Lychee Lemonade Recipe (Litchi Lemonade)
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One sip of this lychee lemonade and you will forget every store-bought summer drink you have ever tasted. The lychees turn an ordinary glass of lemonade into something floral, sweet, and almost perfumed, while the lemon keeps it sharp and bright. It tastes like a fancy mocktail from a rooftop bar, but it comes together in your kitchen in 10 minutes flat.
Here are some more summer drink recipes that you may like: Mint Cooler, Turmeric Lemonade, Mango Habanero Margarita, Lychee Smoothie, Lychee Juice, and Dates Milkshake.
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Every May, the lychee carts would roll into our neighborhood in Jhansi. My dad would bring home a crate of fresh lychees, and my mom would peel a few and add them to a jug of nimbu pani for the afternoon. That mix of floral lychee and sharp lemon stuck with me forever.
This lychee lemonade is my grown-up version of that memory. It is the drink I make when friends come over on hot days, when I want something special at brunch, or when I need a non-alcoholic option that still feels like a treat. If you love refreshing summer sips, you will also enjoy my jaljeera and classic Punjabi sweet lassi.
What Is Lychee lemonade?
Lychee lemonade is a chilled summer drink made by mixing lychee fruit with fresh lemon juice, water, and a sweetener. The lychee adds a tropical, floral sweetness, and the lemon balances it with a sharp, citrusy kick.
Originally, lychee comes from southern China, but the fruit now grows across India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Madagascar, which is why you see lychee drinks across so many Asian cuisines.
Why You’ll Love This Family Favorite Recipe!
- Ready in 10 minutes with a blender and a strainer.
- Uses fresh, canned, or frozen lychees, whatever you can find.
- Naturally sweet from the fruit, so you need very little added sugar.
- No fancy syrups or bar tools required.
- Easy to scale for one glass or a whole pitcher.
- Kid-friendly and party-ready, it also makes a great cocktail base.
Ingredients
- Lychees (Litchi) – Although I like to use fresh litchies, you can also use frozen or canned lychees to make the lemonade. If you use fresh lychees, peel and deseed them before using them. Fresh lychee fruit should be available at your local Asian or Indian grocery store during the summer months.
- Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed lime juice gives this lemonade the best taste. You can also replace it with fresh lemon juice.
- Sugar – I used granulated white sugar, but you can also use maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Others – You will also need chilled water, ice cubes, mint leaves, and lime slices. You can replace water with club soda or sparkling water.
How To Make Lychee Lemonade
Step 1: Add the following ingredients to the blender jar.
- 25-30 peeled and de-seeded lychees
- 4 tablespoon granulated white sugar
- 8 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
Step 2: Blend until a puree forms. You will see a pale pink, slightly cloudy puree.
If you like a smoother lemonade, then pour the puree through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher. Press it with the back of a spoon to get every drop. This step gives you a smooth, clean lemonade.
Step 3: Transfer the lychee puree to a large pitcher. Add 5-6 mint leaves, 3-4 lime rounds, and 4 cups of chilled water to the pitcher and stir until combined.
Step 4: Taste your lemonade. Too tart? Add a bit more sugar. Too sweet? Squeeze in more lemon. The flavor should hit you with sweet first, then tart, then floral.
Pour the lemonade into serving glasses over ice. Garnish with mint leaves and lime rounds and serve chilled.
Variations
- Make it a cocktail: Add 1.5 ounces of vodka, gin, or white rum per glass. Top with a splash of prosecco for a lychee spritz.
- Make it a mocktail: Add a splash of rose water or a few crushed cardamom pods for a fancy upgrade.
- Sparkling version: Swap the still water for chilled sparkling water or club soda right before serving. Do not blend it in, he bubbles will fall flat.
- Frozen lychee lemonade: Blend the whole drink with extra ice for a slushie. Tastes like a tropical sorbet.
Storage Suggestion
You can make the lychee paste and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Just add mint, lime rounds, and water before serving.
You can also freeze this paste for up to 3 months. Thaw and use to make the lemonade.
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Lychee Lemonade Recipe (Litchi Lemonade)
Ingredients
- 25-30 lychees (litchi) (fresh, frozen or canned, peeled and de-seeded)
- 4 tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 8 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 4 cups chilled water
- 5-6 mint leaves (plus more for garnishing)
- 3-4 lime rounds (plus more for garnishing)
- ice cubes (as required)
Instructions
- Add lychee, sugar, and lime juice to the jar of a blender. Blend until a puree forms. You will see a pale pink, slightly cloudy puree.
- Transfer the lychee paste to a large pitcher.
- Add mint leaves, lime rounds, and water to the pitcher and stir until combined.
- Taste your lemonade. Too tart? Add a bit more sugar. Too sweet? Squeeze in more lemon. The flavor should hit you with sweet first, then tart, then floral.
- Pour the lemonade into serving glasses over ice. Garnish with mint leaves and lime rounds and serve chilled.