Refreshing Strawberry Lemonade with Fresh Mint
A quick and easy homemade strawberry lemonade with fresh mint, perfect for cooling off on hot summer days. This bright, balanced drink combines tart lemon, sweet strawberries, and refreshing mint for a crowd-pleasing beverage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh strawberries (about 300 grams), hulled and roughly chopped
- 4 large lemons, freshly squeezed (about 1 cup or 240 ml lemon juice)
- 10 to 12 fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100 grams), adjust to taste
- 4 cups cold water (960 ml), still or sparkling
- Ice cubes as needed for serving
- Optional: honey or agave syrup instead of sugar
- Optional: club soda or sparkling water to replace some or all water
- Optional: mint simple syrup for stronger mint flavor
Instructions
- Rinse 2 cups (300 grams) of fresh strawberries, hull, and roughly chop them. Place them in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Optionally strain through a fine mesh to remove seeds.
- Roll 4 large lemons on the counter to loosen juice. Cut in half and juice until you have about 1 cup (240 ml) of fresh lemon juice. Remove any seeds.
- In a large pitcher, place 10 to 12 fresh mint leaves. Using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon, gently press the leaves just enough to release their aroma without bruising too much.
- Pour the strawberry puree and lemon juice into the pitcher with the muddled mint. Add ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar and stir well until sugar dissolves completely.
- Slowly pour in 4 cups (960 ml) cold water, gently stirring to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed by adding more sugar or a splash of honey.
- Add plenty of ice cubes to the pitcher or serve over ice in individual glasses. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a slice of lemon or strawberry. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Notes
Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor; bottled lemon juice is less vibrant. Gently muddle mint to avoid bitterness. For a bubbly version, substitute half or all water with sparkling water just before serving. Adjust sweetness to taste. Prepare no more than a few hours ahead for freshest flavor. Strain strawberry puree for smoother texture if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 oz (240 ml)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: strawberry lemonade, fresh mint, summer drink, homemade lemonade, refreshing beverage, easy recipe, natural sweetener, vegan lemonade, gluten-free drink