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Brazilian Lemonade, Brazilian Limeade - whatever you want to call it, this is one delicious and refreshing drink that we enjoy year round! This easy 4-ingredient recipe is perfect for cookouts and other celebrations!
We love having something fun to drink when we have friends over! Some of our other favorites are Homemade Hawaiian Punch, Virgin Piña Coladas, Strawberry Lemonade, or Horchata!
This is one of our favorite treats that seems to go perfectly with everything. Of course it's a fantastic drink to enjoy during the summer when the days are long and hot, but it's also great in the winter when limes are in season and at their juicy best!
I first tried this Brazilian lemonade recipe after seeing it on Our Best Bites, who posted about it way back in 2010, and we've been making it ever since.
It's sweet-tart, tangy, and ever so slightly creamy thanks to the addition of some sweetened condensed milk.
If you have ever eaten at one of many popular Brazilian steakhouses like Tucanos or Fogo de chao, you may have had a chance to try this wonderfully sweet-tart Brazilian Lemonade.
Serve it with almost anything, but if you are doing a Brazilian-themed meal, it's especially delicious with Brazilian black beans and Brazilian white rice.
Why is it called Brazilian Lemonade and not Brazilian Limeade?
It seems like a strange misnomer to call this beverage "lemonade" when there are no actual lemons in it. But the reason is actually because the word for both lemons and limes in Portuguese is limão.
I've also read that this is sometimes actually called Swiss Lemonade in Brazil, although I don't know why or whether that's actually true. It may also just be a regional name from Brazilian limeade or lemonade, given that Brazil is such a large country!
How to Make Brazilian Lemonade
You are going to want a good blender to make Brazilian lemonade. A Vitamix or a Blendtec are probably the two best known brands, and I love my Vitamix and use it on an almost daily basis. But if you don't have one, I'm including a couple of work arounds in the recipe notes.
But it really is so much easier to just use a blender for this recipe.
First you want to make sure you have nice, juicy limes. Ones with thin, smooth skins are the best since they have less white pith between the outer skin and the flesh of the lime and that's where any bitterness comes from.
Give the limes a good scrub with a little bit of hand or dish soap to get rid of wax and any pesticides, then slice of the ends of each lime and cut them into ⅛ths.
Drop half of the limes into your blender, along with half of the water and sugar called for in the recipe and pulse it about 5 to 7 times. You don't actually want to pulverize the limes or your Brazilian lemonade might turn out bitter.
Pour everything through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher, using the back of a spoon to press the limes to release any extra juice, then toss the pulp and skins away and repeat the process with the remaining half of the limes, water and sugar.
After that, you just stir in some sweetened condensed milk (it makes a huge difference so I definitely wouldn't skip this!) and a bunch of ice and serve!
It doesn't keep very well, which is the one downside to this drink, but it seriously takes 5 minutes or less to make and we never have leftovers, so that's not usually an issue.
I have actually even frozen this in popsicle molds and we've enjoyed it that way too, which is a yummy summer treat!
More Refreshing Summer Drink Recipes You'll Love
- Homemade Hawaiian Punch Recipe
- Fresh Squeezed Homemade Lemonade
- Orange Julius Recipe
- Raspberry Peach Italian Cream Sodas
- Homemade Blackberry Lemonade
- Horchata
- Virgin Piña Coladas (Non-Alcoholic)
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Brazilian Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 juicy limes washed and scrubbed clean
- 6 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 Tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Wash limes thoroughly by, scrubbing the skin with hand or dish soap to remove any pesticides or wax. Slice off the ends of each lime, then cut them into ⅛ths.
- In a blender, combine half of the water, half of the sugar, and half of the limes, then pulse 5-7 times. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the lime pulp with a spoon to help release juices, then discarding the remaining skins and pulp. Repeat with the other half of the water, sugar, and limes.
- Stir the sweetened condensed milk into the limeade and serve with lots of ice and thin slices of lime for garnish. If the drink tastes bitter at all, you can add a little extra sweetened condensed milk or sugar as needed.
Rachel says
This drink looks so refreshing! I'm so making it for the kids (and me) this summer. I'm imagining sipping on it while wearing a large hat with my feet in the kiddie pool as the kids chase each other around in the grass with squirt guns! Beautiful photos by the way!
Patti @Patty Cake's Pantry says
I am intrigued by this recipe. The combination of ingredients almost reminds me of a creamsicle (orange and vanilla). Creamsicles are my favorite icecream. I'm trying to imagine the taste, and I can't imagine it, so I will be picking up limes on my weekly trip to the store and making a batch of this. Should I use regular limes or key limes? Does it matter which kind I use.
