Brazilian Lemonade Recipe (Limeade)

This Brazilian Lemonade Recipe (or Brazilian Limeade because it is actually made out of limes) is a super refreshing drink that’s perfect for enjoying all year round– especially in the summertime, just like caipirinha.  It is one of those easy Brazilian recipes that are perfect for barbecues, cookouts, and other celebrations, and you can pair it perfectly with this Brazilian chicken churrasco! WATCH OUR QUICK VIDEO!

 

This is one of my family’s favorite beverages! Why?

Check it out!

Reasons to Make Brazilian Limeade Recipe

• It’s quick and easy to make with less than 5 ingredients!
• Perfect on a hot summer day because it’s super refreshing! There is no summer in Rio de Janeiro without this lemonade!
• It’s mildly sweet and tart!
• No need to prepare a simple syrup to make our Brazilian limeade. Just quickly blend lime wedges (with peel and pulp), ice water, ice, and sugar in a blender, strain, discard the pulp, stir in some sweetened condensed milk (optional), and serve lemonade with lots of ice.

As you can see, it’s easy peasy!

Why is it called Brazilian Lemonade instead of Brazilian Limeade?

The answer is quite simple!  In English, there is a distinction between limes and lemons. In Portuguese, limes are thought of as a type of lemon – more precisely Tahitian lemon (limão taiti).

Lime is called “lemon” (limão) in my home country Brazil. For Brazilians, limes are considered one of several types of lemon, and are the most commonly used type in drink and food recipes. 

Moreover, the term used to name our Brazilian lemonade is actually Limonada Suíça (or Swiss Lemonade). But the thing is, there is nothing Swiss about our lemonade– except for Nestlé sweetened condensed milk. The recipe is very Brazilian, although Nestlé originated as a Swiss company! So the term ‘Swiss’ in the Brazilian lemonade may come from the frequent use of Nestlé condensed milk in most of our lemonade recipes.

That’s not all! There are some variations to the recipe. When preparing our Brazilian lemonade with condensed milk, we call it Limonada Suíça Cremosa (or Creamy Swiss Lemonade). To make it dairy-free, some blend the Brazilian lemonade with coconut milk instead.

Although it is not part of the traditional Brazilian recipe, you can blend in some fresh mint leaves to make this great drink even more refreshing – just like our pineapple mint juice. Or you can also prepare this Brazilian lemonade with alcohol (cachaça, vodka, or white rum vodka are the most common spirits).

Most people have tried this popular drink at Brazilian steakhouses such as Tucanos and Fogo de Chão. But you don’t have to go to one to try this delish drink!

Ingredients and Substitutions for Brazilian Lemonade Recipe

You’ll just need 4 to 5 simple ingredients to prepare it, as follows:

• Fresh limes – Make sure to choose juicy limes with thin, smooth skins; otherwise, the lemonade will have a bitter flavor! In Brazil, we use whole limes (both the pulp and peel) to make the drink. By blending the peel, the beverage will have a more tart flavor, and will be more fragrant as well, because the blended fresh limes will release their oils.

 

• Ice cubes
• Ice or cold water – You want your Brazilian lemonade to be super cold. After all, we’re making an iced drink.
• Sugar – it will balance the tart flavor of the limes. If you are on a keto diet, use a keto sugar substitute such as Swerve.
• Condensed milk – it is optional but it’ll add creaminess and extra sweetness to the drink. To make it dairy-free, replace it with coconut milk.

Variations

• Brazilian lemonade with condensed milk – this is the creamy version of the original recipe.
• Brazilian lemonade with alcohol – this adds spirits such as cachaça, vodka, or white rum.
• Also, Brazilian lemonade with coconut milk – replaces the condensed milk, making the drink dairy-free.
• Brazilian lemonade with mint – It makes the drink more refreshing!

American Lemonade vs. Brazilian Limeade

Both are refreshing drinks and have water, ice, and sugar as ingredients!

However, the American drink uses lemons while the Brazilian one uses limes (which are considered as lemons in Brazil). In addition, the preparation is different! The American lemonade calls for a simple syrup that is mixed cold with the freshly squeezed juice of lemons.  It is sweeter and leftovers can be stored for longer compared to its Brazilian cousin! On the other hand, The Brazilian lemonade or limeade blends all the ingredients in a blender (including the pulp and peel of the limes), strains the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, and tosses away the pulp and peel. Condensed milk can be added to make a creamy drink.

How to make Brazilian lemonade

1. To start, wash limes, scrubbing well, to remove dirt, outer wax, and pesticides.
2. Then, cut limes into 1/8ths or thin wedges. Place them in a blender or food processor with ice water, sugar, and ice cubes.

 

3. Blend quickly (pulse about 5 to 7 times). If you blend for longer, this will make your lemonade bitter!

4. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer and press the lime pulp gently to release its extra juice. Discard the lime skins and pulps!

5. Serve Brazilian lemonade in a pitcher with lots of ice and lime wedges. If you want to, stir in condensed milk to make a sweeter and creamy lemonade.  It’s up to you! To make it dairy-free, replace it with coconut milk. 

6. For a variation of the recipe, you may add fresh mint leaves and blend them with the other ingredients. For an alcoholic version, stir in some cachaça, vodka, or white rum.

7. Brazilian limeade is meant to be consumed immediately because it has the tendency to get bitter over time. But if you have leftovers, you may store it covered in the fridge for up to one day.  Make sure to add extra sugar and stir well before drinking leftovers. Some freeze this classic Brazilian drink in popsicle molds but I find it to be bitter!

Storage

If you cannot consume the Brazilian lemonade right away, store leftovers covered in the fridge until the next day or for up to one day. Before drinking it, stir in some extra sugar to balance the tartness of the limes!

You may freeze it in popsicle molds but be aware it will have a bitter flavor.

Other easy drink recipes to try:

• Frozen pineapple margarita
• Piña colada smoothie
• Peach michelada
• Passion fruit cocktail
• Pineapple cocktail
• Coconut cocktail (batida de coco)
• Avocado smoothie
• Blue baby shower punch recipe with sprite
• Cucumber water

 

PIN & ENJOY!

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Post first published on February 9, 2015.