Brazilian Lemonade

This refreshing Brazilian Lemonade is the perfect summer drink! Made with fresh limes, sweetened condensed milk, and a whole lot of sugar, this cold beverage is great for pool parties, backyard barbecues, and more!
But WHY is it called lemonade when it’s made with limes??

This popular drink is unlike the classic lemonade you’re used to drinking in just about every way! If you want to mix it up and try something new, then fix up a large pitcher of this delicious drink to cool you down on the next hot summer day!

Why is Brazilian “Lemonade” made with limes?

Okay, let’s get the confusing part out of the way first. Brazilians refer to this drink as limonade, which sounds a lot like lemonade. That’s because, in Brazilian Portuguese, there is no distinction between lemons and limes; both are referred to as limão, then distinguished by type.

To make it even a little bit more confusing, in Brazil, you will find this refreshing drink on the menu as Limonada Suíça, or “Swiss lemonade”. That’s because the sweetened condensed milk used in the recipe was imported from Switzerland.

But really, all you need to know is that this is DELICIOUS!

Ingredients for Brazilian Lemonade

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this tasty drink:

Fresh whole limes

Cold water

Granulated sugar

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Ice Cubes

That’s it! For fun, we will line the glasses with some lime sugar, so make sure you have extra lime and sugar just for that!

Don’t forget to review the recipe card below to determine the exact amounts of each ingredient.

How to Make Brazilian Lemonade

First, make the lime sugar.

Zest one lime, making sure not to include the white part of the peel. In a small bowl, mix together the lime zest and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Transfer to a plate. 

Rub the rim of one glass with a lime wedge, then dip the glass into the plate of sugar and twist, coating well. Repeat with the remaining glasses, and set them aside while you prepare the lemonade.

Now let’s make the creamy lemonade!

Wash 3 limes thoroughly. Slice off the ends and cut the limes vertically into 4 wedges. Remove the white core from each, and then cut all of the wedges in half. 

Put the lime pieces, 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons of sugar, and condensed milk into a blender. Pulse it just 5 times. 

Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the contents of the blender over a bowl to remove any solids, making sure to remove all of the liquid.

Return the liquid to the blender then add the remaining water and ice. Blend until smooth and if desired, strain again. Add more sugar to taste if you feel it’s too bitter.

Serve immediately over plenty of ice. This drink is best when served fresh; otherwise, it will become bitter as it sits.

Recipe Tips

If you want a drink with less sugar, you can use a sugar substitute like Splenda in place of the granulated sugar.

You can double the recipe to serve more people!

Some versions of this drink use more sweet condensed milk and less granulated sugar, so feel free to play around with that!

How do I make this Brazilian Lemonade less bitter?

Taking the core out will help remove some of the bitterness from the drink.

Pulse just 5 times. You can pulse or mix until smooth, but it will be a bit more tart.

Add more sugar to taste if you feel it is still too bitter.

How to make a Brazilian Lemonade Cocktail

Add a little boozy kick to this drink for a fun twist!

To make a Brazilian Lemonade Cocktail, substitute one cup of water for 1 cup of Cachaça, coconut rum, tequila, or vodka (or however much alcohol is desired). Add it with the remaining water in step 4 after the initial straining. 

Can I make this drink ahead of time?

I recommend making this right before serving, as the bitterness will increase as it sits.

Can I make Brazilian Lemonade with lemons instead of limes?

Sure, lemons will taste delicious in this as well! I’ve even had a version that used fresh oranges, making a kind of “Dreamsicle” drink.

Looking for More Cold, Satisfying Drinks?

Make one of these fun summer drinks next time you need to cool off:

This easy Horchata recipe is the perfect refresher on a hot day! The classic Mexican drink is easy to make at home.

One sip of this Coconut Cooler and you’ll feel like you’re lounging beachside in the sun. It is creamy, refreshing, and delicious!

Pina Colada Milkshakes with vanilla ice cream and crushed pineapple are a cold, refreshing taste of the tropics! Blend up a batch of these to beat the summer heat.

Our version of the delicious Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade tastes just like the original recipe, only with NO added sugar!

With just 5 simple ingredients and less than five minutes, you can enjoy a refreshing Frosted Watermelon Lemonade with that great watermelon taste on a hot summer day.

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