Limonana
Limonana is a bright, icy blend of fresh lemon juice, mint, sugar, and ice, with a refreshing balance of tartness and sweetness. The finished drink is fragrant, frosty, and intensely cooling, perfect for a hot afternoon.
Ingredients
Limonana base
- 120 mlfresh lemon juice
- 240 mlcold water
- 50 gcaster sugar
- 20 gfresh mint leaves, loosely packed
- 300 gice cubes
To serve
- 2mint sprigs
- 2thin lemon slices
Instructions
- 1
Pick the mint leaves from any thick stems, then juice the lemons if not already juiced. For the brightest flavor, avoid crushing the mint too long later, which can make the drink slightly bitter.
- 2
Add the fresh lemon juice, cold water, caster sugar, and mint leaves to a blender. Blend for about 10 seconds, just until the sugar starts dissolving and the mint is finely broken up.
- 3
Add the ice cubes and blend again for 20-30 seconds until the drink is frosty, thick, and slushy but still pourable. If needed, stop and scrape down the sides once for even blending.
- 4
Taste and adjust only if necessary: a proper limonana should be sharply lemony, sweet enough to balance, and very minty. Divide immediately between 2 chilled glasses.
- 5
Garnish each glass with a mint sprig and a thin lemon slice. Serve at once before the ice melts.
Nutrition per serving
Notes
- •For a colder, thicker drink, chill the water and glasses in advance.
- •If your lemons are very tart, increase the sugar by 5-10 g; if they are sweet, reduce it slightly.
- •A high-speed blender gives the smoothest slush texture, but any blender will work if the ice is added gradually.
- •For a cafe-style presentation, rub the rim lightly with lemon before serving.
Background
Limonana is a modern Israeli summer drink made from limon (lemon) and nana (mint). It became especially famous in the 1990s and is now a staple in cafes, juice stands, and home kitchens across Israel during hot weather.
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