4 Recipes for Delicious Springtime Lemonades

Springtime means warmer weather, longer days, and plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy. One of the best ways to take advantage of this season? Delicious homemade lemonades! These four recipes will give you plenty of inspiration to make your own homemade lemonade, whether it’s using classic lemon or orange juice or spicing things up with some ginger ale or green tea! Plus, they’re all so easy to make that you can whip them up in no time!

1) Strawberry and Rhubarb

Delicious, delicious strawberry rhubarb lemonade is the perfect drink for the first sunny days of spring or summer. While I have no idea why strawberries and rhubarb are so delicious together, the best way to experience the two ingredients together is to make a strawberry rhubarb jam, strawberry rhubarb pie, or lemonade for that matter! 

Here’s how to find the best rhubarb:

Rhubarb is usually in season during the spring and summer months. Harvest the rhubarb stalks before they get too big, about 10 inches. When looking for rhubarb at the supermarket, look for deep red rhubarb stalks, not pink or light green ones. A deep red rhubarb stalk signifies that the stalks are more mature and accordingly taste better than a light colored one. Green rhubarb can be eaten, but the preparation is not quite as aesthetically pleasing and it does not have the tart, delicious flavor that red rhubarb offers.

Choosing the best strawberries:

Again, look for dark red, juicy strawberries, and don’t reach for just any berry. Use fresh, local strawberries that are in season for the best recipe. Alternatively, you can use frozen strawberries, but make sure your blender packs the firmness.

Soda on top and pour the lemonade into a glass bottle and refrigerate. Make sure the bottle is tightly sealed and remember when opening that natural gases may have formed.

Photo by Anastasia Zhenina on Unsplash

2) Pink Grapefruit Ginger Soda

It may still be a little cold outside, which is a good time for a glass of homemade pink grapefruit ginger lemonade! Unlike most lemonades, which are sweetened with sugar, this one is sweetened with honey and also contains a little ginger, which provides body heat in the winter. The taste is bittersweet and pronounced thanks to the grapefruit peel and light ginger flavor, with the natural sweetness enhanced by the use of pink or red grapefruits. Fresh ginger (or alternatively, ginger ale) and fresh pink grapefruit combine for a punch that’s perfect for spring picnics and patios!  Not only is it delicious, but it also has some health benefits: Ginger is known to relieve nausea, bloating, and muscle aches, and grapefruit is high in vitamin C. With one sip, you’ll be ready to head to your favorite park or patio. Add two tablespoons of honey, and remember to drink enough water, too – after all, sodas shouldn’t be a substitute for your regular water intake.

Ingredients:

• Zest of 1 large pink or red grapefruit (preferably organic)
• 1 cup freshly-squeezed pink or red grapefruit juice (from about 1 large grapefruit; if necessary, top off with water to make 1 cup
• 3/4 cup mild-flavoured honey
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh ginger
• Carbonated water, for serving

3) Blueberry Lavender Soda

This fruit-infused iced beverage is popular during spring and summer months, and you may have seen it in a variety of combinations, including the traditional kind some using tequila or vodka, blended or frozen, and there are lots of variations you can try, like these four tasty recipes! One of our favourites is Blueberry Lavender Soda. 

The herb provides depth and a little sweetness to lemonade that would otherwise be a simple beverage. In addition to being popular for decoration, lavender can be used in many other aspects of life like drinks and food. Did you know our lavender-blueberry lemonade is the perfect beverage for outdoor get-togethers, picnics, and the first warm spring evenings? 

Simply mix in some bubbly, and you have a fruity and tart drink in no time.

Ingredients:

• 200ml water 
• 150g sugar or any tablespoon of honey 
• 13 lavender flowers
• 100g blueberries
• ½ lemon
• 1,5l mineral water
• 1 glass bottle for filling

4) Cherry Blossom with Mint

Spring is synonymous with cherry blossoms, and what better way to celebrate than by enjoying a nice tall glass of lemonade? This recipe uses mint, which offers a refreshing taste being complemented with juicy cherries. Doesn’t bring that you back to childhood memories and bubblegum?

Ingredients: (Recipe after: Heartofabaker)

• 2 cups of cherries
• juice of 4 lemons
• 3 cups of cold water
• ¼ cup of agave nectar
• ⅓ cup of mint