Fresh Southern Strawberry Lemonade with Mint and Hibiscus
A refreshing homemade lemonade blending fresh strawberries, lemon juice, mint, and hibiscus tea for a bright, floral, and sweet summer drink.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped
- 4 large lemons, juiced (about 1 cup or 240 ml lemon juice)
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
- 2 cups brewed and cooled hibiscus tea
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 4 cups cold water
- Ice cubes as needed
- Optional: strawberry slices and lemon wheels for garnish
- Optional: extra mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Brew the hibiscus tea by boiling 2 cups (480 ml) of water and pouring over 2 tablespoons dried hibiscus petals or 2 hibiscus tea bags. Steep for 10 minutes, strain if needed, and cool completely (about 20 minutes).
- Prepare the strawberry puree by blending 2 cups hulled, chopped strawberries with 1/4 cup water until smooth but not watery (about 30 seconds). Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove pulp.
- Juice the lemons using a citrus juicer or by hand until you have about 1 cup (240 ml) of lemon juice. Strain out seeds.
- Make simple syrup by heating 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool (about 10 minutes).
- In a large pitcher, combine the cooled hibiscus tea, strawberry juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Stir well.
- Lightly bruise the mint leaves by clapping between hands or gently muddling, then add to the pitcher and stir lightly.
- Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld and mint infuse.
- Serve chilled over ice, garnished with strawberry slices, lemon wheels, and extra mint sprigs if desired.
Notes
Use ripe, fragrant strawberries for best sweetness. Strain strawberry puree thoroughly for a silky texture. Lightly bruise mint to avoid bitterness. Steep hibiscus tea for about 10 minutes to avoid bitterness. Adjust sweetness gradually. Chill lemonade before serving for best flavor. Add soda water before serving for a sparkling version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces (240 ml)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: strawberry lemonade, hibiscus tea, mint lemonade, summer drink, homemade lemonade, refreshing beverage, southern recipe