Brazilian Lemonade is my most favorite drink, ever. I fell in love with it while living in Brazil where at most restaurants and homes, fresh squeezed tropical beverages are the norm. It’s tart, but sweet, made with fresh limes and a secret ingredient (spoiler alert: sweetened condensed milk) that makes it mildly creamy. It looks a little strange but is refreshingly delicious and unlike any other beverage!
The first question that people generally ask about Brazilian Lemonade is why it’s called lemonade when it’s actually made with limes?? In Brazil, lemons are not common. Their word for lemonade, “Limonada” actually refers to limes. And in Brazil, they actually call this beverage Swiss Lemonade. This is because the signature ingredient there, Nestle brand sweetened condensed milk, shows a Swiss milkmaid on the label. So. We’ve got Brazilian lemonade, which they call Swiss Lemonade, which is actually limeade. Got it? All you need to know is that it’s DELICIOUS.
Make a Simple Syrup and Mix Limes
The first thing you’ll do is make a simple syrup, and it’s not cooked or anything. You’ll simply stir sugar into water and stir until it’s dissolved. You’ll place part of that in a blender and add fresh limes, peel and all (no substitutes for fresh here).
Pulse Mixture in Blender
Strain the Brazilian Lemonade
Add Sweetened Condensed Milk
Then the secret ingredient: sweetened condensed milk. You can often buy mini cans in the latin section of the grocery store. This recipes needs about 1 1/2 little cans. Since you’ll probably want to double this recipe, that’s 3 cans. They also sell a squeeze bottle in the Latin foods section which is also helpful. Or just open a regular sized can and make some chocolate sauce with the leftovers!
The sweetened condensed milk makes the drink itself look like milk, which is sometimes confusing to guests! It’s unique and so crazy good that I love serving this to people who have never had it before.
Chill and Pour
You’ll want to avoid adding ice to your actual pitcher because it will water it down. Instead, add ice to the glasses before you pour.
Brazilian Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 juicy limes try and find ones with thin, smooth skins; they're the juiciest and the thin skin cuts down on the chance of your drink being bitter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 cups cold water
- 6 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Mix cold water and sugar very well and chill until ready to use. This step can be done ahead of time.
- Wash limes thoroughly with soap (hand-dishwashing soap or regular hand soap works great). Cut the ends off the limes and then cut each lime into 8ths.
- Place 1/2 of the limes in your blender.
- Add 1/2 of the sugar water, place the lid on your blender, and pulse about 5 times. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher (the one you'll serve the lemonade in) and pour the blended mixture through the strainer and into the pitcher. Use a spoon to press the rest of the liquid into the pitcher. Dump the pulp and stuff in the strainer into the trash. Repeat with remaining limes and sugar water.
- Add sweetened condensed milk and stir. You may want to taste test it at this point; Sometimes if you use bitter limes, it will need more sugar and maybe a little more milk. *In Brazil, they will actually place the lime liquid back into the blender to blend the sweetened condensed milk in- this creates kind of a frothy consistency that's super good! Feel free to do this, or simply stir the milk in as directed in this recipe.
- Serve immediately over lots of ice. This does not keep well, so don't make this in advance (although you can cut the limes, mix the sugar water, and measure the sweetened condensed milk in advance).
Notes
Serving Note
- Serves 4, technically, although I can pretty much guarantee you that people will want more. You can double, triple, etc. the recipe. Just make in batches that will fit in your blender.
Nutrition
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Questions & Reviews
Just a quick tip: If you zest the limes and then peal them, you will get the same effect without the bitterness. The reason is that you’re not blending in the pith (white stuff) with them.
Thanks! I was afraid I would have a tiny window of time on putting the limes in the blender without getting too much peel. Great tip!
mmm~~i have never heard of this!! i want to try this as soon as the weather warms up!!! i just love stumble bc i would never have known about this recipe!! thanks!!
Came across this the other day and made it for dinner that very night. Aww-Muh-Gawddd lol best drink ive ever had! Thats a drink that I can see my self making every night! Thanks
Mouth is watering now. Looks bueno!
http://www.blairlockout.com
wow, that looks amazing. Never thought of the combination of condensed milk.
I made a batch of this tonight to test for my Easter Brunch…absolutely fantastic. My kids went NUTS for it. I will serve it both non-alcholic and as the “brazillian colada” listed in the comments. Thanks for the recipe!
New idea for a drink: The Brazilian Colada
3 parts brazilian lemonade
1 part malibu rum
So good.
I second Nolan’s “Brazillian Colada”! It’s on my to-make list for this weekend! 🙂
I just tried this recipe today and it was yummy. Very tropical. It’s only March but I have summer fever! I did pulverize my limes and it was not bitter at all. I actually went back and processed it a little longer to get a little more lime flavor. My husband and I both thought it was interesting that it almost has a coconut undertone but no coconut in the recipe. Thanks for a lovely recipe. I will make this again this summer.
My daughter got me hooked on you two and I just bought one of your new books for her which her husband also gave her. Sooo, I gave it to another daughter. Have used some of your fun crafty ideas for my activity day girls. I returned from a senior sister mission to Brazil a couple of years ago, and creme d’lecht is in literally every dessert. As far as the lemonade–they don’t have lemons there, or rarely, so they use limes but call them lemons–thus lemonade!
Just made this with tangerines for a lovely creamsicle drink! I subbed 3 tangerines for the 4 lemons. Yummy!