Preparing lemonade and other lime drinks
It is impossible to imagine summer without refreshing cool drinks and juicy fruits. But you can only quench your thirst with certain drinks. Sweet soda, sold in stores in a large assortment, will not be beneficial due to its chemical composition. Only natural cocktails and lemonades with ice and juicy fruit pulp are refreshing in the heat and reduce the load on the heart. Thanks to vitamin C in the composition and sufficient moisture in the body, it is easier to adapt to the exhausting heat and cheer up in anticipation of the evening coolness.
Features and composition of the product
In summer cocktails, the leading component is fragrant tropical lime. It adds bright acidity and spicy bitterness to fruit smoothies and iced teas. Lime will also be useful in vegetable cocktails with spinach and dill or cucumber. Its green color excites the appetite and uplifts the mood.
Lime, like lemon, belongs to the genus of citrus fruits. He became known in the Mediterranean as early as five hundred years BC. And the fruit began to be cultivated already in the 19th century. The lime fruit is similar to a lemon in shape and sour in taste, but smaller in diameter, greenish in color and with a slight bitterness in the aftertaste.Juicy lime flesh has a greenish color and pronounced acidity, and some varieties are distinguished by red flesh (Australian lime) and a sweet aftertaste (limetta).
Due to the rich content of vitamin C, lime is indispensable for therapeutic diets. Ascorbic acid is capable of miracles: remove cholesterol and dissolved fats, strengthen the immune system, help recover from influenza viruses. In addition, lime juice stimulates the natural production of collagen, returning turgor to the skin, slowing down the aging process and helping the body absorb iron from food.
Making lemonade at home from lime and lemon is the best solution for those who care about their health and protect the stomachs of dear people. There is no doubt in such a drink and give it even to babies, provided that they are not allergic to citrus fruits. Add a sprig of fresh mint to a glass of homemade lemonade, a couple of ice cubes, and slowly sip your homemade lemonade. After such a tasting, you will never again have the desire to quench your thirst with sweet sparkling water from the store.
Recipes
The drink is prepared on the basis of purified water and fresh citrus fruits, and most fruits, fresh herbs, syrups and berries can be used as additives to it.
There is no single recipe for homemade lemonade. There are many popular options for its preparation. And plenty of refreshing lime drinks.
Homemade lemonade with mint
All you need for this recipe is water, fresh lemon, green mint and sugar. These are inexpensive and readily available ingredients.
Compound:
- 2 liters of boiling water;
- 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar;
- 1 lemon fruit;
- mint.
Grind mint with sugar. Lemon cut arbitrarily, but medium-sized pieces. Add to the mint-sugar mass and pour hot water.The drink should be given time to cool and infuse, and only then strain it and put it in the cold. Serve in glasses with mint sprig and lime wedge. For lovers of colder drinks, add molded ice.
Lemonade with green tea
A tonic, thirst-quenching recipe with its subtleties and nuances of preparation. The first secret is that the lemon should be slightly frozen in the refrigerator. Natural leafy green tea brewed with hot water.
Compound:
- 2 cups of hot water;
- 1 liter of unsalted mineral water;
- 1 frozen lemon;
- granulated sugar;
- 1 fresh lime
Hold the lemon for a while in the freezer, and then grate the zest on a fine grater. Mix fragrant lemon shavings with sugar (add to your liking). Pour in two full cups of green tea, brewed not with boiling water, but with hot water. Leave until completely cooled down. Then add a liter of mineral water (in its absence, you can use plain purified water). Again, insist for a while, then carefully strain and cool well. Add lime wedges.
Mojito non-alcoholic
The recipe for the well-known mojito cocktail in a home-made version is easy to prepare, but much more useful than a store-bought counterpart.
Compound:
- lime;
- Brown sugar;
- mint;
- mineral water.
The proportions in the recipe are not indicated, as they depend on how many people the drink is prepared for. In the hot season, it is consumed in liters with great pleasure.
The lime is cut into small pieces and mixed with mint and sugar. All ingredients are ground and filled with mineral sparkling water. You can replace it with a regular one. Before filling the glasses, you can add a couple of ice cubes.
Ginger drink with lemon
Summer drink with spicy taste and citrus aroma. Ideal for a warm evening as an alternative to compote or juice.
Compound:
- 2 lemons;
- ginger root;
- 2 liters of boiling water;
- sugar.
Grind fresh ginger in a blender along with lemon. Cool the boiling water and pour into the ginger gruel. We insist for several hours. Add sugar (according to your own taste preferences). Stir, strain thoroughly and consume cold.
