Summer is here, and I am feeling the new season in every fiber of my being. The weather is getting warmer, days are getting lazier, meals are migrating outdoors, and grills are firing up around the country. At this time of year, my family yearns for Israel. We try to make a trip there every year, usually in the warmer months. It’s a magical place. We stay in Tel Aviv, making day trips to places like Jerusalem, Haifa and Galilee.
One of our first stops is always Caesarea, an ancient Roman port city built by Herod the Great. There you can walk among the ruins of a pagan city named for the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus. It’s built on top of the ruins of Straton’s Tower (Stratonospyrgos), an agricultural storehouse and Jewish city that was central to the Hasmonean Kingdom’s shipbuilding industry. In 63 BCE, when Herod took over, he oversaw the construction of a harbor, roads, baths, temples, markets, and a large arena. The city became central to Roman life in the area, regularly hosting events like gladiator games, chariot races, and theatrical productions. Today, the structures of the city Herod built are still largely intact. You can view the baths, walk in the arena, see the sculptures, and imagine what it was like to live there in Roman times.
When you’re done exploring Caesarea, you can stop at one of the seaside cafes along the shoreline. We like to sit and order a meal, taking in the ocean air and atmosphere. It is really something to dine in the middle of an ancient city. Our tradition is to order limonana, the national drink of Israel. Limonana is lemonade blended together with mint and ice to make a frozen slush. It is so refreshing, the perfect treat for a hot, humid Israeli afternoon.
When the weather is hot here in Los Angeles, I blend up a batch of limonana. My recipe appears below. You can easily make it diet or diabetic friendly by using a low glycemic sweetener (suggestions appear at the end of the recipe). If you’re feeling naughty, you could also add a splash of citrus-infused vodka to the mix. We like to pour our limonana into glasses garnished with mint. Then we sit in the back yard, sip on our drinks, and dream of dining in the middle of an ancient city on the shores of the Mediterranean…
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Limonana - Frozen Mint Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar (or more to taste)
- 1 3/4 cups water (divided)
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 1/2 cups ice
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves
- 6 mint sprigs for garnish (optional)
NOTES
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of water and sugar. Heat over medium, whisking constantly, till the sugar dissolves. Let the water cool to room temperature.
- In a blender, combine the sugar water, fresh lemon juice, ice, fresh mint leaves and 3/4 cup of water.
- Pulse for a few seconds, then blend for 1 minute till the ice is thoroughly crushed and the drink takes on the texture of a thick slushy. Taste. This recipe produces a mildly sweet limonana, which is the way I like it. Some people like it sweeter. Add sugar to taste, if desired, and blend again.
- Pour into cold glasses and serve. Garnish with sprigs of mint, if desired.
Nutrition
Hi Tori from Queensland, Australia. Came to visit my family here briefly in January, then this “virus” so still here (Australia). No international travel. Living mostly in Nesher, 5 min walk from the Technion. Nothing compares with this drink on a hot day, walked 14 kms around Haifa last year and ended up with heat stroke, this drink definitely hastened my recovery! Great recipe, thank you. In your note, you say “I am very happy you’re here” – word for word as spoken to us when we first heard Avigdor Kahalani speaking to our tour group in 2007. He took us to live fire training, what an experience. Been going back ever since, had an apartment in Abu Ghosh for a couple of years, some great Arab restaurants and lovely people, but Haifa now home away from home, so many wonderful friends and the only country I am truly happy. Often commute back to England where I have family, only 5 hours compared with 28 to 36 hours from Australia. The Trump brokered new Peace agreement with UAE can only shorten travel times once landing rights established. Thanks sharing, shalom and blessings to you and yours!
I made this for my collleagues at our weekly social. We are in Israel, and everyone loved it! It tasted just like a shop limonana in Tel Aviv!! Thanks Tori!!
Fantastic Sarah! Yes I worked hard to recreate that exact flavor. Glad it worked out for you!
This sounds so good! I live in Denton, Texas where it is really hot in the Summer, so I am going to try limonana.
Thank you for this limonana recipe. I first experienced this wonderful drink in Jerash, Jordan, a couple of years ago. Can’t wait to try yours. Your pictures of Israel bring back great memories of two amazing trips there.
I was just there! what a beautiful place to wander and eat lunch, and of course, drink that refreshing drink! I don’t even like mint, but I found myself craving it! whether in Netanya, Tel Aviv, Nazareth or Bethlehem, mint lemonade is served at every meal…love it!
Can this be made in a pitcher ahead of a party
Hi Sarah, Tori’s assistant Ashley here. I wouldn’t recommend making this drink too far in advance. You can certainly make a larger batch for a party, but it’s best served just after blending.
Not really as it separates!
After I returned from Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel, I made this limonana with a lot of wodka to honour my Russian Jewish friends in Haifa. Excellent drink. Nazdrovje & L’Chaim :-))
Hello Tori, for Debra that has no blender, it’s easy just crash the leaves with a mortar, ( if you don’t have a mortar crush them in a plate with a glass) let them sit in the water for a few hours later strain them direct to the water with the juice, sugar, ice and drink it !
Sometimes in Mexico we just drink it simple without lemon or lime, just water, Ice, mint and sugar and you just let them sit in the water for a few hours and drink it with Vodka or without.
It´s just delicious !!!!!
Sorry for my English I hope you understand me.
I had this in Barcelona, Spain but didn’t know what it was – couldn’t get enough of it -so refreshing! – absolutely delighted to find your recipe. Will be travelling to Israel – will look forward to having it there also. Yippee!
I really loved the look of Limonana and am going to try your recipe. Cheers
Thank you for this great recipe. So refreshing and tasty! The amount of sugar was perfect for me as I don’t like anything too sweet either. Looking forward to trying it with some vodka 🙂
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I used limes instead of lemons and unintentionally made it sweeter (just dumped in some pre-made sugar syrup I had on hand, without really checking the proportions). At the end, I added seltzer! It was delish. Thanks for posting!
I don’t have a blender right now but if I did, oh my. My kids and I would love these. I saved the recipe. I would like to visit all the places you mentioned and showed. Beautiful!
What a refreshing option! I wish I could have a cup…
Oh wow – this looks delicious. What a beautiful colour, and I imagine this is completely refreshing. And the photos from Israel look lovely too – inspiring. Thank you for posting.
Tori – Thank you for posting sugar substitution quantity. Using an artificial sweetener would be the only way my husband could have this drink. Thus far, you are the only one to do this. G
You’re welcome G! I’m trying to post more low-sugar or sugar-free modifications for those who are diabetic or dieting. You’ll definitely like the low carb version of this drink, I’ve made it for a friend who is on a low glycemic diet and she really enjoyed it!
We made the Limonana two times yesterday. Did anyone ever mention it is great with vodka!!
So glad you liked it Jonathan! And yes, I did mention vodka as an option in the last part of the blog, “if you’re feeling naughty.” 😉 I particularly like it with a splash of citrus vodka. Delish!
The original recipe is so tantalizing as it is my sister and that was kosher with me; now I’ve got to admit that the citrus vodka takes it to another level. Oh-so kosher. I’m going to remember to try it!
It is even better with Tequila…
Love lemonade, and since my garden has lots of mint, I’d love to make this. Approx. how many lemons do I need for the yield of 1 cup of juice?
Hey Alice! It really depends on the size of the lemons, but I would say 4-5 large lemons should do it. If the lemons are smaller you may need up to 8.
I wish I could take out that last picture straight out of the screen, thank you for this recipe, a great idea on a hot day.
Everything is beautiful. The scenery, the drink…I can just image how it feels drinking this in the Holy Land. Looks so refreshing as well!