All-natural Lemonade Recipe

Time20m

Serves6

Make All-natural Lemonade Recipe in just 20m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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1
Juice the lemons
Roll the lemons on the counter with firm pressure 8–10 times to soften. Cut lemons in half and juice until you have about 1 1/4 cups (roughly 6–8 medium lemons). Strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring cup to remove seeds and excessive pulp. Reserve any pulp you like (optional).
2
Make the simple syrup (dissolve sugar)
Combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup of the 6 cups water in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves and the liquid is clear, about 3–5 minutes. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let cool slightly (5 minutes). This yields a clear simple syrup that blends evenly into the cold lemonade. If using honey, skip this step and dissolve honey in a bit of warm water, or use honey to taste directly in finished lemonade.
3
Mix lemonade
In a 2-quart pitcher, combine the strained lemon juice, the prepared simple syrup, and the remaining 5 cups of cold water (adjust water to taste for sweetness/tartness). Taste and adjust: if too sweet, add up to 1/2 cup more water; if too tart, add up to 2 tablespoons extra sugar or 1–2 tablespoons honey dissolved in a little warm water. Stir thoroughly to combine.
4
Chill and serve
Add 2 cups of ice to the pitcher or fill glasses with ice and pour lemonade over. Stir once to chill. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 3 days. If refrigerating, leave out ice and add fresh ice when serving.

5
Add mint (optional)
Lightly clap 4–6 fresh mint sprigs between your palms to release aroma and add to the pitcher or individual glasses. For a stronger infusion, bruise leaves gently with a spoon or muddle them at the bottom of the pitcher before adding liquid.
6
Garnish with lemon and zest (optional)
Thinly slice one lemon and add slices to the pitcher or use as garnish on each glass. If using zest, grate 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and whisk into the lemonade for extra brightness, or float a pinch on top of each glass.
7
Adjust sweetness with honey/simple syrup (optional)
If using honey or additional simple syrup, stir 1–2 tablespoons into a glass or the pitcher and taste. Honey will add floral notes; simple syrup keeps flavor neutral. Adjust to taste and stir until fully incorporated.