My take on limonada: Mediterranean-style mint lemonade as they make it in Egypt. Intense with flavor, extra frothy, and extremely refreshing! There is a tiny trick involved that makes all the difference…
There is an ahwa on every street corner in Egypt. If you’re not familiar, ahwas are small coffeehouses. We’re talking hole-in-the-wall type establishments, open to the streets and filled with tiny round tables and chairs. The air is usually filled with smoke from the hookas (water pipes).
They say, if you want to see and hear Egypt, all you need to do is hang out at an ahwa. There are many sounds going on–sounds of busy streets; sounds of men talking politics and young men competing in tournaments of board games; and sounds of ahwa waiters shouting drink orders.
On the menu are the usual drinks: Turkish coffee; black tea; and limonada (lemonade). My favorite is mint lemonade, which is more commonly served in the summer.
The trick to a frothy mint lemonade
Today’s lemonade recipe is my take on the Mediterranean-style mint lemonade as served in Egypt’s ahwas. It’s similar to classic strawberry lemonade, but it’s more dense, frothy, and comes with an extra refreshing punch from fresh mint.
The trick to this thicker, frothy mint lemonade is in blending the majority of the lemons or limes with the skin on. This adds intensity to the flavor and the texture of the lemonade.
This Mediterranean-style mint lemonade is absolutely my favorite drink, particularly on hot summer days! For a more grown-up beverage, you can add a splash of vodka (or try out my Aperol spritz recipe, ouzo drink with lemon, or this refreshing limoncello).
Here is the step-by-step for this mint lemonade recipe
(Scroll down for the print-friendly version)
Important note: if your blender is weaker, you will want to cut the lemons into smaller pieces, and also finely chop the mint leaves before blending.
Add all the crushed ice, water, 2 cut lemons, juice of 1 lemon, fresh mint, and sugar to the pitcher of a high-quality blender.
Cover and push blend or liquefy (high-speed function), until you achieve the desired drink consistency. Taste and add more sugar or mint leaves, if you like. Blend again.
Pour the lemonade into a serving pitcher through a mesh strainer. Add fresh mint leaves to the pitcher. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
If you like, strain the lemonade again as you pour into serving glasses. Enjoy cold!
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Other Mediterranean recipes with mint:
Watermelon Salad with Mint and Feta
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Mediterranean-Style Mint Lemonade (Limonana)
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
Description
Mint lemonade, prepared Egyptian-style! Intense with flavor, frothy, and extremely refreshing! You’ll love this limonana, but there is a small trick that makes all the difference.
Ingredients
- 2 cups crushed ice
- 4 cups water
- 2 large lemons (or limes), washed, cut into small pieces, and seeds removed
- Juice of 1 large lemon
- 1 bunch fresh mint leaves, stems removed (about 25–40 mint leaves), more for later
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar, more or less to your liking (you can use cane sugar or part honey, if you like)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to the pitcher of a high-quality blender. Cover and push blend or liquefy (high-speed function), until you achieve the desired drink consistency.
- Taste and add more sugar or mint leaves, if you like. Blend again.
- Pour the lemonade into a serving pitcher through a mesh strainer. Add fresh mint leaves to the pitcher. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
- If you like, strain the lemonade again as you pour into serving glasses. Enjoy cold!
Notes
If your blender is weaker, you will want to cut the lemons into smaller pieces, and also finely chop the mint before blending.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Category: Drinks
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
This recipe is delicious I will keep making it. Thank you so much 🌺
We have several varieties of mint growing right out our back door to the kitchen. I would love to try this recipe. It sounds delicious!
My only concern is in using the entire Lemon (minuse the seeds). Doesn’t the pith add an unnecessary bitterness to the beverage?
Hi, David. In our experience, it really doesn’t.
My husband and I had to modify this (add ice cubes after blending and straining) because we only own a stick blender, but it was delicious!
What if I did a lemon and a lime? Would It add a twist?
Hi Lydia, Devin here from the Mediterranean Dish team. A combination of lemons and limes would be delicious, and add a subtle twist! Let us know what you think!
How long can you keep this mixture in the Refrigerator?
Hi, Joyce. This one is best enjoyed immediately due to the ice in the mixture.
I just got back from a trip to the Middle East, where I drank these in Jordan, Egypt and Isreal! In Isreal we had them with a little vodka added 😉. I added a little more ice to make the a little bit slushy, and a smidge less sugar.
Never knew Egypt was in the Mediterranean
Best lemonade! Very intense!
I love this drink… just returned from a trip on Qatar airlines and fell in love with this drink.
I have made it several times since my return but there’s something missing… I’m wondering if it’s the variety of mint I’m using or possibly the type sugar…
You’re lucky Qatar Airlines served it to you at all. I asked for it, having watched a promo clip about Qatar Airlines, on a recent trip to London and they said they “only in first class” 0_0
Came across this just now – will make this as written since my citrus trees are full. Thinking a tweak might be to try limes, Meyer lemons, and oranges…
Hoping that the oranges will become a mock Orange Julius.
As for the bitterness, I will zest the fruit, then just use the sections of the peeled fruit, and not using the pithy, white part of the peels- that’s where the bitterness comes from.
I made this and it was delicious, but I was confused about something. How do you get it to be frothy but the recipe says to strain it. Straining it removes all the froth.
Also, someone asked about sugar substitutes – I used Truvia and it tasted great.
One of my most favorite drinks! So refreshing and delicious! Absolutely love this recipe!!! Thank you!
You are very welcome! So glad you enjoy this one!
I made it.
Amazing taste , love the creamy texture it’s as if I was drinking sorbet.
Thank you for sharing the recipe and the tips from the reader’s feedback.
Fantastic I loved the recipe. Just made it! Yumm!
Thanks, Salam! Glad to hear it!
I did a variation of this with 2 cups ice, 2 cups water, 3/4 cup sugar, 6 frozen ice cubes size lemon juice, and 40 mint leaves. Didn’t strain it. Tastes exactly like the mint lemonade here in Lebanon. And for a fraction of the cost!
Thanks for sharing, Maria!
Please explain “6 frozen ice cubes size lemon juice”? How many lemons did you use?