There’s a good chance you’ve seen this creamy lime drink pop up on TikTok or Instagram Reels. It’s frothy, sweet, and so refreshing it practically screams summer. But here’s the twist: Brazilian lemonade is actually made with limes, not lemons!
The name comes from a translation quirk. In Brazilian Portuguese, both limes and lemons are called limões. So when the drink made its way to the U.S., it got labeled as “lemonade.” Confusing? A little. Delicious? Absolutely.
Like many people, I tried the viral version and it was bitter. Really bitter. But I loved the idea of it. So I set out to fix it, and this version comes out creamy, sweet, and super refreshing every time. As it turns out, one extra step and the right blending technique are all it takes to make the best Brazilian lemonade.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Cold, creamy, and citrusy. It’s the ultimate cool-down drink, perfect for summer sipping.
- Made with simple ingredients. I always have a few cans of sweetened condensed milk on-hand in my pantry. Then I just need to grab some limes when I’m ready to make it.
- No juicer required—just a blender. I’m always in favor of less mess in the kitchen!
- It’s a conversation starter. Everyone’s surprised it’s made with limes!
- Refreshing and sweet, not bitter. And I’ll show you exactly how to get it right.
Ingredients Needed
- limes
- sweetened condensed milk
- cold water
- ice
- sugar (optional)
Quick Shopping Guide & Substitutions
Limes: Look for smooth, thin-skinned limes that feel heavy for their size. Persian limes are most common in the U.S., but if you can find smaller, seedless Key limes or Mexican limes, they’ll be closer to what’s used in Brazil.
Don’t use pre-squeezed lime juice here. You want the real citrus fruit for that bright, bold flavor.
Sweetened Condensed Milk: This adds the creamy texture and classic taste. You’ll find it in a can, usually near the baking section. Dairy-free alternatives are available too.
Do not get evaporated milk. It’s not the same.
Sugar (optional): This drink gets all its sweetness from the condensed milk. If you prefer it even sweeter, blend in some granulated sugar. Just taste and adjust.
Ice: Blend a handful of cubes in so the drink comes out ice cold and ready to drink. You’ll want to add some ice to glasses when serving, as well.
How to Make Brazilian Lemonade (Without the Bitterness)
This version fixes the biggest issue with most viral recipes: bitterness. The trick is handling the limes right. Here’s how:
- Prep the Limes: Wash the limes and zest just the green part. Cut off the pith (the white part under the peel) of each lime. Cut limes into quarters and remove the thick center membrane. These parts can make your drink bitter.
- Blend and Strain the Lime Juice: Add the lime zest, peeled limes and cold water to your blender. Pulse 3–4 times. (Not too much. You don’t want to pulverize any remaining pith or seeds.) Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl. Discard solids.
- Blend the Drink: Rinse your blender so leftover bits of solids don’t make the drink bitter. Return the strained lime water to the blender. Add the sweetened condensed milk, optional sugar, and a handful of ice cubes. Blend briefly just until combined and creamy.
- Serve: Brazilian lemonade is best enjoyed immediately. Pour over a tall glass of ice. Garnish with a lime slice or twist if desired.
Prepping the limes:
Blending and straining the lime juice:
Blending the Brazilian Lemonade:
Recipe Notes & Tips
- Taste and adjust sweetness after the second blend. Limes vary in tartness. If you prefer it sweeter, blend in some granulated sugar.
- Only blend the whole limes briefly. Over-blending pulls bitterness from any bits of peel and membrane that wasn’t removed.
- Want it thicker? Add a more condensed milk and ice and blend for a tangy citrus slushy-like beverage.
- Best served fresh. It’s hard to imagine having any leftovers, but if you do, be sure to store the Brazilian lemonade in the refrigerator. As this blended drink tends to separate over time, give it a quick stir, shake, or another blend before serving again.
Avoiding the Bitterness: What You Need to Know
If you’ve made Brazilian lemonade before and it came out bitter, you’re not alone. Here’s why it happens and how to avoid it.
The limes we use in the U.S. are different. Most viral recipes don’t mention that limes in Brazil (typically Tahiti limes) aren’t exactly the same as the Persian limes commonly sold in the U.S.
Tahiti limes tend to have thinner skins, less pith, and a slightly more delicate flavor.
So if you’re lucky enough to find Tahiti limes, you can skip the pith-removal step if you’d like—just make sure you still only pulse the fruit in the blender to avoid bitterness.
The pith is the problem. That thick white layer under the peel is where the bitterness lives. Removing it makes a huge difference, especially with Persian limes.
Blending too long brings out bitterness. You only need a few quick pulses to extract the citrus flavor. Over-blending breaks down the peel and pith, which can make your drink taste harsh.
Rinse between blending steps. After straining the first blend, rinse out the blender container so you’re not reintroducing any bitter solids on the second blend.
By treating the citrus fruit with a little extra care, you’ll end up with a creamy lime drink that’s sweet, not sharp.
Here’s how to keep it sweet:
- Zest only the green part of the lime.
- Slice off the thick pith.
- Remove seeds and membranes inside the lime.
- Pulse, don’t fully blend the limes with water.
- Always rinse the blender between steps to get rid of leftover bits of lime solids.
This method takes a few more minutes, but the result is 100% worth it.
More Lemonade Recipes to Try
- Homemade Hibiscus Lemonade
- Frozen Raspberry Lemonade
- 3-Minute Frosted Lemonade
- Starbucks Blended Strawberry Lemonade
- One-Gallon Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Brazilian Lemonade
Brazilian lemonade is a creamy, citrusy lime drink made with just 3 ingredients plus water. This easy blender recipe makes about 32 ounces, perfect for sharing at your next backyard barbecue or summer get-together. This recipe is super refreshing, sweet, and way better than than viral versions that often come out bitter.
Ingredients
- 4 limes, washed, zested, pith and membrames removed
- 3 cups cold water
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- handful ice cubes, for blending
- sugar, to taste (optional)
- ice for serving
Instructions
- Prep the Limes: Wash the limes and zest just the green part. Cut off the pith (the white part under the peel) of each lime. Cut limes into quarters and remove the thick center membrane. These parts can make your drink bitter.
- Blend and Strain the Lime Juice: Add the lime zest, peeled limes and cold water to your blender. Pulse 3–4 times. (Not too much. You don’t want to pulverize any remaining pith or seeds.) Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl. Discard solids.
- Blend the Drink: Rinse your blender so leftover bits of solids don’t make the drink bitter. Return the strained lime water to the blender. Add the sweetened condensed milk, optional sugar, and a handful of ice cubes. Blend briefly just until combined and creamy.
- Serve: Brazilian lemonade is best enjoyed immediately. Pour over a tall glass of ice. Garnish with a lime slice or twist if desired.
Notes
- Taste and adjust sweetness after the second blend. Limes vary in tartness. If you prefer it sweeter blend, in some granulated sugar.
- Only blend the whole limes briefly. Over-blending pulls bitterness from any bits of peel and membrane that wasn't removed. Just pulse the limes and water.
- Want it thicker? Add a more condensed milk and ice and blend for a tangy citrus slushy.
- Best served fresh. It's hard to imagine having any leftovers, but if you do, be sure to store the Brazilian lemonade in the refrigerator. As this blended drink tends to separate over time, give it a quick stir, shake, or another blend before serving again.