Mint Lemonade

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

I love using fresh mint in summer drinks, and this mint lemonade is one of the easiest ways to use a handful of it.

It is a refreshing summer drink with fresh mint, lemon juice and just enough sugar to balance the tartness. The hands-on prep is quick, but the chilling matters more than you might think. The lemonade is drinkable right away, but after 2 hours in the fridge the mint flavor comes through much better.

This homemade mint lemonade is easy to adjust, so taste it before chilling. Some lemons are juicier or more tart than others, and you might like yours a little sweeter or stronger.

How to make mint lemonade

Add water and sugar to a large pitcher or jar and stir until the sugar has dissolved.

Squeeze the juice from 2 lemons and pour it into the pitcher. Taste the lemonade at this stage and add more sugar or lemon juice if needed.

Slice the remaining lemon and add the slices to the pitcher together with fresh mint sprigs. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

Give it a quick stir before pouring into glasses. If you are serving it over a lot of ice, make the lemonade slightly stronger so the ice does not dilute it too much.

This recipe makes about 4 cups of lemonade, which is a small pitcher. For a larger pitcher, double the ingredients. For a gallon-size pitcher, multiply everything by 4.

Tips for the best flavor

Use fresh lemon juice if possible. Bottled lemon juice can taste flat or slightly bitter, and this recipe has only a few ingredients so the lemon flavor really stands out.

Spearmint is what I usually use here. Peppermint also works, but it has a stronger flavor and can take over the lemonade more easily. If you have more fresh mint to use, my mint and lemon iced tea is another easy drink to try.

Do not skip the chilling time. Two hours is the minimum for the mint flavor to come through.

Do not crush the mint too much. Lightly bruising the leaves is fine, but overworking mint can make the drink taste bitter.

Variations

Sparkling mint lemonade

Replace part of the water with chilled sparkling water. For the best bubbles, add sparkling water right before serving, not before chilling.

Honey or maple syrup

You can use honey or maple syrup instead of sugar. Honey adds a floral note, while maple syrup gives the lemonade a deeper sweetness.

Cucumber mint lemonade

Add a few thin cucumber slices to the pitcher with the mint and lemon slices. This adds a fresh cucumber note and works well for hot days.

Strawberry or watermelon mint lemonade

Add sliced strawberries or small pieces of watermelon to the pitcher before chilling. Do not muddle them, just let them sit in the lemonade.

For a different watermelon drink, try my watermelon agua fresca.

Make ahead and storage

Mint lemonade is best served well chilled. You can make it a few hours ahead and keep it covered in the fridge until ready to serve.

For the freshest flavor and best-looking mint, serve it the same day. It will keep in the fridge for 2 to 3 days, but the mint may darken and the flavor can get stronger over time. Anywhere from 2 to 4 hours of chilling works well.

If you have leftovers with the lemon slices and mint still in the jar, you can refill it with water and make a lightly flavored infused water. This is something I like to do instead of throwing the lemon and mint away right after serving. My pineapple infused water is another easy one to try if you like this kind of simple drink.

Print Pin Rate

4.73 from 11 votes

Mint Lemonade

This homemade mint lemonade is made with fresh lemon juice, fresh mint, water and a little sugar. It comes together in a few minutes, then chills until the mint flavor develops.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Chill Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Author: Julia

Ingredients

1x2x3x

USMetric

• ▢ 4 cups water
• ▢ 3 tablespoons sugar or to taste
• ▢ 3 lemons 2 juiced and 1 sliced
• ▢ 6 fresh mint sprigs preferably spearmint

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

• Add water and sugar to a pitcher or jar and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
• Squeeze the juice from 2 lemons and add it to the pitcher.
• Taste and add more sugar or lemon juice if needed.
• Slice the remaining lemon and add the slices and mint sprigs to the pitcher.
• Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

1. Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. Bottled lemon juice can taste flat or slightly bitter here.
2. Taste the lemonade before chilling and adjust the sugar or lemon juice to your liking. Lemons vary in size and tartness.
3. If serving over a lot of ice, make the lemonade slightly stronger as the ice will dilute it.
4. For a sparkling version, replace part of the water with chilled sparkling water just before serving.
5. Maple syrup or honey can be used instead of sugar. Honey adds a floral note, while maple syrup adds a deeper sweetness.
6. Most of the time is hands-off chilling. Active prep time is about 5 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 59 kcal (3%), Carbohydrates: 17 g (6%), Protein: 1 g (2%), Fat: 0.3 g, Saturated Fat: 0.04 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01 g, Sodium: 14 mg (1%), Potassium: 120 mg (3%), Fiber: 2 g (8%), Sugar: 11 g (12%), Vitamin A: 82 IU (2%), Vitamin C: 43 mg (52%), Calcium: 32 mg (3%), Iron: 1 mg (6%)

Nutrition information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and may vary based on ingredient brands, substitutions, and portion sizes.

Course: Drink

Cuisine: American

Made this recipe or have a question?Leave a comment below and rate the recipe if you made it.

More summer drinks to try

Save or share for later.