Sara says
This looks delicious! I can't wait to try this on a warm day!
Pam says
Oh my goodness. This sounds just delightful! I love sweetened condensed milk and could drink (eat) it straight out of the can, but I love limes too, so the combination sounds wonderful to me.
Natalie says
I never thought of adding sweetened condensed milk to lemonade! It sounds like a brilliant idea which makes it richer in texture and creamy. I have to try it soon!
Dannii says
Oh that looks super refreshing. I can just imagine this going down very well at a summer bbq party.
Emily says
Oooh this looks absolutely delicious, love your photos too!
Karyl says
This sounds so light and refreshing, and I always have limes in the house. I love condensed milk, but have never had it in a beverage. What a unique idea
michele says
Ive never met anything with sweetened condensed milk that I haven't just loved! How have I never heard of this before? being a sweet/tart kind of lover.. this is right up my alley! Im going to see if I can get some great limes at the market tomorrow to have this on Sunday for brunch!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
The drink sounds fascinating and it has my mouth watering! Very refreshing! Have you ever put any alcohol in it? I wonder if you could and have it as an adult beverage. I just may experiment.
Amy says
I haven't, but only because we don't drink alcohol. I've seen other recipes that do include it though!
Greg says
For an adult version add rum or tequila. We prefer rum.
Tamara Andersen says
I haven't had Brazilian food in years, and this post has me missing it! We had a Brazilian exchange student in 2005/2006. We did a full on Brazilian feast for his farewell party (including fejoada). A pitcher of this would have been a perfect non-alcoholic beverage (in addition to the caipirinhas!)... I love the addition of the sweetened condensed milk!
Amy says
I've considered hosting a foreign exchange student! It sounds like a wonderful experience!
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
Oh my goodness, I love regular limeade enough, add sweetened condensed milk and I'm not sure I'd ever stop drinking it! Pinning this to make soon, for sure!
Marlee says
I am dying to try out Fogo de Choa. I am totally ordering this when I, eventually, make my way there! A perfect summer drink indeed!
Ben Myhre says
What a cool and interesting drink. I am going to have to give this one a try.
Maggie @ Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
I'm Mexican. If you took out the condensed milk, this would be Lime Agua Fresca. I'm SOOOO going to try adding the condensed milk next time. Thanks for sharing!
Anne Murphy says
Never heard of any kind of dairy in lemon/limeade - but it sounds so creamy and wonderful! Like drinking a popsicle! What a fascinating drink.
Debs says
this sounds so interesting. And also like it would be absolutely delicious!
Tatiana says
I am totally going to try it! Condensed milk is something that widely used in Latin America, and Russia, where i am from. We use it everywhere, from tea and coffee to baking!
Amy says
I didn't realize it was used so much in Russia! So interesting!
Carla says
Soooooo good! My husband asked for thirds, and the little ones kept reaching for more.
Amy says
I'm so glad your family loved this, Carla! We drink so much of it during the summertime!
Karen says
Why couldn't you use lemons instead of limes?
Amy says
Lemons just have a different flavor from limes. I suppose you could try it, but it just wouldn't be the same drink.
Roxanne says
Could a simple syrup be made with the sugar and a cup of the water, then chilled before proceeding with the recipe? A comment from another site felt the drink was gritty because the sugar had not dissolved completely. Once the drink is prepared how long will it keep before becoming bitter? I'd like to make it about 45 minutes before serving it to guests.
Amy says
Yes, I'm sure a simple syrup could be used, although I have never noticed any grittiness in this drink. It really takes at least a few hours to become bitter, so you will be fine with making it an hour in advance. And even the next day when it does start to turn a little bitter, it's still not terrible, just not as good as when it is first made.
Kristi Strange says
This would have to make an excellent cocktail, too! I can’t help but imagine what alcohol would pair great with this...Malibu coconut rum, spiced rum, or maybe a little vodka or tequila...? Any thoughts or suggestions?
Amy says
I don't drink, so I really don't know! But if you try one, leave another comment and let me know because I'm sure it would help other readers!
Greg says
Rum is best. Tried tequila but prefer white rum
Allyson says
Lovely recipe! The reference to Swiss lemonade is probably because it has milk in it.
C. Gresham says
I frequently drink limeade because of the sweet/tart balance of flavors. Simply made, I use one 12 oz. can of 7-Up or Sprite and approx. 2 T. Of frozen limeade, undiluted, straight from the freezer. This makes a very sweet drink but I like the cloudy look with the addition of the sweetened condensed milk so I’m going to give it a try. Thanks for the idea!
