Limonana – Israeli Mint Lemonade is a refreshing and popular beverage from the Middle East, particularly in Israel. The name “Limonana” is a combination of two words: “limon” (lemon in Hebrew) and “nana” (mint in Arabic). As the name suggests, it is a lemon-mint drink, perfect for hot summer days.
Many cafes in Israel offer Limonana as part of their beverage menu, and it’s also possible to find street vendors and markets selling this refreshing drink.
Looking for more Israeli recipes? Try my Authentic Israeli Falafel, Cheese Bourekas, and Ptitim (Israeli Couscous).
Ingredients Overview
*The full recipe is in the recipe card below!
Lemons: Fresh lemons are the star ingredient in Limonana. It’s best to use fresh lemons and squeeze them to extract the juice.
Sugar or sweetener: Granulated sugar is the most commonly used sweetener, but you can also use other sweeteners like honey, agave syrup, maple syrup, or stevia, depending on your preference.
Fresh mint leaves: Mint leaves are widely available in grocery stores and farmer’s markets or can be grown in herb gardens for personal use.
Pro-Tips
Use fresh lemons: Start with fresh lemons to get the best flavor for your mint lemonade. Squeeze the juice from the lemons and strain it to remove any seeds or pulp.
Sweeten for taste: Adjust the sweetness of your mint lemonade to your liking. You can use sugar, honey, agave syrup, or any other sweetener of your choice. Start with a smaller amount and add more as needed.
Experiment with flavors: Mint lemonade is delicious on its own, but you can also add other flavors to enhance it. Try adding a splash of raspberry or strawberry syrup, a few basil leaves, or even a hint of ginger for a unique twist.
Garnish for presentation: To make your mint lemonade look appealing, consider garnishing it with a slice of lemon, a sprig of mint, or a colorful straw.
Serve immediately: Mint lemonade is best enjoyed fresh, so serve it immediately after blending. If you need to store it for later, transfer it to a covered container and freeze it, but be aware that the texture may change slightly upon thawing.
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Limonana- Frozen Mint Lemonade
Description
Equipment
- Chef knife optional
Ingredients
- 4 large lemons
- 3-4 handful of washed mint leaves
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar or more to taste
- 4 cups cold water
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Wash one lemon to remove any waxy coating. Trim the hard stem end; cut into quarters and remove the seeds.
- Juice the other lemons.
- In a blender, combine the lemon juice, cut lemon, fresh mint leaves, sugar, and 1 cup of water.
- Blend or process until the mint leaves are finely chopped, and the sugar is dissolved.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any solids and transfer the liquid to a pitcher.
- Add the remaining 3 cups of cold water to the pitcher and stir well to combine.
- Taste the Limonana and adjust the sweetness and tartness with more sugar or lemon juice, if desired.
- Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the Limonana over the ice.
- Garnish with additional fresh mint leaves and lemon slices, if desired.
- Serve the Limonana immediately and enjoy!
Love it
Thank you!
I remember this from Israel
I blended it with ice, came out like a slushy! YUM
the best
Next time I’ll use a little bit less sugar. It was too sweet for me
I miss Israel:-)
me too:-)
Love it! so refreshing
Thank you!
Prefect for summer