If you’re not familiar with Cafe Rio, it’s a fresh Mexican restaurant that began in Utah and has started to sprout up in other US locations. I first discovered it in college and it kind of changed how I viewed Mexican food (and food in general…hello, cilantro and Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette and Creamy Lime-Cilantro dressing and freshly made flour tortillas). They have delicious fresh drinks available, including an awesome mint limeade I just had to recreate at home. This recipe is fresh and springy and serves a crowd which is perfect for all sorts of gatherings.
Ingredients Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
For the Syrup
- Granulated sugar
- Water
- Fresh mint
For the Limeade
- Freshly squeezed lime juice – Do not used bottled!
- Water
- Fresh mint leaves
- Ice
For the Garnishes
- Fresh mint
- Fresh lime slices
- Granulated sugar and lime zest – For sugaring the rims of the glasses.
How to Make Mint Limeade
- First you’ll make a simple syrup by boiling some sugar and mint leaves with water. You’ll strain out the mint leaves and let that cool.
- When ready to serve, place some chopped mint leaves into a large serving pitcher, add some freshly squeezed lime juice, the syrup you made earlier, and 8 cups of cold water. Taste and add more water until your desired sweetness is reached.
- Pour into glasses and enjoy!
Storing and Other Tips
- You can make syrup a day or two ahead of time if needed.
- If you’re serving this over ice, use a little less water to account for the melting ice.
- You can also add other flavors or this recipe, like strawberry sauce or macerated berries.
Sugared Rims
One of my favorite things to do with this drink is to mix a little sugar and lime zest together on a plate, rub the rims of my empty glasses with a damp paper towel, and dip each glass into the sugar mixture to pick up little bits of sparkly sugar and bright lime zest. Carefully spoon ice into the glasses and pout the limeade in.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can certainly make this without the mint for a delicious traditional limeade. You can also add macerated berries or other flavors.
This is best fresh, but you can certainly make the syrup a couple of days in advance. If you need to mix everything up, it will certainly be good for several hours before serving.
Sure, that would be delicious!
Cafe Rio Copycat Mint Limeade
Ingredients
For the Syrup
- 1 ¾ cups white sugar
- 2 cups water
- 2-3 sprigs fresh mint just mint, not peppermint or spearmint
For the Limeade
- 1 ½ cups freshly squeezed lime juice
- 8-10 cups cold water
- ½ cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves
- Ice
For the Garnishes
- Fresh mint sprigs
- Fresh lime slices
- ½ cup sugar + freshly grated zest of 1 lime combined for sugaring the rims of the glasses
Instructions
- Combine the syrup ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and strain the mint leaves. Allow to cool at room temperature or place in the refrigerator. The syrup can be made a few days ahead of time.
- When ready to serve, place the chopped mint leaves in the bottom of the serving pitcher. Add the syrup, freshly squeezed lime juice, and 8 cups of cold water. Taste and add additional water to taste (if necessary). If serving over ice, you might want to make it a tiny bit sweeter than you would normally like to account for the dilution from the melted ice.
- To make the lime sugar for the rims of the glasses, mix the zest of one lime with ½ cup sugar. Using a damp paper towel, wipe around the rim of each glass and then invert the glass into the lime sugar. Carefully fill the sugar-rimmed glasses with ice cubes and pour the limeade into the glasses to serve.
Notes
Strawberry Mint Limeade
- After pouring into glasses, add a spoonful or two of strawberry sauce to taste. Other berries like blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries can be substituted for strawberries in the sauce to make other variations.
Questions & Reviews
Cafe Rio here…
Thanks for the awesome shout out. Email me…I might have something awesome for you! Keep up the good work, amigo!
Oh it’s so fresh!!! waoo.
I love the jars, so cute!!!!!
Greats
So refreshing! I could easily down a few glasses 😀
This sound so refreshing! I wish I had a glass now!
I’m going to do this for Easter! And GREAT and BEAUTIFUL pictures!!!!!!
Do you think a pitcher of this would keep well in the fridge, or does it all need to be served soon after prep?
I wouldn’t keep it for too long in the fridge with the chopped mint, but you could always add it right before serving. Hope that helps!
I have heard of something like this that my family calls limericky or somthing like that and its made with the sugar syrup, club soda, and lime juice and is super delicious and refreshing! I am sure this is very similar, will have to try! I love the fizz that the club soda adds, though
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I now have a recipe for “my crack.” Seriously, this stuff is addicting!
We are finally getting a Cafe Rio in Washington State, I’m so excited not to have to wait for a trip to Boise to get my Lowcal Cherry Limeade fix! Speaking of the that, do you have a Lowcal Cherry Limeade copycat recipe? I can’t figure out how to make it as low cal as Cafe Rio.
Oops, I meant Sonic diet cherry limeade, which we don’t have in Seattle either.
I got a Cafe Rio sweet pork and a cilantro dressing recipe from a friend of mine. I never knew what Cafe Rio was…..now I know. (Although, I’m confused. Isn’t Rio in Brazil, and therefore Portuguese and not Mexican?) Ironically, I just made some this past week and have some left overs in the fridge. I LOVE that dressing. I’ll eat it off my fingers. 🙂 Shhh….. don’t tell anyone. I’ll have to try this limeade recipe to go with it! Thanks