Brazilian lemonade

I first heard about Brazilian lemonade while on holiday recently – drying off in the sun at the Victoria Falls Hotel after getting drenched from the knees down at Victoria Falls (totally worth it!) – and the description immediately caught my attention. A creamy, zesty lemonade style drink made with condensed milk? I made a mental note to research and try it as soon as I got home. I’ve made my own lemonade countless times (cookbook readers will have seen my favourite recipe in my book), but I’d never come across a version quite like this, made by blending fresh limes and adding sweetened condensed milk. Needless to say, I was intrigued!

There seem to be plenty of opinions about Brazilian lemonade, from what it should be called to which ingredients are considered authentic and how it should be made. After doing a little research, and getting a feel for the different methods, I decided to make my own version. I use a simple syrup rather than adding sugar directly to the blender, and blended it with fresh limes before straining the mixture and adding the condensed milk. I also played around with blending whole limes versus wedges, wedges definitely won out here – more flavour with less bitterness. The result is a wonderfully creamy and citrusy drink, with a touch of richness and just the right balance of sweet and tart.

You can easily adjust your lemonade to suit your taste. Add a little more condensed milk if you prefer an even sweeter, creamier drink, or less if you like things on the sharper side. It’s a fun twist on traditional lemonade and perfection when served chilled on a hot day. I’m rather happy about making this holiday discovery!

BRAZILIAN LEMONADE

Servings: Makes 650 ml
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120 g white sugar
375 ml (1½ cups) freshly boiled water
6 limes (about 300 g-320 g), washed and quartered
60 ml – 90 ml (4-6 tbsp) condensed milk, to taste
ice, to serve
fresh mint, to serve

1. ) Place the sugar in a small jug. Add the water and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Set aside to cool.

2.) Place the limes in a blender. Add the sugar water and process for 3 – 5 seconds, no longer. Place a sieve over a bowl. Strain the mixture and discard the leftover pith.

3.) Rinse out the blender and add the lime mixture back in. Add the condensed milk and blend until smooth and frothy. (Tip: start with 60 ml condensed, then add more to taste.) Pour over glasses of ice, decorate with mint and serve immediately.