Watermelon Lemonade Recipe

In our 'Tis the Sea-sun card we sent out in July, we included a delicious recipe for watermelon lemonade. Shout out to our Ambassadors Jenni and Lindsay, who tried out our recipe and suggested accommodations so that everyone can enjoy this summer drink!

Ingredients

• 4 cups of cubed watermelon (seedless or de-seeded)

• 1 cup of fresh lemon juice (5-6 large lemons)

• 1 cup of sugar or 1 cup of simple syrup

• 4 cups of cold water (adjust to taste)

• Ice for serving

• Optional garnish: watermelon wedges, lemon slices, or fresh mint

Instructions

1. Blend & strain: Blend watermelon until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove pulp (optional for a smoother drink).

2. Juice lemons: Squeeze lemons and strain juice to remove seeds and excess pulp.

3. Make simple syrup (optional): Combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water over medium heat. Stir until dissolved. Cool before using.

4. Mix it all: In a large pitcher, stir together:

   - Watermelon juice

   - Lemon juice

   - Simple syrup or sugar

   - 3-4 cups of cold water (start with 3 and taste-test)

5. Serve: Pour over ice. Garnish with mint, lemon wheels, or a mini watermelon wedge on the glass rim.

Tips & Variations

Sweetness Adjustments:

• Less sweet? Start with ½ cup of sugar or syrup and taste before adding more.

• Naturally sweet? Use honey or agave (start with ½ cup).

• Low sugar? Try Stevia, monk fruit, coconut sugar, or a sugar-free syrup.

Flavor Boosts:

• Add lime juice for a citrus twist (replace ¼ cup of lemon juice).

• Stir in a few fresh mint leaves or basil while chilling.

• For a tropical vibe, add a splash of pineapple juice (¼ to ½ cup).

Serving and Presentation:

• Freeze extra watermelon cubes and use as ice cubes (keeps drink cold without watering it down).

• Rim glasses with sugar or chile-lime seasoning for a sweet or tangy finish.

• Add a splash of sparkling water or lemon-lime soda just before serving for fizz.

Jenni making watermelon lemonade to stay cool in this heat

ME/CFS Warrior Version by Lindsay

I had to brainstorm a low-energy version of this as I live with moderate Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and cannot make recipes from scratch. In my version, I used approximately:

• 6 oz of water.

• 18 oz of Simply watermelon juice.

• A sachet of LMNT lemonade electrolytes in a blender bottle shaker.

I shook the ingredients up and then poured a small glass full and used large ice cubes. It was delicious!

Lindsay's ME/CFS Warrior Version