Bright and zesty limes blended with sweet and creamy condensed coconut milk work together to create the fresh, frothy and iconic Brazilian Lemonade (Limonada Suíça). Made with only four simple ingredients and blended together in little time – it’s the perfect refreshing drink to enjoy on a hot, summer day!
⭐Brazilian Lemonade⭐
What’s great about this recipe:
- Easy to Make: No peeling, zesting or juicing required. blend, strain, pour over ice and enjoy.
- Bright & Refreshing: Brazilian lemonade is citrusy, creamy and a little bit tart – the perfect drink to cool down with during a hot, summer afternoon.
- Simple (Adaptable) Ingredients: Fresh limes, sweetened condensed milk, water and sugar. Use sweetened condensed coconut milk to make it dairy free/vegan friendly.
Ingredients & Equipment
- Juicy Limes – Choose fragrant limes with smooth skins that look heavy for their size, are slightly soft when squeezed.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – Unlike traditional Brazilian Lemonade that uses dairy-based sweet condensed milk, this recipe uses sweetened condensed coconut milk. You may be able to find this available in grocery stores near you, but you can make it easily at home with only 2 ingredients: full-fat canned coconut milk and your sweetener of choice. Feel free to use regular condensed milk if you prefer.
- Sweetener – Use maple syrup or honey for a refined sugar free option. Use regular white sugar for a cheap and easy go-to.
- Blender – A food processor will also work.
- Strainer – Use a cheese cloth or fine mesh sieve to thoroughly remove the broken down lime bits.
Tip: Wash your Limes!
Most fruit you buys at the store is coated with a thin-layer of food-safe (edible) wax for preservation. Since this recipe is made with whole limes – pith, peel and all you want to make sure to thoroughly wash and scrub the limes clean before using.
Why is it called Brazilian Lemonade and not Brazilian Limeade?
In Brazil, limão is the Portuguese word for both lemon and lime and both can be used to make limonada.
- In Portuguese: limonada = lemonade OR limeade.
- In English: limonada = lemonade.
While Brazilian Lemonade (Limonada Suíça) is traditionally made with lime (limão), limonada translates to lemonade. Technically Brazilian Limeade would make more sense as an English translation, but we just have to go with it here.
Why is it also called Swiss Lemonade?
To further complicate things, Limonada Suíça is actually Portuguese for Swiss Lemonade.
Why?
This is likely due to the fact that it’s made with condensed milk which was originally imported into Brazil in the 1940’s by the Swiss company, Nestlé.
So not only is Swiss Lemonade not made with actual lemons, it’s also not Swiss.
More Thirst Quenchers
- Ginger Switchel Recipe (Haymaker’s Punch)
- Lavender Lemonade (Naturally Sweetened)
- Cold Brew Green Tea Lemonade
- Healthy Frozen Lemonade
- Homemade Electrolyte Drink
- Shirley Temple Cocktails (Non-Alcoholic)
Enjoy!
Let me know if you try this limonada recipe! Leave a comment and review with your thoughts. I always appreciate the feedback and serving suggestions that you come up with!
Brazilian Lemonade (Limonada Suíça)
A delicious balance of bright, tart citrus and sweet, creamy condensed milk.
Ingredients
- 5 fresh limes, wash before using
- 6 cups water (1.5 qt)
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup or honey (60g)*
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed coconut milk (120ml)
- ice cubes for serving
Instructions
- Cut each lime into about 8 pieces then add the lime wedges (with the peel) to a large blender.
- Add water, sweetener and condensed milk. Cover blender and pulse to combine. Blend no more than 10 seconds. The longer you blend the more bitter the flavor will be.
- Place a large, fine mesh strainer over a large pitcher or bowl, then pour the blended mixture through the strainer to filter out the solid pieces. Discard the leftover lime bits.
- Taste and sweeten the mixture as needed. Brazilian Lemonade is naturally a bit bitter nad tart. You can reduce the bitterness by adding more sugar or condensed milk.
- Pour into glasses filled with ice. Serve garnished with fresh lime slices and enjoy.
Notes
- Leftovers: Store leftover lemonade in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
- How to Clean Limes/Remove Wax Layer: Place the limes in a large colander and pour freshly boiled water over the top to melt off the wax. Use cold water to scrub clean with vegetable brush to scrape off residual wax and dirt.
- Use regular white sugar: Blend 1/2 cup sugar and water on their own for about 30 seconds or until the sugar dissolves. You're basically making a super quick simple syrup.
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