Watermelon Mint Lemonade

Watermelon Mint Lemonade is a thirst quenching spin on the classic lemonade featuring lemon mint simple syrup, fresh watermelon and lemon juice. The stunning pink hue and refreshing lemon mint flavour makes it the perfect summer sipper.

It’s so important to stay hydrated during the heat of summer and sometimes I need something more than ice water. Enter the amazing hydrating power of citrus fruit! Homemade Orangeade, lemonade, and Strawberry Limeade (with added coconut water!) really hit the spot and sometimes do double duty as cocktails.

Watermelon Mint Lemonade

This Watermelon Mint Lemonade recipe is easy to make and contains only simple ingredients like fresh fruit, water, and sugar. The resulting juice is a stunning ruby red treat you can enjoy at any summer gathering.

There’s just something so uniquely refreshing about the combination of fresh watermelon juice and mint. In this recipe, the lemon and mint simple brings plenty of fresh mint flavour and just a little sweetness to balance out the sourness of fresh lemon juice.

Speaking of balance, the quantities of simple syrup (including sugar), watermelon juice, and lemon juice are completely adjustable. Use this recipe as a basic guide but feel free to adjust it according to your own flavour preferences. Use less lemon mint syrup to reduce sweetness or add more/less watermelon or lemon juice. It’s up to you!

Impress your family and friends by dressing it up as a watermelon lemonade mocktail with fresh sprigs of mint, slices of lemon, and festive straws for sipping. Or, add vodka, tequila, or rum to turn it into a watermelon lemonade cocktail for the more intense adult sippers in your family.

Ingredients for Watermelon Mint Lemonade

The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity. The lemon mint simple syrup contains just four ingredients, lemon rind, sugar, water, and fresh mint. Combine the simple syrup with fresh watermelon and lemon juice for the ultimate summer lemonade.

• Lemons
• Water
• Sugar
• Fresh Mint
• Watermelon

For this recipe, you will need 8 -12 lemons depending on how juicy they are. Please do not use bottled lemon juice for this recipe. Pro tip: To get the most juice out of the lemons, microwave them for 20 – 30 seconds (until they are just warm) then roll them on the counter before juicing.

Use granulated sugar in the lemon mint simple syrup or replace the sugar with honey in a 1:1 ratio. Note that leftover simple syrup must be stored in the fridge and will last up to one month.

This recipe is a great way to make use of all the garden mint! You will need a fair amount in the simple syrup and some fresh sprigs to use as garnish. Do not use dried mint as it will not give the same fresh flavour as fresh mint.

How to Choose a Watermelon

Did you know that watermelon contains up to 92% water? It’s also low in calories (46 per cup) and has plenty of antioxidants, fibre, and contains vitamin C. This thirst-quenching fruit is the king of the melon family and one of the most popular summer time fruits at picnics and barbecues. Here are a few tips to consider when choosing a watermelon:

1. For the best flavour, buy watermelon when its in season.
2. Feel the weight. Lift the watermelon and compare it to others. If it is heavy for its size that means it is juicy and full.
3. Inspect the stem end. It should be dry and brown or yellow indicating the melon was picked at peak ripeness.
4. Look for a field spot. Ripe melons will have a creamy yellow to almost orange area on one side of the melon. This is where the melon was resting on the ground. A darker colour means it rested there longer.
5. Knock on it. If it sounds hollow and deep, then it is good. Do not choose it if it has a higher hollow sound.
6. Choose dull watermelons with a distinctive deep dark green and light yellow colour pattern. Shiny melons or those with a light colour pattern have not had time to ripen.
7. Check the overall shape and rind condition. Rounder melons tend to be tastier, but not always. Make sure there are no cracks or bruises. Grey or tan coloured irregularities with a web-like pattern are the exception. These pollination scars were formed when the blossom was pollinated, and a high number of scars means the bees did their job well!

How to Make Watermelon Mint Lemonade

This recipe starts with a quick simple syrup flavoured with lemon and mint followed by the preparation and mixing of fresh watermelon and lemon juice.

To make the lemon mint simple syrup, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup granulated sugar in a small saucepan. Set the saucepan over medium heat and bring the syrup to a simmer.

Add 1 packed cup of mint leaves and the peel of one lemon to the syrup and allow the mixture to simmer for 2 minutes, stirring to encourage the sugar to dissolve.

Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool completely to room temperature. Finally, strain out the mint and lemon peel. Bottle the syrup and keep it in the refrigerator until just before use.

To make the lemonade, begin by juicing the watermelon. Process cubed watermelon using a blender in batches. Strain the watermelon juice through a sieve to remove the pulp then place the watermelon juice in a pitcher.

Next, juice the lemons until you have 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Strain out any seeds then add the lemon juice to the pitcher of watermelon juice.

Finally, add ¾ cup of lemon mint simple syrup. Stir well, then taste the lemonade. To make it sweeter, add more of the lemon mint simple syrup. For a lighter flavour, dilute with cold water or add more fresh lemon juice to reduce the sweetness.

Serve the watermelon mint lemonade chilled over plenty of ice. Garnish with fresh mint and lemon
slices.

How long will watermelon mint lemonade last?

Watermelon Mint Lemonade is best if enjoyed within a week. If you have leftovers, you can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

A Few More Handy Recipe Tips

• You want to extract as much flavor from the mint leaves as possible to achieve a flavourful syrup. Make sure to pack the fresh leaves into the measuring cup and allow the syrup to cool fully to room temperature before straining out the leaves.
• If you have a juicer, feel free to use it instead of a blender! This will eliminate the step of having to strain the watermelon after it has been pureed in the blender.
• Chill the watermelon and lemons before juicing to reduce lemonade chilling time and enjoy this refreshing drink sooner!

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill and I am the sole recipe developer, photographer, and writer at Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

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