint Used For This Lemonade

This recipe calls for using fresh mint leaves. Fresh mint leaves tend to have the most active essential oils in them. Since it’s the oils that provide the flavor to the syrup, it’s best to use the freshest leaves possible. 

If you do not have any fresh leaves available, you can easily substitute dried leaves. When using dried leaves in place of fresh, you may need to use more to achieve the same desired flavor.

Where to Buy Mint? 

Fresh mint is commonly found in many grocery stores. You are likely to find a small container or a small potted plant within the produce department. Another great location where you may find fresh leaves is at farmers markets. 

If you do not have either option available to you, you may be better off ordering dried mint. In my experience, the best option is to find a loose leaf tea store you can go to in person or order online. For online options, there are places like Farmhouse Teas, Mountain Rose Herbs, and Azure Standard.

Serving Mint Lemonade at a Party

This recipe is perfect to serve at almost any summer party. If you’re serving this at a barbecue or shower event, I recommended making extra and freezing it in ice cube trays. 

When placing the beverage out, add the frozen mint lemonade instead of regular ice cubes. Having ice cubes with the same flavor will ensure this beverage stays flavorful and cool throughout the event.

Are you looking for more recipes? You might also enjoy this homemade taco seasoning or this raw milk yogurt.

Ingredients & Tools For Mint Lemonade

Mint Syrup:

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1 ½ cups Sugar or sugar equivalent sweetener

½ cup Fresh Mint Leaves 

4 cups Filtered water 

Lemonade:

2 cups Lemon juice 

5 cups Filtered water

A medium saucepan

Measuring cups and spoons

A large pitcher or glass jar

A whisk or spoon

Directions 

1. To begin, add 5 cups of filtered water and 1 ½ cups sugar in a saucepan. Stir until the sugar dissolves. 
2. Bring the sugar mixture to a light boil. 
3. Add fresh mint leaves, stir and remove from the heat. 
4. Set aside until completely cool. 
5. Once cool, strain the mint leaves from the simple syrup 
6. While the mint simple syrup is cooling, combine lemon juice and filtered water into a pitcher or large glass jar.
7. Add the mint simple syrup to the pitcher or container, stir and enjoy! 
8. Optional- When serving, garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint leaves.

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Recipe tips

Tip #1 Changing the mint flavor strength 

Although this recipe calls for a half cup of fresh mint leaves, the amount of mint flavor can be changed. You can also change the length of time you steep the mint for.

This recipe results in a pretty subtle mint flavor. If you desire a more pronounced mint flavor in the lemonade, add additional mint leaves to the simple syrup and steep until your achieve the desired strength.

Tip #2 Make extra and make it into ice cubes.

If you’re serving this at a barbecue or shower event, then I recommended making extra mint lemonade and freezing it in ice cube trays. Having ice cubes with the same flavor will ensure this beverage stays flavorful and cool throughout the event.

Tip #3 Use Fresh Mint

This recipe calls for using fresh mint leaves. Fresh mint leaves tend to have the most active essential oils in them. Since it’s the oils that provide the flavor to the syrup, it’s best to use the freshest leaves possible. 

Mint Lemonade FAQ:

How is Mint Lemonade Made?

This recipe calls for you to steep fresh mint leaves in sugar and water to create a mint simple syrup. When the leaves are steeped in a simple syrup, they provide a subtle yet beautiful mint flavor. Adding this mint simple syrup to homemade lemonade makes a delicious and refreshing summer beverage.

What Does Mint Lemonade Taste Like?

This mint lemonade has a beautiful balance of sweet and tart with a subtle mint flavor. If you’re not paying attention, you may not even recognize that this is a lemonade made with mint! That’s what makes this a perfect recipe to serve at a summer party. 

What Kind of Mint to Use For This Lemonade? 

This recipe calls for using fresh mint leaves. Fresh mint leaves tend to have the most active essential oils in them. Since it’s the oils that provide the flavor to the syrup, it’s best to use the freshest leaves possible. 

If you do not have any fresh leaves available, you can easily substitute dried leaves. When using dried leaves in place of fresh, you may need to use more to achieve the same desired flavor.

Where Can I Buy Mint? 

Fresh mint is commonly found in many grocery stores. You are likely to find a small container or a small potted plant within the produce department. Another great location where you may find fresh leaves is at farmers markets. 

If you do not have either option available to you, you may be better off ordering dried mint. In my experience, the best option is to find a loose leaf tea store you can go to in person or order online. For online options, there are places like Farmhouse Teas, Mountain Rose Herbs, and Azure Standard.

How Do I Change the Strength of the Mint Flavor?

Although this recipe calls for a half cup of mint, you can change the amount of mint flavor. You can also change the length of time you steep the mint leaves for.

This recipe results in a pretty subtle mint flavor. If you desire a more pronounced mint flavor in your lemonade, add additional mint leaves to the simple syrup and steep until your desired strength is achieved.

What’s The Best Way to Serve This Mint Lemonade at a Party?

If you’re serving this at a barbecue or shower event, I recommended making extra and freezing it in ice cube trays. 

When placing the beverage out, add the frozen mint lemonade instead of regular ice cubes. Having ice cubes with the same flavor will ensure this beverage stays flavorful and cool throughout the event.

Did you try this? Share your creations in the comments or by tagging @MissysHomestead on Instagram.