Fresh Limeade with Mint

Absolutely delicious and completely refreshing, this limeade has the perfect balance of sweet and tart with the coolness of fresh mint leaves. One full recipe of Limeade Concentrate, reconstituted, will make 15 cups (almost 1 gallon) of limeade.

Prep Time30

Cook Time10

Cooling1

Total Time1 40

Servings:

Calories: 226kcal

Author: Terri @ that's some good cookin'

Ingredients

For the Limeade Concentrate

2 cups water
2 cups white granulated sugar
1 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice This can take anywhere between 6-9 limes, Save the lime halves.
several sprigs of fresh mint

For the Reconstituted Fresh Limeade with Mint

10 cups water
Fresh mint leaves, about 3 per pint jar
lime halves, count on 1-2 per pint jar
ice crushed or 'hospital-style' See "Notes".

Optional

8 teaspoons raw sugar This is made up of large, tannish sugar crystals. Find raw sugar near the white and brown sugars in the baking isle of your grocery store.

Instructions

For the Limeade Concentrate:

In a medium-sized saucepot, mix together the 2 cups water and the sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until sugar has completely dissolved. Cool completely.
While the simple syrup is cooling, prepare the lime juice. Wash the limes with a little dish soap and water to sanitize them. Rinse well! Cut the limes crosswise and extract the juice using a reamer or citrus juicer. Be sure to save the lime halves to add to individual serving glasses or jars.
Add the lime juice to the simple syrup; stir to combine. This is the limeade concentrate.
Remove the pot of concentrate from the burner. Add several mint sprigs and allow the concentrate to cool to room temperature. Remove the mint sprigs after the concentrate has cooled.
Store left-over concentrate in the refrigerator, up to 1 week. It can also be frozen for future use, up to 3 months.

For the Reconstituted Limeade with Mint (8 servings):

When ready to serve, mix all of the limeade concentrate with 10 cups of water. This will make nearly 1 gallon of Limeade.
Before serving, to each pint jar or 16 ounce glass, add 3 fresh mint leaves, 1-2 spent lime halves (saved from the juicing process), and 1 teaspoon raw sugar, if using. Add ice to within ½-inch of the top. Fill with Limeade.

For a Single Serving

In a pint jar, put 3 mint leaves, 1-2 lime halves, and, if using, 1 teaspoon raw sugar in the bottom of the jar or glass.
Add 1/2 cup limeade concentrate and 1½ cups water. Stir to combine. Fill the jar or glass with crushed ice to within about 1/2-inch of the top. Serve.
Note: If using a pint jar, put a tight-fitting lid on the jar and shake. The movement of the ice across the mint leaves and the limes will release additional flavor into the jar of limeade. Remove lid and serve.

Notes

For those with a Sonic Drive-In in their area, Sonic sells bags of their crushed ice very inexpensively.
Reconstituted, the full measure of concentrate will make approximately 3¾ quarts of limeade (almost 1 gallon).
To Store Concentrate. Store concentrate, covered, in the refrigerator up to 1 week OR up to 3 months in the freezer. Freezer-safe lidded, plastic containers work well.

Nutrition