8 Best Lemonades for the Summer

In the last month, Beyoncé might have made lemonades really popular, but for years it has been the staple drink of the summer. Whether you’re spiking it with alcohol or mixing it with other fruits, it’s been one of the most popular drinks people have ever drunk. In movies and television shows, we’ve seen kids setting up lemonade stands to raise a little extra cash for themselves. And growing up (before we were legal to drink), fresh lemonade was the go-to drink at restaurants and cafes because it’s got the refreshing quality that we’re looking for and it’s also really tasty.

But if you’re not a fan of the regular lemonade, here are some modifications you can make. If you’ve always been curious about lemonade, but the citrus and tanginess is too much for you, then you can just mix it up with other fruits to balance out the acidity and the sweetness. They’re not all very easy recipes, but they’re sure to be refreshing and totally worth the effort you’ll put into making the drink happen.

The recipes don’t really change much, because lemonade works the best when blended with the extra flavour that you’re adding. So make one or all these different kinds of lemonades at your next Sunday brunch!

Classic Lemonade

Blend the lemon juice with sugar till the sugar is completely dissolved. Add some salt and water and stir to mix it all together. Fill a pitcher with ice and then pour the mixture over it and keep it chilled till you’re ready to serve.

Raspberry Lemonade

Combine raspberries, lime juice, sugar and salt and blend till smooth. Strain it till you only get the juice. Pour it into a pitcher and add cold water, mix and then add ice. Serve instantly or stick it in the fridge for a few hours and then serve when ready.

Watermelon Mint Lemonade

Mixing watermelon and mint and lime juice is one of the most refreshing things on the planet and this drink will help you feel better for sure. Blend the watermelon with the lime juice, sugar and salt, strain till only juice is left. Muddle the mint leaves in the bottom of a pitcher and then fill it with the watermelon mixture. Add some ice and serve right away, garnishing with mint sprigs.

Fizzy Ginger Lemonade

Cut the ginger into small pieces and blend it with lemon juice, sugar and salt. Strain the liquid and add a little water to mix before adding club soda and lots of ice. Keep it in the fridge for an hour and then pour over ice in glasses when ready.

Cucumber Basil Lemonade

Slice the cucumbers into thin strips or into chunks, toss it into the blender with lime juice, basil, sugar and salt. Strain and pour the liquid into a pitcher, add cold water and ice. When serving, add a few slivers of cucumber and basil leaves.

Orange Lemonade

Squeeze a few oranges and lemons to get the juice, blend the juice with water and sugar. Fill a pitcher with the orange peels and top it off with the mixture. Stick it in the fridge for an hour, then add some more water and serve over ice. Either garnish with orange or lemon slices.

Peach Lemonade

Put peach slices, sugar and water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil and reduce heat and let it simmer till the peaches are tender. Then strain and get rid of the peach skins before combining the peach mixture, lemon juice and water into a pitcher. Add a few lemon slices, mix and refrigerate till ready to serve.

Pink Lemonade

You know what makes the lemonade pink? Cranberry juice. Blend the lime juice, cranberry juice and sugar, till the ice is dissolved and then serve over ice, or fill a pitcher and keep it in the fridge till you’re ready to serve.

Your summer drinks have been taken care of and now all you need to do is mix all this together and serve it over ice in mason jars or tiny little glasses and garnish however you choose.