Mint Lemonade

This mint lemonade recipe has all the sweet-tart goodness of classic lemonade plus the cooling and refreshing flavor of fresh mint leaves. To pull it together, you'll first make a simple syrup from equal parts sugar and water. After letting the syrup cool, combine it with fresh-squeezed lemon juice and plenty of sliced mint leaves. Served over ice and garnished with lemon wheels and more mint, it's an ideal summer sipper that you’ll want to make on repeat all season long. And while it's delicious on its own, this lemonade also makes an excellent warm-weather cocktail when combined with a splash of gin, vodka, or tequila.

Using a Simple Syrup Instead of Sugar

Simple syrup—a cooked mixture made of equal parts sugar and water—is ideal for sweetening cold beverages including cocktails, iced coffee, and this minty lemonade. It's difficult to dissolve granulated sugar in cold beverages without a lot of stirring (and, even then, you still may be left with grains of sugar on the bottom). Boiling the two ingredients while stirring helps to quickly dissolve the sugar, leaving you with a smooth and sweet syrup that blends seamlessly into cold drinks.

Buying Fresh Mint

Unless you're growing it yourself, the mint you're likely to find in stores for making cocktails, desserts, and teas is spearmint. With its bright green leaves and mild, sweet aroma, it's an all-purpose variety that works just as well in a mojito as it does in savory recipes (like this light, summery pasta). Peppermint is sometimes available and would make a nice addition to this lemonade—you'll be able to distinguish it by its darker, purply stems and sharp, menthol-like scent.