Description
This refreshing Basil Lemonade Drink is a perfect summer refresher combining the bright, zesty flavor of fresh lemon juice with the aromatic herbal notes of basil. Sweetened with a homemade basil-infused simple syrup, it’s a delightful and cooling beverage to enjoy on warm days, made with natural ingredients and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Basil Simple Syrup
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water (for simple syrup)
Lemonade
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 6–8 lemons)
- 4–5 cups cold water (for diluting)
- Ice cubes
Garnish (Optional)
- Lemon slices
- Basil sprigs
Instructions
- Make Basil Simple Syrup: Combine the granulated sugar and 1 cup of water in a medium saucepan.
- Dissolve Sugar: Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Add Basil Leaves: Add the packed fresh basil leaves to the saucepan and gently push them down into the syrup.
- Simmer Basil: Reduce the heat to low and let the syrup simmer gently for 10-15 minutes to infuse the basil flavor, making sure it does not boil.
- Steep Basil: Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the basil leaves to steep in the syrup for at least 30 minutes, or longer for a stronger herbaceous flavor.
- Strain Syrup: Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean jar or container, discarding the basil leaves.
- Cool and Store Syrup: Let the syrup cool completely before using. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Prepare Lemons: Select ripe lemons that are heavy for their size with smooth, thin skins. Roll each lemon firmly on the countertop to release more juice.
- Juice Lemons: Juice the lemons using a citrus juicer, removing any seeds. Optionally, strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve to remove pulp.
- Measure Lemon Juice: Measure 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large pitcher, mix the cooled basil simple syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 4 cups of cold water.
- Adjust Flavor: Stir well and taste. Adjust the sweetness or tartness by adding more simple syrup if too tart, or more lemon juice or water if too sweet.
- Dilute to Preference: If the lemonade is too strong, add the remaining 1 cup of cold water or more until desired strength is reached.
- Chill: Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve: Serve the basil lemonade over ice cubes.
- Garnish (Optional): Add lemon slices and fresh basil sprigs for an appealing garnish.
Notes
- For a stronger basil flavor, increase the steeping time of the basil leaves in the syrup.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best taste; bottled juice will not have the same brightness.
- Adjust the sweetness and tartness to your preference by altering the ratios of syrup, lemon juice, and water.
- This basil lemonade can be stored refrigerated for up to 2 days after mixing; the simple syrup lasts up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
- Experiment with sparkling water instead of cold water for a fizzy variation.
- Ensure the lemons are room temperature before juicing for maximum juice yield.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
