Chilean homemade lemonade is lemon juice and sugar stirred until dissolved, topped up with cold water, and served over ice with thin slices of pica lemon and fresh mint leaves. It takes 10 minutes and serves 2.
A refreshing drink especially popular in Chile during the hot summer months.
How to Make Homemade Lemonade?
Chilean lemonade uses yellow lemons and pica limes, sugar, and water, a simple, versatile drink you can adjust to your preferred sweetness and acidity.
Nutritional Information
Each serving of homemade lemonade contains approximately 110 kcal, 0 g of protein, 0 g of fat, 0 mg of cholesterol, 28 g of carbohydrates, 27 g of sugars, and 5 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.
Chilean Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Preparation: 10 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 250 ml (1 cup) of lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons of sugar
- 2 pica limes (limón de pica)
- 1 liter (4 cups) of cold water
- Ice to taste
- Mint leaves
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the lemon juice and sugar and stir until dissolved, then add the cold water and mix.
- If you like, wash the two pica limes, cut them into thin slices, and put them in glasses with ice. Pour the lemonade and top with a couple of fresh mint leaves.
Additional Tips
Dissolve first
Always dissolve the sugar in the juice before adding the water; in cold liquid it sinks to the bottom.
Pica limes
Pica limes, from the Atacama Desert, add aroma and a different tartness; Key limes are a close substitute.
Infuse the herbs
Leave the mint in the pitcher a few minutes so it releases its aroma.
Adjust to taste
Increase or reduce the sugar depending on how sweet or tart you like it.
| Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Honey | 3 tbsp | Floral notes |
| Mint | Spearmint (hierbabuena) | To taste | Sweeter herbal note |
| Pica limes | Key limes | 2 | Similar aroma |
| Still water | Sparkling water | 1 liter | Fizzy |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which lemons go in Chilean lemonade?
Yellow lemons for the juice and pica limes for serving. This recipe uses 250 ml of lemon juice and 2 pica limes cut into thin slices and placed in the glasses with ice.
2. How do I adjust the sweetness?
The recipe uses 4 tablespoons of sugar for 250 ml of lemon juice and 1 liter of cold water, but you can use more or less. Dissolve the sugar in the juice before adding the water.
3. Are lemonade and agua de limón the same?
Yes, in this recipe they are two names for the same drink, made with lemon juice, sugar, and cold water, served with ice and, if you like, mint leaves.
4. What can I add to homemade lemonade?
Besides the mint, Chilean variations include spearmint (hierbabuena) or ginger. Add them when serving or let them steep a few minutes in the pitcher.
Benefits of Lemon Water
Homemade lemonade is a natural source of vitamin C, which supports the immune system, and helps you stay hydrated on hot days.
Did You Know?
In Chile, homemade lemonade is a classic at barbecues and family celebrations, with variations that include spearmint or ginger.
How to adapt this recipe to a vegan or vegetarian version?
How to adapt this recipe to a gluten-free version?
How to adapt this recipe to a keto (ketogenic) version?
Recommended
- Fresh Strawberry Juice Recipe
- Chilean Pisco Mojito Recipe
- Homemade Ginger Beer Recipe
- Homemade Oat Water Recipe
