Home › Recipes › Drinks & Smoothies

Brazilian Lemonade

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on Apr 27, 2023, Updated Sep 06, 2024

Add as a preferred source on Google - 2

This Brazilian Lemonade lives up to the hype! And, yes, it’s made with limes , not lemons BUT I’m not lying to you. The reason why Brazilian Lemonade is called a lemonade and not a limeade is due to the translation. In Portuguese, limão is the term for 🍋‍🟩 lime, so everyone calls it limonada . In Bulgaria, we also call any type of citrus drink limonada , which is generally a broad term for any lime or lemon juice. While the name may confuse, what is totally clear is how utterly 😋 delicious this is. It’s creamy, citrusy, and so refreshing . Traditionally, Brazilian lemonade uses whole limes — pith, peel, and all — but I decided to remove the lime peels prior to blending, as the limes in Canada have really thick skin and can be extremely bitter.

  • Why You’ll Love Brazilian Lemonade
  • How to Prepare
  • Nonna’s Tip 🍋‍🟩
  • Variations and Substitutions for Brazilian Lemonade
  • Similar Recipes
  • Best Served With
  • Common Questions
  • Brazilian Lemonade Recipe
A creamy white drink garnished with lime and mint sits on a wooden tray with ice cubes, lime wedges, and mint leaves. In the background, there’s a glass bottle and another drink on a white surface. - 3

Why You’ll Love Brazilian Lemonade

It takes just 3 simple ingredients to make this sensational Brazilian Lemonade, which will have you doing the 💃 samba after one sip. This drink is zesty and sweet, making it the perfect thirst-quencher for hot days. The balance of tart limes with the rich sweetened condensed milk creates a frothy treat that’s incredibly refreshing and flavorful. Plus, it’s versatile: you can enjoy it as is, add a splash of your favorite liquor to make it into a cocktail, or add some bubbly water for some 🫧 fizz.

How to Prepare

🍋‍🟩 Use a zester to zest 2 limes and reserve.

🔪 Now, using a paring knife , remove the peels and pith (the white coating between the lime flesh and peel) from 4 limes.

💧 Add the peeled limes to a blender with cold water and then blend for 20 to 30 seconds.

A top-down view of a bowl of crushed ice with a scoop, three whole limes, an open can of sweetened condensed milk, and a glass pitcher of water on a white surface. - 4

👩‍🍳 Place a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the blended liquid through the strainer.

🧊 Pour the strained liquid back into the blender with ice, the reserved lime zest, and the sweetened condensed milk. Blend again until frothy.

A hand holds a metal strainer over a bowl while pouring a foamy liquid from a blender through the strainer, separating pulp from juice. - 5

😋 Enjoy with extra ice and if you’re in the mood, you can absolutely add a splash of your favorite alcohol too.

Nonna’s Tip 🍋‍🟩

You don’t have to remove the lime peels but I prefer to, as it can be really bitter. If you want to add the limes in whole, do NOT blend for more than 20 seconds before straining .

Variations and Substitutions for Brazilian Lemonade

  1. If you are not a fan of (or cannot tolerate) sweetened condensed milk, I would definitely try this drink with a can of 🥥 coconut milk and some sweetener i nstead. Let me know how it turns out!
  2. Feel free to add a splash of any 🥃 alcohol of choice to turn this Brazilian Lemonade into a cocktail.
  3. You can absolutely use 🍋 lemons instead of limes. You may have to adjust the sweetness.
  4. Add a handful of fresh 🌿 mint leaves or a splash of sparkling water for some fizz.

