Frozen Limonana -a Deliciously Icy Cold Summer Drink

Make Way For Icy Cold Frozen 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. 

How I Discovered This Simple 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, "NaeNae" means mint in Arabic, so the name of the drink 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 which is very popular in Middle Eastern countries. 

Very Sweet and Sugary

The first Limonana drink that 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 in a different restaurant, I asked the waitress to give me a side glass of water to water it down to cut the sweetness.  She suggested I try a lighter version that was sweetened with stevia instead of the sugary simple syrup. Yay!! less calories and less sugar shock. 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 now for me, I use stevia - Not sure my body/blood sugar can handle that much of the pure sugar simple syrup shock.

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, 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 guessed it! Limonana. 

I remember when I was young and we had no air-conditioning, we frequently cooled off with a large pitcher of freshly squeezed lemonade. We would sit outside on the "stoop" with neighbors and share lots of stories while we drank our lemonade.

Why Not Spike It !!!Add in A Little Alcohol

Let's not stop here. Limonana also makes a wonderful alcoholic drink by adding a shot of gin or vodka- just saying!!!!!

Makes 2 large or 4 smaller drinks

Ingredients for limonana:

Juice of 4 lemons and 2 limes or use 6 lemons

1 medium bunch of fresh mint, cleaned and stems removed (about 1 cup of fresh mint leaves)

1/2 cup of cold simple syrup (directions below) or stevia or just sugar

1/2 cup of water

2 cups of ice 

** if using stevia instead of simple syrup start with 4 small packets  of stevia or add more to taste depending on how sweet you like it.

Directions: 

Blend everything 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. 

**For this drink you will need 1/2 cup of the simple syrup and will have leftover which can be frozen or kept in the fridge in an airtight jar for about 3 weeks if you need it again. 

Another summer cooler 

 A Frozen Watermelon Smoothie (link) is refreshing too. 

Notes:

1.  Vegan and gluten-free, naturally. 

2.  Fresh mint leaves contain small amounts of some really good nutrients such as : iron, vitamin A, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. It's not just a pretty face!

3. Lemon and limes are packed with vitamin C- which we all need to help protect against toxins in our environment.

4. Sugar syrup- make it in advance, let it cool, and refrigerate so it is cold before adding to recipe.

5. What is stevia?Stevia is a natural zero-calorie sweetener made from the leaves of the stevia plant which I have grown and is sweet. It does not raise blood sugar. It is much sweeter than sugar, so only a small amount is needed. It is sold in packets (like sugar packets) in the supermarket. However beware. Most of the commercially sold stevia packets are mixed with erythritol or sucrolose which I recently learned in a podcast (by a Mayo Clinic doctor) is not good for us. I went online and found pure stevia..which I just ordered.