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I tested every part of this Brazilian lemonade—from the sugar balance to the exact 10–12 second blend time—to bring out max lime flavor without bitterness. This is the real deal: creamy, bright, and refreshingly cold. Dare I say it’s better than lemonade?!

A glass filled with ice is being poured with a creamy white drink from a pitcher. The glass is garnished with a slice of lime, and whole and cut limes are placed nearby on a coaster.

A collage of desserts, including chocolate cake, sprinkle cake pops, a glazed bundt cake, and chocolate-covered strawberries, alongside a cookbook titled Sweet. Text reads: Life is Sweet. 63 delicious dessert recipes. BUY NOW.

This isn’t your average limeade—it’s Brazilian lemonade, and it’s unlike anything else. I tested this recipe multiple times, tweaking the sugar levels, adjusting the ratio of sweetened condensed milk, and – most importantly – nailing the exact blending time.

A lot of recipes say “just blend,” but here’s what I found: 10 to 12 seconds is the sweet spot. It gives you that bold, citrusy flavor from the limes without pulling too much bitterness from the peel and pith. Go longer, and you’ll notice it starts to taste harsh – trust me, I tested it.

Another thing I learned during testing? This drink is best enjoyed fresh. Brazilian lemonade tends to separate as it sits, and after about 24 hours, the bitterness from the lime peel becomes more noticeable. If you’re making it for a party or gathering, prep it right before serving for the best flavor and texture.

With bright, zesty lime flavor, creamy sweetness from the condensed milk, and that refreshing icy finish, this recipe is a summer essential. As someone who tests every recipe thoroughly, from muffins to lemonade, I can confidently say: follow this method and you’ll get café-quality Brazilian lemonade in minutes, right in your own kitchen.

Ingredients for Brazilian Lemonade

Here’s a summary of what you’ll need for this Brazilian twist on classic lemonade:

Fresh limes
Granulated sugar
Sweetened condensed milk
Water

Two glasses filled with ice and a light, frothy drink, each garnished with lime slices and a striped straw, surrounded by additional lime wedges on a white surface.

How to Make Brazilian Lemonade

This tasty lemonade recipe is perfect for a hot day and will impress a crowd! Follow these easy steps:

Prep limes: Wash the limes then slice each lime into 8 wedges.

A blender pitcher filled with water, lime wedges, and a cloudy liquid, sitting on a white surface with a white tiled background.

A blender filled with a frothy, light-colored liquid containing small green pieces, sitting on a white surface. Lime halves are visible in the background.

Combine ingredients: Add the sliced limes, granulated sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and 5 cups of cold water to a blender. Blend for 10–12 seconds—count it out! Blending longer can pull too much bitterness from the peel and pith, so don’t overdo it.

A blender filled with a frothy white liquid, with fresh lime halves and a striped towel in the background.

A metal strainer filled with finely chopped green and white vegetables sits atop a glass pitcher. In the background, there are halved limes on a plate.

Press through sieve: Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a large pitcher, pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
Serve and enjoy! Pour over ice and serve immediately. Brazilian lemonade is best enjoyed fresh as it separates as it sits!

A glass of iced, creamy white lime drink garnished with a slice of lime sits on a woven coaster. Fresh limes and lime wedges surround the glass, and a bowl of limes is in the background.

Tips for Making (and Storing) Brazilian Lemonade

I recommend using limes with thin, smooth skins as they tend to be juicier and less bitter. These limes usually have a higher juice-to-pith ratio, which means more vibrant citrus flavor and less of the bitterness that can come from thicker peels. When you’re blending the whole lime, that small detail can make a big difference in the final taste.

Another thing I learned through testing is that Brazilian lemonade doesn’t keep well long-term, and there’s a science-backed reason for that. Since the limes are blended with the peel, the longer the drink sits, the more bitter compounds (like limonin) are released from the rind and pith. That beautiful creamy citrus flavor you start with can turn unpleasantly bitter if you store it too long.

A glass pitcher filled with a frothy, creamy white beverage sits on a wooden board, surrounded by whole and halved limes. A striped cloth is nearby, and the background features white tiled walls.

Storage Tips for Brazilian Lemonade:

Best enjoyed fresh: Brazilian lemonade tastes best within the first few hours after making it.
Short-term storage: If you have to store it, keep it chilled in the fridge for no more than 24 hours.
Plan-ahead tip: You can slice the limes and measure out the sugar, condensed milk, and water ahead of time. Store them separately, then blend just before serving for the best taste.

This is a drink that rewards immediate enjoyment, so invite a friend over, pour it over ice, and enjoy every sip while it’s at its peak.

Two glasses of a creamy, iced white drink garnished with lime slices, surrounded by fresh cut limes and blue striped straws on a light surface with a white tiled background.

Variations & Serving Suggestions

Once you’ve mastered the classic, Brazilian lemonade is easy to customize and make your own. Here are a few fun twists to try:

Tropical Upgrade: Swap 1 cup of water for coconut water to add a naturally sweet, tropical flavor that pairs beautifully with lime.
Fresh Herb Infusion: Add a few sprigs of fresh mint or basil to the blender (just for a pulse or two) for a herbal lift that tastes extra refreshing on hot days.
Cocktail Version: Make it party-ready with a splash of cachaça, vodka, or white rum for a grown-up twist. Serve in chilled glasses with lime wedges and crushed ice.
Turn it into a float: Pour it over a scoop of lime sorbet or vanilla ice cream for a fun dessert drink that tastes like summer in a glass.

Presentation Tips

Serve over ice in frosted glasses
Garnish with lime wheels or a mint sprig
Add a colorful straw for a pop of fun!

Two glasses of creamy, iced limeade with green-and-white striped straws, garnished with lime slices, sit on woven coasters. Fresh lime wedges are scattered around on a light surface.

More Lemonade Recipes

Two glasses of a creamy white drink with ice, each garnished with a lime slice, sit on a woven mat. Fresh limes and blue-striped straws are nearby, with a white tiled background.

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