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+ servings
Lemon Basil Lemonade in 4 tall glasses with straws
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5 from 2 votes

Lemon Basil Lemonade

A refreshing summer drink with fresh-squeezed lemons and lemon basil, a cousin of mint. You can also substitute fresh basil. Makes about 4 (8-ounce) cups of lemonade.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: lemon basil, lemonade
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 56kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup lemon basil leaves
  • ¼ cup organic cane sugar
  • Grated zest of 3 or 4 lemons
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 4 cups water or sparkling water (see note)

Instructions

  • Put the lemon basil, sugar and zest in a bowl. Crush and “muddle” this mixture, until the basil is well bruised and the sugar has mixed in.
  • Transfer to a pitcher, add the lemon juice and water and stir. Refrigerate, allowing the basil and zest to infuse more flavor, at least an hour. Strain and pour the lemonade over ice.

Notes

Deborah Madison suggests substituting sparkling water for some of the water. If you plan to use sparkling water, don’t put all of the water in the first mixing. Save the sparkle for the last minute for maximum fizz.

Nutrition

Serving: 6g | Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 158IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg