Mint Limeade
Muddle; Shake ∙ 4 min ∙
Mint Limeade is a non-alcoholic mocktail of muddled mint, fresh lime and apple juice, topped with lemon-lime soda over ice. Bruised mint releases a cool, fragrant lift while the tart juice base stays bright and light, finishing crisp and fizzy from the topped-up soda.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Muddle (just to bruise) Fresh mint leaves 12 pcs in the base of the shaker
- Add the next 3 ingredients: Lime juice 45 mlApple juice 30 mlSugar syrup 25 ml
- Shake with ice
- Fine strain into the ice-filled glass
- Top with Lemon-lime soda and lightly stir
- Garnish with a mint sprig
Tips
- Muddle the mint just to bruise it, not pulverize it — over-muddling releases bitter chlorophyll and turns the drink grassy.
- Pre-chill the glass so the ice-filled pour stays cold longer without over-diluting before the soda goes in.
- Fine-strain the shaken mix into the glass to keep torn mint leaf fragments out of the finished drink.
- Add the lemon-lime soda last and stir lightly so it keeps its fizz instead of going flat.
History
The Mint Limeade is a non-alcoholic cocktail created in 2006 by a British drinks writer in London, England. Built from muddled mint, fresh lime juice, apple juice, sugar syrup, and lemon-lime soda, it belongs to a wider family of virgin mojito-style mint-and-lime coolers, but this particular recipe is documented as that writer's own creation rather than an older traditional drink.
FAQ
How do you make a Mint Limeade?
Muddle fresh mint leaves gently in a shaker, then add lime juice, apple juice, and sugar syrup and shake with ice. Fine-strain into an ice-filled highball glass, top with lemon-lime soda, stir lightly, and garnish with a mint sprig.
Do mint and lime go together?
Yes, mint and lime are a classic pairing because mint's cool, herbal edge balances lime's sharp acidity without either flavor overwhelming the other. This build leans on that pairing, backing it with apple juice and sugar syrup for roundness before lemon-lime soda adds fizz.
What is the ratio for limeade?
This Mint Limeade is built lime-forward, with lime juice as the largest measure, apple juice and sugar syrup rounding it out, and lemon-lime soda topping the glass for length. The exact proportions favor tart citrus over sweetness, with the soda added last to preserve its fizz.
How do you infuse mint into a limeade?
Muddle the mint leaves gently in the bottom of the shaker before adding the liquid ingredients, just enough to bruise them and release their oils. Muddling too hard tears the leaves and pulls out bitter, grassy notes instead of the clean mint aroma you want.