Brazilian Lemonade

Brazilian lemonade, also known as “Limão Suíço” or “Swiss Lemonade,” is a popular and refreshing citrus beverage from Brazil. Despite its name, it’s primarily prepared using limes rather than lemons. Maybe we should call it Brazilian limenade instead. 🍹

The traditional Brazilian lemonade recipe calls for just four simple ingredients: limes, sweetened condensed milk, water, and ice. However, following a series of trials, Mr. He and I concurred that incorporating a few lemons alongside the limes can infuse a clean, crisp lemony aroma and introduce a subtle underlying sweetness that harmonizes the overall taste. 🍋

Bursting with the tangy zing of limes and the sweet creaminess of condensed milk, this drink is a perfect companion for sunny days or whenever you’re in need of a cooling treat.

Within just 10 minutes, you’ll be sipping on this creamy and slightly sweet drink with a vibrant green color and a zesty, citrusy flavor.

Tips for making Brazilian lemonade

1. Should I remove the lime skin?

There’s no requirement to remove the lime skin when making traditional Brazilian Lemonade. The lime skin contributes a natural green color and a vibrant citrus aroma and taste to the beverage.

If you choose to keep the lime skin on, you can blend the whole limes (cut into smaller pieces) with water for 30 seconds, strain the mixture to remove any larger bits. Then add sweetened condensed milk and ice cubes to the strained mixture and blend all the ingredients well.

➡️➡️➡️However, lime pith has a bitter and astringent taste. It lacks the vibrant and zesty citrus flavor of the outer peel and the sweet-tart juice of the lime fruit.

Therefore, if you have the patience, you can remove the pith while collecting the zest (as demonstrated in this recipe). This process ensures that the final drink isn’t negatively impacted by the bitterness, allowing the true citrus flavors to shine through.

2. Add lemons to Brazilian lemonade

Adding a few lemons alongside the limes can enhance the aroma and add subtle sweetness. 🍋

Feel free to experiment with the ratio of limes to lemons until you find the balance you prefer. To Mr He and I, the best ratio would be 2 limes to 1 lemon. You can even replace some or all of the limes with lemons.

Keep in mind that the acidity and flavor intensity of lemons may require adjustments to the amount of sweetened condensed milk in the recipe to achieve a balanced and enjoyable taste.

3. Remove the seeds

It’s essential to remove the lime and lemon seeds when making Brazilian Lemonade. The seeds can add a bitter taste to the drink, which may not be desirable in the refreshing and creamy flavor profile of Brazilian Lemonade.

4. Add ice at the end

If you’re not serving the lemonade immediately, it’s best to add ice to individual glasses when serving. This prevents the ice from diluting the drink if it sits for a while. Stir before pouring and enjoy.

EQUIPMENT

• Lemon zester (or fine cheese grater)
• Knife
• Blender
• Measuring cups

INGREDIENTS List

• 2 limes
• 1 lemon (You can also substitute the lemon with a lime.)
• 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups of water
• 2 cups of ice cubes

Step-by-step INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Wash the limes and lemon thoroughly. Use a zester to gently rub the limes and lemon’s surface. Be careful to only collect the colored outer layer (the zest) and not the bitter white pith underneath. Let the zest fall into a blender.

2. Place the zested limes and lemon on a cutting board, use a knife to cut each of them into halves. This provides a stable base for the limes and lemon and makes it easier to work with. Use the knife to carefully slice downward along the curve of the fruit to trim off the white pith.

3. Cut the lime and lemon segments into smaller portions for smoother blending. Ensure you remove any seeds to prevent bitterness in the drink.

4. Place the cut limes, lemon, water, ice cubes, sweetened condensed milk, and the zest in the blender. Blend the mixture on high speed (or juice mode) for 30 seconds.

5. Taste the Brazilian lemonade and adjust the sweetness if needed by adding some sugar, one tablespoon at a time, and stirring until dissolved.

6. Add ice cubes and lime slices (for decoration) into 4 glasses. Pouring the Brazilian lemonade into the glasses. Enjoy!

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Brazilian Lemonade (2 limes + 1 lemon)

Ms Shi and Mr He

Brazilian lemonade is a popular and refreshing citrus beverage from Brazil. Despite its name, it's primarily prepared using limes rather than lemons. Within just 10 minutes, you'll be sipping on this creamy and slightly sweet drink with a vibrant green color and a zesty, citrusy flavor.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine Brazilian

Servings 4 cups

Calories 257 kcal

Equipment

• Lemon zester (or fine cheese grater)
• Knife
• blender
• Measuring cups

Ingredients

  

• 2 limes
• 1 lemon (You can also substitute the lemon with a lime.)
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups ice cubes

Instructions

 

• Wash the limes and lemon thoroughly. Use a zester to gently rub the limes and lemon's surface. Be careful to only collect the colored outer layer (the zest) and not the bitter white pith underneath. Let the zest fall into a blender.
• Place the zested limes and lemon on a cutting board, use a knife to cut each of them into halves. This provides a stable base for the limes and lemon and makes it easier to work with. Use the knife to carefully slice downward along the curve of the fruit to trim off the white pith.
• Cut the lime and lemon segments into smaller portions for smoother blending. Ensure you remove any seeds to prevent bitterness in the drink.
• Place the cut limes, lemon, water, ice cubes, sweetened condensed milk, and the zest in the blender. Blend the mixture on high speed (or juice mode) for 30 seconds.
• Taste the Brazilian lemonade and adjust the sweetness if needed by adding some sugar, one tablespoon at a time, and stirring until dissolved.
• Add ice cubes and lime slices (for decoration) into 4 glasses. Pouring the Brazilian lemonade into the glasses. Enjoy!

Video

Keyword Brazilian Lemonade, Brazilian Limeade