Basil Lemonade: Your New Favorite Summer Beverage

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Basil lemonade! This special lemonade recipe is flavored with fresh basil. I was skeptical when I first tried it, but I was quickly converted. Basil is no longer destined only for pizza or spaghetti sauce in my house. To me, basil lemonade is the taste of summer. I make it several times every summer, and grow plenty of basil in my garden just for this recipe. I’ve shared basil lemonade with many friends and they all enjoy it. You’ve gotta try it!

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Mesh Strainer: https://amzn.to/4c3NnwI
Flip top bottles: https://amzn.to/3Vi8PHa
Juicer: https://amzn.to/4en0bjo

• 1 cup packed basil leaves
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups lemon juice
• 6 cups water, divided

Instructions:

• Add sugar to two cups of the water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add basil and boil for 1-2 minutes until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is syrupy.

• Remove from heat and cover. Steep for 30 minutes or more.
• Meanwhile, squeeze 1 1/2 cups lemon juice into a large bowl or pitcher. Optionally, you can use bottled lemon juice. To the lemon juice, add four cups of cold water.

• Place a strainer over the lemon juice mixture. Pour the basil syrup through the strainer, into the lemon juice. Stir the mixture and chill before serving.

I love to store homemade beverages -like this basil lemonade- in glass flip-top bottles. They’re cute and practical. They’re easy to store and easy to carry. Bring some basil lemonade to a friend’s house!