Brazilian Lemonade is my most favorite drink, ever. I fell it love with it while living in Brazil where at most restaurants and homes, fresh squeezed tropical beverages are the norm. It’s tart, but sweet, made with fresh limes and a secret ingredient (spoiler alert: sweetened condensed milk) that makes it mildly creamy. It looks a little strange but is refreshingly delicious and unlike any other beverage!
The first question that people generally ask about Brazilian Lemonade is why it’s called lemonade when it’s actually made with limes?? In Brazil, lemons are not common. Their word for lemonade, “Limonada” actually refers to limes. And in Brazil, they actually call this beverage Swiss Lemonade. This is because the signature ingredient there, Nestle brand sweetened condensed milk, shows a Swiss milkmaid on the label. So. We’ve got Brazilian lemonade, which they call Swiss Lemonade, which is actually limeade. Got it? All you need to know is that it’s DELICIOUS.
Make a Simple Syrup and Mix Limes
The first thing you’ll do is make a simple syrup, and it’s not cooked or anything. You’ll simply stir sugar into water and stir until it’s dissolved. You’ll place part of that in a blender and add fresh limes, peel and all (no substitutes for fresh here).
Pulse Mixture in Blender
Strain the Brazilian Lemonade
Add Sweetened Condensed Milk
Then the secret ingredient: sweetened condensed milk. You can often buy mini cans in the latin section of the grocery store. This recipes needs about 1 1/2 little cans. Since you’ll probably want to double this recipe, that’s 3 cans. They also sell a squeeze bottle in the Latin foods section which is also helpful. Or just open a regular sized can and make some chocolate sauce with the leftovers!
The sweetened condensed milk makes the drink itself look like milk, which is sometimes confusing to guests! It’s unique and so crazy good that I love serving this to people who have never had it before.
Chill and Pour
You’ll want to avoid adding ice to your actual pitcher because it will water it down. Instead, add ice to the glasses before you pour.
Brazilian Lemonade
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
Citrus and sweetened condensed milk may sound like a strange combination, but trust me on this amazing Brazilian beverage that’s cool, creamy, sweet-tart and refreshing!
Ingredients
- 4 juicy limes (try and find ones with thin, smooth skins; they’re the juiciest and the thin skin cuts down on the chance of your drink being bitter)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 cups cold water
- 6 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Mix cold water and sugar very well and chill until ready to use. This step can be done ahead of time.
- Wash limes thoroughly with soap (hand-dishwashing soap or regular hand soap works great). Cut the ends off the limes and then cut each lime into 8ths.
- Place 1/2 of the limes in your blender.
- Add 1/2 of the sugar water, place the lid on your blender, and pulse about 5 times. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher (the one you’ll serve the lemonade in) and pour the blended mixture through the strainer and into the pitcher. Use a spoon to press the rest of the liquid into the pitcher. Dump the pulp and stuff in the strainer into the trash. Repeat with remaining limes and sugar water.
- Add sweetened condensed milk and stir. You may want to taste test it at this point; Sometimes if you use bitter limes, it will need more sugar and maybe a little more milk. *In Brazil, they will actually place the lime liquid back into the blender to blend the sweetened condensed milk in- this creates kind of a frothy consistency that’s super good! Feel free to do this, or simply stir the milk in as directed in this recipe.
- Serve immediately over lots of ice. This does not keep well, so don’t make this in advance (although you can cut the limes, mix the sugar water, and measure the sweetened condensed milk in advance).
Notes
Serving Note
- Serves 4, technically, although I can pretty much guarantee you that people will want more. You can double, triple, etc. the recipe. Just make in batches that will fit in your blender.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Questions & Reviews
I know this is a crazy question, but I have a tree FULL of lemons. Can I use lemons instead of limes? It sounds so good but I hate to buy limes when I have so many lemons.
I’m sure a lemon version would be delicious!
I made this from a previous post of yours. too. It’s absolutely delicious! I saved the pulp & peels in ice cubes, & add them to my water, which is refreshing in the summer
Thank you for sharing it with us!
Has anyone tried this with coconut milk instead of sweetened condensed milk?
I have! Different, but still good. You’ll want to sweeten it accordingly since coconut milk is not nearly as sweet as sweetened condensed milk.
I just tried the Brazilian lemonade and it was yummy. Used 3 limes ,1/2 c. of sugar, 2 1/2 c. water, and 6 T. of Caruva
horchata. Not too sweet. I juiced the limes first. Used 2 of the lime rinds in the blender. My new drink for the summer.
yum!
How many cups does this make?
Oh wow-just made this for the first time: delicious! I foresee many pitchers of this in my summer! With my big ninja, the whole recipe filled the blender to capacity and I was able to do it in one batch. Thanks!
I also got hooked on Brazilian Lemonade from Tucanos.
Before I found this recipe I was trying all I could think of on my own to make it.
The other day I was a being a little sneaky or maybe cheating LOL but I called Tucanos to find out what was in it. I was totally shocked by the sweetened condensed milk. But I did find out one other detail. They told me they use passion fruit puree in it. He said it wasn’t much but they do use that. Now all I can find is passion fruit juice but I actually do not like it at all with the passion fruit. My last batch I tried just a little bit and I still didn’t like it. However I personally go easy on the milk and add it to taste. I just do a little at a time because I don’t like actually being able to taste the milk in it.
I was wondering about adding alcohol like perhaps rum.What do you think?And suggestions would be great. thanks
You’re asking 2 Mormon girls, haha. I’m not sure! But I think if you read through the comments, people have made notes about that.
I haven’t tried rum. However reg vodka or some of the flavored vodkas would be great. I think lemon or lime would compliment it well.
Can not wait to try this! Sounds awesome…Trader Joes sells sweetened condensed milk in a squeeze type bottle.
This stuff is amazing!!!! Thank you for the recipe!
Do you know the origin of this drink? If so please. Let me know within in the next 10 hours
I have made this twice so far, with my son whose 14. We were curious to see how it would taste and were really happy with how it turned out. Made it magazine today and will make it in the future for our summer BBQ parties. I added some coconut water once and it tasted great also -lime colada. Ginger beer might be good too.
This was refreshing and very tasty. The whole family truly enjoyed this, it will be on our repeat list!
OH. MY. GOODNESS. This is heaven! Most copy cat recipes aren’t quite the same as the restaraunt, but I think this takes just like Tucanos! My husband and I get full off just the lemonade when we go, so now we can have it at home!! I’m impressed. PS…I was at TOFW in SLC when you were there and I would have never guessed that you had been thru a traumatic experience. So sorry that you had to go thru that, so stressful, I can’t even imagine. Glad he is doing ok!
this was so delish! i used whipped cream instead of condensed milk and fanta instead of the limes, but it was soooooo good! nomnomnom
I love this lemonade. I actually call it Brazilian Lemonade Martinis because I put spiced rum in it. So refreshing.