Mint Lemonade for the Break-Fast: 5 Minutes

A mint lemonade ready in five minutes, zero cooking, right as the fast ends. Nothing goes near the stove.

Why start with a drink, not solid food

After twenty-five hours with nothing, a cold drink starts rehydrating the body gently and signals the digestive system to wake up before jumping into solid food.

Drink it slowly rather than all at once, so it doesn't overload a stomach that's still completely empty. Waiting a few minutes before the first solid food helps too.

Why room-temperature lemonade beats ice-cold from the freezer

A frozen or heavily iced drink on an empty stomach can cause cramping. Better to serve the lemonade cool, at fridge temperature, not frozen or loaded with ice.

Anyone who wants ice is better off adding it to the glass at serving time rather than the whole pitcher, so each person can decide and most of it stays at a comfortable temperature.

How long to blend the mint

The mint should blend down to something close to a dark green paste, not roughly chopped leaves. If whole leaf pieces are still visible, the flavor hasn't fully released and it needs another half minute. The liquid should also turn a clear, bright green, a sign the flavor has moved into the water. A fine strainer catches the solids, but press down on them before discarding to pull out extra flavor.

The recipe

Mint Lemonade for the Break-Fast

Fresh mint lemonade, zero cooking, ready in five minutes.

• Servings 6 glasses
• Prep 5 min
• Total 5 min

Print recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup / 240 ml fresh lemon juice (about 6 to 8 lemons)
• ¾ cup (5.3 oz / 150 g) superfine sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves (loosely packed)
• 5 cups / 1.2 liters cold water

Instructions

1. In a blender, combine the mint leaves with one cup of the water and the sugar, and blend until the mint is finely chopped and the sugar starts to dissolve.

2. Strain through a fine sieve into a pitcher, pressing on the mint to extract the flavor.

3. Add the lemon juice and the remaining water, and stir well until the sugar is fully dissolved.

4. Taste and adjust the sweetness or tartness as needed.

5. Serve cool, at fridge temperature, with a fresh mint sprig.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make it ahead?
Yes, up to a day ahead. Keep it in a covered pitcher in the fridge and stir before serving.

Can I skip the mint?
Yes, it's a good classic lemonade without it too, just skip the muddling step.

How sweet should it be?
Depends on taste. Taste before serving and add a bit more sugar or water as needed.

Can I use bottled lemon juice?
Fresh is better and richer, but bottled juice works fine if that's what's on hand.