Refreshing and radiant – that’s our Thai Limeade! Infused with the essence of lime leaves and lemongrass, it’s a drink that captures the vibrant spirit of Thailand in every sip.
Quench your thirst and treat your taste buds to the lively and invigorating experience of Thai Style Limeade. This limeade tastes delicious when spiked with gin. It is both refreshing and fulfilling.
Packed with lively citrus flavor, this drink puts a fun twist on traditional limeade by blending sweet and sour. It captures the essence of Thai cuisine of this popular drink often served at Thai restaurants.
Table of Contents
Reasons to Love this Thai Limeade
- I love the unique blend of lime juice, lemongrass, and lime leaves because it makes an exotic, refreshing cool drink.
- Thai Styled Limeade has a refreshing zest. Its crisp, citrusy zest provides an instant refreshment, perfect for hot days.
- The perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess makes Thai Style Limeade an irresistible and refreshing drink.
Recipe Ingredients
- Lime Leaves: Impart a unique, aromatic flavor that’s key to the Thai style.
- Lime Juice: Provides the characteristic tangy, citrusy flavor of the drink.
- Lemongrass Stalk: Adds a fresh, slightly earthy tone to the limeade. Read more about my lemongrass addiction and shopping advice in this post on making lemongrass tea.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Kaffir Lime Leaves: Use kaffir lime leaves instead of regular lime leaves for a more intense citrus aroma.
- Garnishing Options: Adding lime slices to the rim of the glass or floating them in the drink can enhance the tea’s citrusy aroma and flavor. You can also use herbs like a sprig of fresh mint leaves to add a refreshing aroma and a touch of green to your limeade.
How to Make Thai Limeade
Step #1: Combine the sugar, 1 cup of water, lime leaves, and lemongrass in a saucepan over medium heat. Allow the simple syrup to steep for 10 minutes. Strain the leaves and lemongrass pieces from the liquid. Let it cool for 10 minutes.
Step #2: Combine the cooled syrup with 3 cups of cold water and 1 cup of ice. Stir in the lime juice. Serve over ice with lime wheels, if desired.
Expert Tip
Use a French Press for infusing and straining. After simmering the syrup ingredients, pour them into the press. The plunger makes infusion and straining efficient, enhancing the limeade’s flavor and clarity.
If a French Press isn’t available for making Thai limeade, cheesecloth or tea sock is a great alternative for straining. After simmering your ingredients, pour the mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. This fine material effectively filters out lime leaves and lemongrass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Adding spices like a cinnamon stick or a few cardamom pods to the syrup while it’s simmering can introduce warm, aromatic flavors. Just remember to strain them out along with the lime leaves and lemongrass.
The syrup is ready when the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture has slightly thickened, usually after simmering for about 10 minutes.
Yes. To do this, simply run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass and then dip the rims in a small plate of salt.
Storage Info
Store Thai Limeade in the refrigerator in a sealed container, a glass jar, or a pitcher. It stays fresh for up to 5 days. Freezing is an option; pour it into ice cube trays for easy, portioned use later. If it separates after thawing, simply stir or shake well to recombine the flavors.
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Thai Limeade Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar - white sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup lime leaves - about 20 leaves
- 1/4 cup chopped lemongrass stalk
- 1 cup fresh lime juice - for me, this was about 7 limes
- 3 cups cold water + 1 cup ice
- Lime wheels for garnish - optional
Instructions
- Combine the sugar, 1 cup of water, lime leaves, and lemongrass in a saucepan over medium heat. Allow the simple syrup to steep for 10 minutes. Strain the leaves and lemongrass pieces from the liquid. Let it cool for 10 minutes.
- Combine the cooled syrup with 3 cups of cold water and 1 cup of ice. Stir in the lime juice. Serve over ice with lime wheels, if desired.
NOTES
Nutrition
Such a tasty and refreshing drink! The flavors come together so well, and it’s so easy to make. I’ll be making this on repeat!!!
Made it. The stuff was absolutely delicious. Second time around I upped the amount of lime leaves and lemongrass a bit
are the lime leaves you use the same as kaffir lime leaves? or are they another kind?
Same kind!