Iced Mint Lemonade
The bitterness in lemonade comes from blending the peel and seeds. The fix: juice the lemons first and add only the juice to the blender with the mint and ice — you get the freshness without the bitterness.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- —
- Total
- 10 min
- Calories
- 85
Most people throw whole lemons into the blender to save time, and the result turns bitter within half an hour. The peel holds bitter oils and the seeds are worse — and that one extra step changes everything.
Method
-
1
Juice
Juice the lemons and strain out the seeds. Don't put whole lemons in the blender — that is the entire source of the bitterness.
⏱ 4 min -
2
Sweeten
Dissolve the sugar in half a cup of warm water and stir until fully dissolved. Granulated sugar in a cold drink just settles at the bottom.
⏱ 5 min -
3
Blend
In the blender: lemon juice, sugar syrup, the rest of the water, mint and ice. Blend for 30 seconds only — over-blending warms the mint and blackens it.
⏱ 1 min -
4
Strain and serve
Strain if you want it smooth, or serve as it is. Garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves.
⏱ 2 min -
5
الخلط والتقديم
اخلطي المصفّى مع شراب السكر ورشّة الملح، ودوقي وعدّلي. قدّميه على تلج مع شرائح ليمون ونعناع طازة.
⏱ 2 min
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Tips that actually matter
- A warm lemon yields more juice — roll it on the counter under pressure before juicing.
- Over-blending the mint also brings out bitterness. Thirty seconds is enough.
- If you're making it ahead, add the ice and mint only at serving.
- To cut the sugar: swap in two spoons of honey or stevia.
People also ask
Why does my lemonade turn bitter?
The peel and seeds. Oils in the peel and compounds in the seeds come out during blending, and the bitterness grows with time. Juice and strain first.
How long does it keep?
Two days in the fridge without mint or ice. The mint blackens within hours.
Can I freeze it?
Yes — in ice cube trays, then blend the cubes when you want an instant frozen lemonade.
Cook mode
Iced Mint Lemonade
-
1
Juice
Juice the lemons and strain out the seeds. Don't put whole lemons in the blender — that is the entire source of the bitterness.
-
2
Sweeten
Dissolve the sugar in half a cup of warm water and stir until fully dissolved. Granulated sugar in a cold drink just settles at the bottom.
-
3
Blend
In the blender: lemon juice, sugar syrup, the rest of the water, mint and ice. Blend for 30 seconds only — over-blending warms the mint and blackens it.
-
4
Strain and serve
Strain if you want it smooth, or serve as it is. Garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves.
-
5
الخلط والتقديم
اخلطي المصفّى مع شراب السكر ورشّة الملح، ودوقي وعدّلي. قدّميه على تلج مع شرائح ليمون ونعناع طازة.
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