Thais says
Lovely recipe. Simple and delicious.
(I'm brazilian and it's true: we really call it swiss lemonade- probably is a reference to the figure of the swiss milkmaid on the packaging of the largest brand of local condensed milk)
Amy says
That makes so much sense!
Resep Mami says
I will really try it! This drink looks very refreshing, Thank you Amy. Pin it
Jill Bean says
Can you use coconut cream instead of sweetened condensed milk?
Amy says
No, I don't think that substitution would work very well. But if you give it a try, let me know what you think!
Holly says
I tried coconut cream condensed milk because it was dairy free but it kind of curdled and had small solid chunks in it. The flavour is amazing, such a refreshing drink. Thank you!
Michelle says
I just made a batch for my son's lemonade stand. Delicious. It will go fast.
Roses 61 says
Why a cup of sugar when you're adding sweetened condensed milk? Tooooo sweet! Will only use the canned milk, and will definitely be freezing the leftovers for popsicles. 💚
Erika Varga says
Made this drink tonight! Turned out amazing!! Will definitely use this recipe next time!💚
Lisa says
I just made this for the first time. I cut the sugar to 1/3 C and used sweetened condensed coconut milk and it was stupid delicious!!!!!
Kelly says
I have made this three times in the last week. It is so refreshing. I have kicked it up a notch by mixing it with whipped cream vodka. Rim martini glass with graham cracker crumbs. Garnish with whipped cream and lime slice. Key Limetini.
Chelsea says
We’ve been using coconut rum for a very tropical summer drink 😋
Chelsea says
I’ve made this a few times this summer and really enjoy it. I’m curious if you’ve ever used lemons, or heard of anyone using lemons. I’d love to know if it’s as tasty. Thanks!
Amy says
You know, that's a really good question! I've never tried it with lemons but now I think I just might have to!
Benedicta says
Thank you for this recipe!
Susan Miller says
I will be making this very soon !! I live in Portugal .. and Limes ... are called LIMAS not limões which truly are lemons ! Although, that being said I have heard a few folk who haven't a clue about limes calling them limões verde ... green lemons ! lol !
Whatever they call them ... this will be delicious I'm sure. The Portuguese and Brazilians seem to use condensed milk both plain sweet, and the ready cooked variety - for which I for one am a VERY happy bunny as I hate boiling the can for hours to get that toffee coloured milk ... I'm terrified it will explode !!
Matt Redding says
It works well with lemons as well, tried it
Melissa Rogers-Obal says
This is one of the best things I've ever tasted! I LOVE sweetened condensed milk, but never would have thought to mix it with limeade...amazing! I love it as is, but have also mixed it with Pama in order to make an adult beverage...so good!
Laura says
Made this today! So good! I didn’t add the sweetened condensed milk until I made individual glasses because I didn’t know how long it would keep.
kia says
This was soooo good. Thank you!
Michelle says
This is so easy and so good have made several times now . Thanks
Grumpy Laura says
Why do people comment on how a recipe looks so good - but never make it? I’m scrollllllllling through all these hundreds of not-cooks’ comments, food porn addicts, who cannot say a single word about the actual recipe and how it worked or didn’t work for them, the only reason to read comments. I know I’m not the only person who gets peeved by this.
LOL Sorry! Nothing against this site or this recipe; it’s great! I had 40 tiny round organic key limes and wondered if anyone had tried using them here. Rots o’ruck there! Lol 🙂 come on, laugh with me? You know going in at any good recipe site that 98% of the comments will be readers, not cooks, and alllll their sobs and gasps, and that’s it, but some days you just have to say something! 🙂 Buried deeply beneath all those posts a real gem can sometimes be located, with a great tip or substitution and results. But dang, my patience is at low tide this afternoon. Hahaha, have a good one and thanks for the recipe.
Monica says
I made this today! (05/09/2021) It was so yummy! I had to improvise with a little more condensed but it was so good! My Mom and My bestfriend loved it alot.
Mae says
This drink is sooo refreshing! I used a small can of coconut milk with 1/8 c of honey & simmered til reduced by half instead of store bought sweetened condensed milk. So good!
Amy says
Such a good idea to make your own sweetened condensed milk! I just had someone ask me for a good substitute over on YouTube so I'm glad to hear it worked well for you!
Carissa Wilson says
If you top each glass with a little sparkling water, it really elevates the drink!
Amy says
Love this idea!
Brian says
Well I do not do dairy, but I will try vanilla oatmilk and see how that works out.