Summer has arrived! Our Spring-like temperatures have given way to full blown Summer, and we are definitely ready for it!

Lemonade is our standard refreshing beverage for Summer. There is always a pitcher of the tart and slightly sweet drink in the fridge all season long. Because we drink so much of it, I like to switch out our standard mixture of lemon juice, sugar, and water with something a bit different every so often.

For those times, we go for a mix in that adds additional flavor, depth, color, and sometimes even texture to the drink. This version has it all! The orange juice and pulp along with the mint contribute to each of those aspects. It’s a wonderfully refreshing lemonade drink for Summer 2025!

Orange Mint Lemonade

Orange Mint Lemonade (adapted from walkingonsunshinerecipes.co)  Total Time Required: 15 minutes plus chilling time, Prep Time: 15 minutes

Makes: 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 cups warm water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 lemons
• 1 small orange
• 5 – 8 sprigs fresh mint
• 2 cups cold water

Directions:

Remove the mint leaves from the stems. Wash the orange, lemons, and mint leaves well taking care to remove any dirt. Quarter and remove any seeds from the fruit.

Place the fruit in the cup of a wand blender (or a blender) along with the sugar, warm water, and fresh mint. Blend for 30 seconds until the fruit starts to break up, without blending all the rind into the mixture. Blend for another 30 seconds if needed to incorporate the pulp and juice into the mixture.

Add the warm water, sugar, quartered fruit, and mint leaves to the cup of a wand blender.

Place a strainer over a bowl and pour the contents of the blender into the strainer. Gently press on the fruit in the strainer to get all the juice out of the mixture.

Strain out the solids.

Transfer the juice to a serving pitcher. Add up to 2 cups of additional cold water to the juice to achieve the desired dilution.

Transfer the juice to a pitcher and add additional water to the pitcher.

Chill before serving over ice with additional mint leaves.

Serve with additional mint leaves.

A pitcher of this disappears quickly in our home!  ~Linda

Orange Mint Lemonade (adapted from walkingonsunshinerecipes.co)  Total Time Required: 15 minutes plus chilling time, Prep Time: 15 minutes, Makes: 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 cups warm water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 lemons
• 1 small orange
• 5 – 8 sprigs fresh mint
• 2 cups cold water

Directions:

Remove the mint leaves from the stems. Wash the orange, lemons, and mint leaves well taking care to remove any dirt. Quarter and remove any seeds from the fruit.

Place the fruit in the cup of a wand blender (or a blender) along with the sugar, warm water, and fresh mint.

Blend for 30 seconds until the fruit starts to break up, without blending all the rind into the mixture. Blend for another 30 seconds if needed to incorporate the pulp and juice into the mixture.

Place a strainer over a bowl and pour the contents of the blender into the strainer. Gently press on the fruit in the strainer to get out all the juice out of the mixture.

Transfer the juice to a serving pitcher. Add up to 2 cups of additional cold water to the juice to achieve the desired dilution. Chill before serving over ice with additional mint leaves.