Citric Acid Free Fresh Mint Citrus Lemonade
Avoiding added citric acid doesn't mean giving up bright, refreshing drinks — it just means being more intentional about where that tang comes from. This lemonade gets all of its tartness straight from freshly squeezed lemons and oranges, so you know exactly what's in the glass. A homemade mint simple syrup made with maple syrup adds a gentle, herbal sweetness that feels far more interesting than plain sugar water. The whole thing comes together in one pitcher with no specialty ingredients and no guesswork about hidden additives. It's the kind of drink that looks stunning on a table — especially with a few citrus slices and fresh mint sprigs floating on top — but takes almost no effort to pull off. Whether you're serving it at a summer gathering or just treating yourself on a warm afternoon, this is the kind of from-scratch lemonade that makes store-bought versions feel completely unnecessary.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the mint simple syrup
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed, plus more for garnish
For the lemonade
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 6–7 lemons)
- ½ cup fresh orange juice (from about 2 medium oranges)
- 3 cups cold water
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- lemon or orange slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the maple syrup and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the syrup is fully dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- 2
Add the mint leaves to the warm syrup and press them gently with a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon until fragrant. Let the mint steep for 10 minutes, then strain out and discard the leaves.
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