You only need three ingredients: lemon, sugar and water. But if you use the right proportions and add a small twist, the result is a fresh, light drink with a smooth flavour. Perfect to serve in a jug with ice and lemon slices, or to keep chilled in the fridge when the heat hits.
And if you want to make it even more special, I'll tell you at the end how to intensify the lemon flavour, how to make it with sparkling water, and what twists work beautifully. Because good lemonade isn't just for summer – it's meant to be enjoyed properly: homemade, well made, and without any fuss.
Ingredients (for approx. 1 litre)
- 4–5 large lemons (about 250 ml of juice)
- 100 g sugar (adjust to taste)
- 750 ml cold water
- Ice to taste
- Lemon slices and a few mint leaves (optional, for serving)
Step-by-step lemonade preparation
- Juice the lemons using a squeezer and strain the juice to remove pulp and seeds. You should get about 250 ml.
- Make a simple syrup: in a small saucepan, mix the sugar with 100 ml of water and heat gently until the sugar has completely dissolved. This avoids undissolved sugar in the lemonade.
- In a jug, mix the lemon juice (the WMF jugs are excellent – I'll explain why below), the cooled sugar syrup and the rest of the cold water (about 650 ml).
- Taste and adjust: if you prefer it sweeter, add more syrup or sugar. If you like it tarter, add a bit more lemon juice.
- Serve with ice, lemon slices and, if you like, a few fresh mint leaves.
*If you want it ice cold instantly, a great tip is to pour the syrup, water, sugar and some ice cubes into a blender. You’ll get a chilled, well-mixed lemonade ready to serve! Just make sure to use a powerful blender, like the Magimix blender, strong enough to crush ice quickly.
Comments
Want an extra intense lemonade?
In our recipe we use a 1:3 ratio (1 part lemon juice to 3 parts water).
If you're someone who loves a strong lemon flavour, you can easily adjust: reduce the amount of water to a ratio closer to 1:1 (e.g. 500 ml juice and 500 ml water). You’ll get a tangier, more intense lemonade.
You can also add extra lemon zest or let the lemonade sit with lemon slices in it to boost the aroma. And if you're serving it with lots of ice, this intense version is perfect – the ice will gradually mellow it without diluting the flavour too much.
What jugs are best for serving lemonade?
I recommend using a jug with a filter that fits in the fridge door for easy chilling. Both the Kineo WMF jug and the Swing-lid jug meet both requirements: they come with filters that retain ice and lemon slices when serving, and they look beautiful too!
Tips to make your lemonade even better
- If serving at a gathering, prepare it ahead and chill it well. It’s much tastier cold.
- Use juicy lemons and wash them if you’ll use the peel for decoration.
- You can make a bigger batch and store it in a glass bottle in the fridge for 2–3 days.
- Want to make lemonade without sugar? Replace the syrup with your usual sweetener, but also dissolve it in a bit of hot water.
How to make lemon slush
Want to turn it into a slushie? Now that your lemonade is ready, just pour it into the Slushi Ninja.
