If you’re looking for a refreshing drink to cool you down on a hot summer day, this Brazilian Limeade Recipe is a perfect choice.
Traditional Brazilian lemonade, also known as limonada suíça or Swiss lemonade, is a creamy, tangy drink. It's a classic Brazilian treat made with whole limes and sweetened condensed milk.
It’s both simple to make and incredibly delicious and will quickly become one of your favorite summer drinks.
If your hosting a pool party or summer cookout, this would be the perfect frosty beverage to serve. You could also offer your guests my Strawberry Mocktail as well.
Summer is a great time of year to serve fruit-inspired dishes like Watermelon Salad with Goat Cheese, or cold treats like my No Bake Cherry Pie with Graham Cracker Crust.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bursting with Fresh Lime Flavor - Using zest and flesh of the lime gives this Brazilian lemonade recipe a bold and refreshing taste.
- Creamy Texture - The addition of sweetened condensed milk makes the drink creamy and smooth, unlike any other limeade you’ve tried.
- Simple Ingredients - With just 3 ingredients – fresh limes, cold water, and sweetened condensed milk – you can whip up this tasty drink in no time.
Picking the Best Limes for Brazilian Limeade
Because this recipe is so simple and the flavor relies largely on the limes that you select, high-quality limes will make a huge difference in the taste of your drink. Here are some pointers when picking the limes for your drink ensuring that it’s refreshing and delicious every time.
- Look for Smooth Skins - The best limes have smooth, shiny skins. Avoid limes with bumpy or wrinkled skin, as these are usually older and less juicy.
- Check the Color - Bright green limes are usually the freshest and most flavorful. However, a little yellowing on the skin is okay and can indicate ripeness. Just avoid limes that are predominantly yellow, as they might be overripe.
- Feel the Weight - A good lime should feel heavy for its size. This usually means it’s full of juice. Pick up a few limes and go for the ones that feel the heaviest.
- Give Them a Squeeze - Gently squeeze the limes. They should have a slight give when pressed but not be too soft.
- Smell the Limes - Fresh limes should have a strong, fragrant citrus scent. If a lime has little to no smell, it might not be as flavorful
- Consider the Size - For Brazilian limeade, medium to large limes are typically the best. They are easier to chop and blend and usually have more flesh and are more juicy limes.
Substitutions
Key Limes - While regular limes work perfectly, you can use key limes for a more intense lime flavor. Just remember that key limes are smaller, so you may need more of them. They also have a more tart flavor than regular limes. Because of this, they pair perfectly with the sweetness of the condensed milk.
Variations
- Frozen Limeade - If you are planning to serve this drink immediately, you can pour the strained limeade back into the blender and add the ice to make a thicker, frozen version.
- Strawberry Limeade - Add a few strawberries to the blender for a fruity twist on this classic Brazilian drink.
- Minty Limeade - Blend in a handful of fresh mint leaves for a refreshing, minty flavor.
- Coconut Limeade - Replace half of the water with coconut water for a tropical drink that’s even more hydrating.
Ingredients
* Please scroll down to the printable recipe card for specific ingredient amounts.
How To Make This Refreshing Summertime Drink
Step 1. Prep the Limes - Wash the limes thoroughly to remove any dirt or pesticides from the skin. Chop the limes into quarters. Don’t worry about peeling them – we’re using the entire lime for maximum flavor.
Step 2. Blend - In a blender or food processor, combine the chopped limes, cold water, and sweetened condensed milk. Blend for a few minutes until the mixture is as smooth as possible.
Step 3. Strain - Pour the blended mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove the pulp and any remaining pieces of lime skin.
Step 4. Serve - Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the strained limeade over the ice. Garnish with lime wedges or lime zest if desired.
Storage and Freezing
Store Brazilian limeade in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator until ready to serve, for up to 3-4 days.
See freezing directions under the Notes and FAQs below.
Pro Tip
When chopping the limes, try to remove as much of the white pith as possible. The pith can add a bitter flavor to your Brazilian limeade. Using a fine-mesh strainer to separate the large pieces from the blended mixture will help you get a smooth, creamy texture without any bitter taste.
Notes and FAQs
The white part of the lime, also known as the pith, is what makes it bitter. You can add a little more condensed milk to help balance out the bitterness. To pick the best limes for your drink, see the section above on how to select perfect limes for Brazilian Limeade.
If you find the drink too sweet, try using less sweetened condensed milk or add a little more cold water to dilute the sweetness. However, the sweetened condensed milk helps to balance out some of the bitterness that can be attributed to the pith or white part of the inside of the lime. You can also use key limes instead of regular limes because they tend to be a little more tart and pair well with the sweetness of the condensed milk.
Yes, you can make it a few hours in advance and store it in a large pitcher in the refrigerator. Just give it a good stir before serving.
Absolutely! Pour the limeade into popsicle molds for a refreshing frozen treat.
Brazilian Limeade Recipe
Equipment
- blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 6 limes
- 3 cups cold water
- 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups ice
Instructions
- Wash the limes thoroughly to remove any dirt or pesticides from the skin.
- Chop the limes into quarters. Don’t worry about peeling them – we’re using the entire lime for maximum flavor.
- Add the chopped limes, cold water, and sweetened condensed milk to a blender or food processor. Blend for a few minutes until the mixture is as smooth as possible.
- Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the pulp and any remaining pieces of lime skin.
- Fill glasses with ice and pour the strained limeade over the ice. Garnish with additional lime slices if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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