Summer lemonade with ginger and mint
12 servings
30 minutes
Summer lemonade with ginger and mint is a refreshing drink with bright notes of citrus, spicy ginger, and fresh herbs. This recipe has roots in Italian cuisine, where lemonade is an integral part of summer relaxation. Mint adds a cool aroma to the drink, while ginger provides a light spiciness and zest. The balanced combination of lemon tartness, cane sugar sweetness, and herbal undertones makes lemonade an ideal choice for hot days. It quenches thirst well, invigorates, and offers a pleasant feeling of freshness. This lemonade can be served as a standalone drink or used as a base for cocktails. It reveals its best flavor after chilling in the refrigerator when all ingredients harmoniously blend together to create a rich taste with light fruity and herbal accents.
1
It's better to take lemons, mint, and even fresh ginger from the fridge for preparation — this helps achieve a softer taste when mixing the ingredients. The drink's concentration does not allow for serving with ice or diluting with water.
- Lemon: 3 pieces
- Fresh mint: 1 bunch
- Fresh ginger: 1 piece
2
We rinse the mint under cool water, select healthy, firm stems, and remove wilted and dried leaves. We shorten the stems to the first remaining leaves.
3
We divide the prepared water into several containers. In two, we pour about 2 cups of water. In the remaining volume (about 1.5 liters of water), we add all the mint. We also add all the sugar there.
- Fresh mint: 1 bunch
- Cane sugar: 250 g
- Still mineral water: 3 l
4
Wash the lemons under cool water, cut them in half, and squeeze out the juice. I recommend making the juice directly in a container with water — this will also add aroma and oils from the peel while avoiding bitterness during infusion. Whatever method you choose, lemon juice should be mixed with water in one of the prepared containers.
- Lemon: 3 pieces
- Still mineral water: 3 l
5
We peel a piece of fresh ginger. Slice it thinly. If the ginger is too fibrous, it's better to replace it with another piece or add it gradually — the flavor will be very intense. Add the sliced ginger to the remaining water.
- Fresh ginger: 1 piece
6
By this time, the water in the container with mint and sugar should have a reddish hue. If undissolved sugar has settled at the bottom—do not shake it, but gently turn the closed container a few times. Now you can add water with lemon juice, followed by water with chopped ginger. I recommend dosing the latter to taste—you can always add a bit more if the flavor seems too strong.
- Still mineral water: 3 l
- Lemon: 3 pieces
- Fresh ginger: 1 piece
7
Let it cool and infuse in the refrigerator for about an hour. It is advisable to turn the container with lemonade every 15-20 minutes.