Similar Recipes

A creamy, frothy lemon drink served in a clear glass, garnished with two fresh lemon slices on top, with a white cloth in the background. - 6 A creamy, frothy lemon drink served in a clear glass, garnished with two fresh lemon slices on top, with a white cloth in the background. - 7

Creamy Lemonade

5 mins

A glass is being filled with dark red cherry juice, placed on a wooden board with several fresh cherries around it. The background shows kitchen items on a counter. - 8 A glass is being filled with dark red cherry juice, placed on a wooden board with several fresh cherries around it. The background shows kitchen items on a counter. - 9

Cherry Juice Recipe

1 hr 5 mins

A group of glasses with watermelon juice and lime slices. - 10 A group of glasses with watermelon juice and lime slices. - 11

Strawberry Watermelon Juice

10 mins

A glass of bright red watermelon smoothie topped with small watermelon cubes and a sprig of fresh mint, placed on a wooden table in natural sunlight. - 12 A glass of bright red watermelon smoothie topped with small watermelon cubes and a sprig of fresh mint, placed on a wooden table in natural sunlight. - 13

Watermelon Slushie

2 hrs 5 mins

A hand holds a glass of iced strawberry drink topped with fresh strawberry slices and a mint sprig, with a clear straw, on a wooden table. - 14 A hand holds a glass of iced strawberry drink topped with fresh strawberry slices and a mint sprig, with a clear straw, on a wooden table. - 15

Strawberry Refresher

5 mins

A glass of Strawberry Mojito with ice, garnished with fresh mint leaves. Two whole strawberries and mint leaves are placed beside the glass on a light surface. - 16 A glass of Strawberry Mojito with ice, garnished with fresh mint leaves. Two whole strawberries and mint leaves are placed beside the glass on a light surface. - 17

Strawberry Mojito

5 mins

Best Served With

  • A variety of ☀️ summer dips such as my Healthy Green Goddess Dip , Whipped Feta Dip with Grapes , or Grilled Eggplant Dip .
  • Add a splash of 🍹 non-alcoholic or alcoholic rum, vodka, or tequila to this Brazilian Lemonade.

Common Questions

Yes, you can substitute limes with lemons or a mix of both for a slightly different flavor profile. Keep in mind that other citrus fruits may alter the taste and sweetness level.

If you find the drink too sweet, reduce the amount of sweetened condensed milk or add more cold water.

The leftover lime pulp can be used in smoothies or as a marinade for grilled chicken or pineapple. Alternatively, you can compost it.

If you are not a fan of (or cannot tolerate) sweetened condensed milk, you can certainly try making this drink with a can of coconut milk (or cream) and some sweetener.

A New Recipe Card!!

  1. Check off each step in instructions!
  2. Add ingredients to your shopping list!

Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Blender
  • ▢ Zester
  • ▢ Paring Knife
  • ▢ Cutting Board
  • ▢ Liquid Measuring Cup
  • ▢ Mixing Bowls
  • ▢ Fine Mesh Sieve

Ingredients

  • ▢ 4 limes
  • ▢ 4 cups cold filtered water
  • ▢ ice
  • ▢ 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk , 300 ml

Instructions

  • ▢ Zest 2 of the limes and reserve. Now, take all 4 limes and remove the peels and pith (the white coating between the lime flesh and peel).
  • ▢ Add the peeled limes to a blender with the cold water. Blend for 20 to 30 seconds. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the blended liquid through the strainer. You should be left with a little bit of pulp which you can use for other recipes or compost.
  • ▢ Pour the strained liquid back into the blender with ice, the reserved lime zest and the sweetened condensed milk. Blend until frothy.
  • ▢ Enjoy with extra ice and if you’re in the mood, you can absolutely add a splash of your favorite alcohol too.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Brazilian Lemonade

Equipment

  • Blender
  • Zester
  • Paring Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Liquid Measuring Cup
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Fine Mesh Sieve

Ingredients

  • 4 limes
  • 4 cups cold filtered water
  • ice
  • 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk 300 ml

Instructions

  • Zest 2 of the limes and reserve. Now, take all 4 limes and remove the peels and pith (the white coating between the lime flesh and peel).
  • Add the peeled limes to a blender with the cold water. Blend for 20 to 30 seconds. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the blended liquid through the strainer. You should be left with a little bit of pulp which you can use for other recipes or compost.
  • Pour the strained liquid back into the blender with ice, the reserved lime zest and the sweetened condensed milk. Blend until frothy.
  • Enjoy with extra ice and if you’re in the mood, you can absolutely add a splash of your favorite alcohol too.

Video

Nutrition

Brazilian Lemonade https://themodernnonna.com/brazilian-lemonade/ April 27, 2023