Make Way For Limonana!!!
All you need is a medium sized bunch of fresh mint, some lemons or limes, sweetener, and ice and you are all set to enjoy your ice cold juicy limonana which is fabulous on a hot summer day.
Let me tell you how I discovered this simple, yet delicious drink.
Have you ever overheard people ordering in a restaurant and thought, What is THAT?
That was me a month ago.. There are a few Middle Eastern restaurants that I frequent, and I kept hearing people order a drink that sounded to me like they were saying, lemonada. Naturally, living in Miami, I assumed it was the Spanish word for lemonade.
Well… I was wrong. Completely wrong!!!!!
Lemonada or Limonana?
What everyone was actually ordering was called Limonana – a wildly refreshing Middle Eastern frozen lemon-and-mint drink.
The funny part is even after hearing it said so many times, I didn’t figure out the real name until someone actually corrected me and told me. (oh- duh! )
“Nana” means mint in Hebrew, so the name literally combines lemon and mint —lemon +nana which is exactly what this drink tastes is: bright lemony flavor blended with tons of fresh mint and ice into the most cooling, icy summer drink imaginable.
Very Sweet and Sugary
The first Limonana drink I ordered in a restaurant was made with a sugary simple syrup. And let me tell you… it was SO good. Sweet, tart, frosty, minty, and unbelievably refreshing. Perfect on a hot and humid Florida day. One sip and I immediately understood why everyone was ordering it.
A Sugar-Free Version Made With Stevia
But the next time I ordered it, I tried a lighter version sweetened with stevia instead of the sugary simple syrup. It was still delicious and super refreshing, but I have to admit that the sugary syrup version definitely had a little extra magic. Sometimes the real thing just wins. Regardless, when I make it at home for me, I use stevia – Not sure my body/blood sugar can handle that much of the pure sugar simple syrup.
If you love lemonade, mint, frozen drinks, or anything cold and refreshing in the summer, you are going to LOVE Limonana. It tastes like lemonade’s cooler, frostier, more like its exciting cousin —
Now that I am back home in Philly area, and we are having a 3 day brutal heatwave with 97 degree hot and humid temperatures, guess what I’m making?
You got it! Limonana
Spike It !!!Add in A Little Alcohol
Let’s not stop here. It also makes a wonderful alcoholic drink by adding a shot of gin or vodka- just saying!!!!!
Makes 2 large or 4 small drinks
Ingredients for limonana:
Juice of 4 lemons/2 limes or use 6 lemons
1 medium bunch of fresh mint, cleaned and stems removed (about 3/4 cup of fresh mint leaves)
1/2 cup of simple syrup (directions below)
1/2 cup of water
2 cups of ice
** if you don’t use the simple sugar syrup, use 6 packets of stevia or more to taste.
Directions:
Blend together in a strong blender- serve immediately Garnish with a slice of lime or any fruit of your choice.
**How to make simple syrup
Simple syrup is a sweetener that has been around forever. It is made with equal parts sugar and equal parts water.
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
Pour water and sugar into a small saucepan. Stir frequently and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low and stir until sugar is totally dissolved. It should take about 3 minutes total. Allow syrup to cool. Can be stored in the refrigerator to make it cold to use for this drink.
My Notes:
1. This refreshing drink is vegan and gluten-free, naturally.
2. Mint contains small amounts of some really good nutrients such as : iron, vitamin A, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.
3. Lemon and limes are packed with vitamin C
4. Sugar – well I switch to stevia –
5.