Lemonade "green" with kiwi flavor
An explosion of freshness in a glass, a real vitamin charge in the exhausting summer heat. For this recipe, you will need some fresh tarragon. It is not sold everywhere, but it is worth it to look for it. For cooking you need a blender.
Compound:
- 1 large lemon;
- 2 kiwis;
- a bunch of fresh tarragon;
- 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar;
- mineral water with gas;
- fresh mint.
The lemon is coarsely chopped and sent to the blender bowl for further grinding. After that, peeled kiwis and washed and dried tarragon turn into gruel in the same place. Juice is filtered from this mass and mixed with sugar (to taste).
After the sugar has dissolved to the last crystal, the drink is removed in the refrigerator. Crushed ice, fragrant mint leaves, a couple of kiwi slices and 1 lime slice are placed in glasses before filling. Carefully filled to the top with mineral water.
Strawberry lime drink with tarragon
An unusually tasty and vitamin-rich lemonade of an unusually red color and a velvety, dense texture.
Compound:
- tarragon;
- 1 liter of purified water;
- half a large lemon;
- the same amount of lime;
- fresh mint;
- 6 large strawberries;
- sugar;
- shaped ice.
Squeeze juice from citrus fruits into a transparent decanter.Send lime and lemon pomace, strawberries grated with sugar, sprigs of mint and tarragon there. Pour hot water into about 1/5 capacity and leave to infuse for a while. Then add cold water, mix everything, add ice. This lemonade can be diluted with water more than once. Rich taste allows you to enjoy it for a long time.
Brazilian
The Brazilian version of lemonade with lime is a recipe for real gourmets. Of the unusual ingredients, you will need a little condensed milk. An immersion or stand blender is required.
Compound:
- 3 lime fruits;
- 1/3 cup sugar;
- 3 art. spoons of condensed milk;
- 500 ml of water.
Cut three limes into quarters and transfer to a blender. Add 400 ml of water, the right amount of granulated sugar and condensed milk. Blend in a blender until the citrus pieces are crushed. Leave a little to infuse. Strain through a fine sieve, squeeze out the juice. Pour into a jug and add the remaining amount of water in a thin stream.
Smoothie strawberry-mint
Compound:
- 5 strawberries;
- one and a half bananas;
- 1 bunch of mint;
- 1 apple;
- half a lime;
- 1 glass of water;
- mineral water.
Cut up a large apple and bananas, then puree the fruit in a blender, adding fresh mint leaves, lime juice and strawberries. At the very end, add water until you get a smooth drink with an unforgettable refreshing summer taste.
Mojito watermelon
An unusual variation of mojito with lime and mint. Watermelon pulp adds a new flavor and amazing shade to the cocktail.
Compound:
- mint leaves;
- 1⁄2 lime fruit;
- 1 st. a spoonful of sugar;
- watermelon pulp;
- ice.
Place slices of fresh mint and chopped lime in a tall glass, add sugar.Grind these ingredients thoroughly with a pestle. Then add watermelon and stir again. Add crushed ice and optional mineral water.
Cucumber Lime Cocktail
Compound:
- half a small lime;
- 1 medium-sized cucumber;
- half an orange;
- 3 art. spoons of honey;
- 2 sprigs of rosemary;
- 1 cup chilled water.
Cucumber cut into small pieces and send to a blender. Squeeze out all the juice from citrus fruits. Grind fruit until smooth. Add honey and water, mix well. Garnish with rosemary.
Non-alcoholic mojito with Sprite
Compound:
- 0.33 can of Sprite;
- 1 bunch of fresh mint;
- lime;
- ice.
Squeeze half a lime into a glass, cut the second into slices, pick mint into pieces. Put some ice on top and pour over a cold Sprite drink. Consume immediately after preparation.
Sbiten
Unusual summer drink with the aroma of herbs and citrus. Honey flavor and amber color - freshness in Russian. It is easy to prepare, looks elegant, warms and refreshes.
Compound:
- 250 g of herbal collection;
- mint;
- lime;
- slice of lemon;
- 350 g honey;
- cinnamon.
Bring water to a boil, add herbs. Combine hot with honey. Insist night. Before serving, heat up, put mint, a quarter of a lime, a slice of lemon and cinnamon in a cup.
Mojito can also be prepared with the addition of cherry syrup, apple juice or pomegranate seeds. All options look attractive, have a refreshing effect and an amazing aroma. Everyone will choose their own and make their summer unforgettably delicious!
For how to make a mojito cocktail, see the following video.