Strawberry Basil Lemonade (Printer-friendly)

A vibrant blend of strawberries, basil, and lemon for a refreshing summer drink.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruits

01 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
02 - 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately 4-5 lemons)

→ Sweetener

03 - 1/3 cup honey or agave syrup, adjusted to taste

→ Herbs

04 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, plus additional for garnish

→ Liquids

05 - 4 cups cold water
06 - 1 cup club soda or sparkling water, optional for carbonation
07 - Ice cubes as needed

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine strawberries, basil leaves, lemon juice, and honey or agave syrup in a blender and blend until smooth
02 - Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large pitcher to remove pulp and seeds
03 - Pour cold water into the pitcher with strained mixture and stir thoroughly to combine
04 - Taste the mixture and adjust sweetness or acidity by adding additional honey, agave syrup, or lemon juice as desired
05 - Add ice cubes and club soda or sparkling water immediately before serving for effervescence
06 - Pour into individual glasses and garnish each serving with fresh basil leaves and sliced strawberries

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's the kind of drink that makes people close their eyes and ask what's in it, which is basically the highest compliment a pitcher can receive.
  • You can make the whole thing in under 15 minutes, no cooking required, just blending and tasting and adjusting until it feels right.
  • It's naturally vegan and gluten-free, so you're not scrambling when friends with dietary preferences arrive.
02 -
  • Don't blend the basil too long or it turns bitter—a quick pulse is all it needs, just enough to bruise it and release its flavor without letting it get angry.
  • If you use frozen strawberries straight from the freezer, they chill the entire pitcher instantly, which is a trick I learned when I forgot to buy ice but still wanted cold drinks.
03 -
  • If you're making this for a crowd, prepare the base in the morning and keep it in the fridge, adding sparkling water and ice just as people arrive—it stays fresher and fizzer this way.
  • Use a citrus juicer if you have one; fresh squeezed lemon juice makes a noticeable difference compared to the bottled kind, and it's worth the extra two minutes.
Go Back