Maybe it's because lemonade is so readily available that causes the less popular limeade to taste better to me. In any case, I am a sucker for "exotic" or "different" beverages. If there's a new soda flavor, I've got to try it. When limes are on sale, I can't help but make limeade.
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Before juicing the limes, roll them on the counter while pressing down with your palm to help break down the interior membranes and make juicing easier. Then cut them in half along the equator and press and twist against a reamer to release the juice. I don't like pulp in my fruit drinks, so I juice through a fine mesh strainer. Then I pour the liquid through another strainer (because I really don't like pulp in my juice). You should plan to have the juice end up in a measuring cup when you are done juicing and straining.
You can pour sugar directly into the lime juice and water when you prepare limeade, but sometimes you get gritty pieces of undissolved granules of sugar. To solve this problem, just prepare a simple syrup by heating one cup water and dissolving one cup granulated sugar into it. The simple syrup can be made in larger quantities and kept in the fridge for future use in making lemonade, sweetened iced tea, caramel sauces, etc.
Now how much simple syrup should we add to the lime juice? I worked it out to be 3 times as much. This quantity of simple syrup will be enough to temper the tart acidity of the lime juice without being overly sweet. So, for each cup of lime juice, heat 1-1/2 cup water and 1-1/2 cup granulated sugar. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved and remove from heat. Pour the three cups of simple syrup into the lime juice and stir. Now you have four cups of limeade concentrate. You can refrigerate this or even freeze them into ice cube trays for instant limeade whenever you want.
To convert the limeade concentrate into limeade, simply add two cups of water for each cup of concentrate. If you desire a little less tartness and sweetness, just add an addition half cup of water to the mixture.
Limeade
Limeade concentrate
| 1 cup (240 mL) lime juice | mix | |
| 1-1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar | mix while heating | |
| 1-1/2 cups (360 mL) water |
Limeade (makes 3 cups)
| 1 cup (240 mL) limeade concentrate | mix |
| 2 cups (480 mL) water |
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Could you offer other alternatives to contribute? Maybe an Amazon wishlist ?
Please keep on posting :)
Sérgio N.
Thanks Michael for the great site!
Also the actual name for limeade in urdu/hindi (Indian) is Iskanjwein (Iss-kaanj-ween).
Andrew
I'm not an engineer (but the daughter of one), so the recipe isn't precise:
In a blender, combine:
1/2 can limeade concentrate
4-8 shots of good tequila (I use 1800)
1-2 shots Grand Marnier (you could use triple sec if you're cheap)
fill the blender w/ cracked ice
blend until slushy, then taste and adjust amount of tequila, limeade, etc (you can add a little h2o if it's too thick)
rub a cut lime on the edge of each glass and dip in sea salt or kosher salt
pour margaritas into the glasses and enjoy! Makes enough for at least 2 people!
by the way, what's the deal with quinine and all that stuff in club soda/seltzer water/whatnot? i ended up getting whichever one had the least 'stuff' listed in the ingredients. is it bubble-preservative?
change: not to keep the original flavor.
to
to keep the orignial flavor.
Ian from Finland
1. Juice 4 lemons as described in original recipie. I happen to have an electric juicer so it is a task that takes little time or effort.
2. Pour the lime juice into a two quart pitcher (in my case the 4 limes made about 4/5 of a cup of juice.)
3. Add one cup of sugar and one cup of water. Wisk well. This made one pint of concentrate after the sugar dissolved.
4. Fill the pitcher to the top with cold water to make two quarts combined. Wisk away like crazy. After a few minutes it is ready to pour into a cup filled with ice cubes. Drink and enjoy.
5. Put the pitcher in the refrigerator and watch how fast it disappears as the other members of your household sip and taste and you keep returning for more.
I have one little twist for it that my family at least seems to love
thinly slice a 2 inch piece of fresh ginger root and add it when you are making the simple syrup fish it out after the syrup has cooled before you mix with the juice. Use the concentrate as normal .
We used a professional juicer to juice the limes, removing only the peels and the heavy white stuff between the peel and the meat of the lime. We then squeezed the pulp through cheese cloth, which got us a lot more juice. 10 smallish limes yielded 20 fl. oz. of liquid.
To the 20 fl. oz. of lime juice we added 40 fl. oz. of water and 3 cups (24 fl. oz.) of sugar. After refrigeration, we got the same sort of very tart, very sweet sipping limeade we love from the store. Your recipe might be a tad more drinkable for those not wishing quite such a punch in the face for flavor. ;)
The closest Sonic to me is 133 miles away according to the Sonic website locator. That is disappointing because I hear they are very good.
My tweaks: added a bunch of coarsely chopped mint leaves to the lime juice and let it steep while making/cooling my simple syrup (next time, I'll try mashing it up a bit to release more of that minty goodness). Run it through a fine seive and squeeze the leaves to extract all the juice before mixing with simple syrup/water. Yum.
Also, added thin slices of lemon and lime to the pitcher. You could also garnish glasses with a small sprig of fresh mint.
I made your Limeade concentrate with Key Lime juice and poured it over snow from my back porch. It was delicious!
Signed,
Way too much time on my hands.
P.S. Great recipe!
Also, anyone tried the recipe with Splenda?
M
I actually do use the same ratio for lemonade. In fact, I've been making it so often that I just add the sugar directly into the lemon juice and stir until dissolved (it take a while). Then I pour out a little bit into a cup and add water as my lemonade mix (without taking up too much space in the already cramped fridge).
Mike
I'm glad you posted this comment. I'm running low on lemonade and just bought a bunch of limes to make limeade later this week. I'll try the zesting tip and see if I need to alter the recipe in the future.
thanks for the great recipe.
Thanks for the recipe!
1) Squeeze the juice of half a lime into a larger glass
2) Pour in 12 ounces of Sprite (Diet is fine)
3) Add a shot of Reese Maraschino Syrup
4) Add crushed ice
This is the nectar of the gods.
Thanks so much for the recipe!
WOW! After I finish this batch I´m headed to pickup some additional lines, ginger, and Sonic ice... gotta get ready for the weekend! Thanks to everyone who increased my knowledge of one of the original "homemade" brews! ;)
Thank you