Description
Refreshing homemade lemonade with the unique flavors of ripe pears and fresh basil. A perfect balance of sweet, tart, and herbaceous.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and roughly chopped
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 6–8 lemons)
- 8 cups cold water, plus more for adjusting concentration
- Ice cubes, for serving
- Lemon slices and basil sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped pears and fresh basil leaves.
- Pour the granulated sugar over the pears and basil.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
- Once simmering, reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Pour mixture into a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth-lined colander over a bowl.
- Use a spoon or spatula to gently press the solids to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the solids.
- Let the pear basil syrup cool completely before using. Refrigerate to speed up cooling.
- In a large pitcher, combine the cooled pear basil syrup and the freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Pour in the cold water. Start with the recommended amount (8 cups) and then adjust to taste.
- Stir the mixture well to combine all the ingredients.
- Taste the lemonade and adjust the sweetness and tartness as needed.
- For the best flavor, chill the lemonade in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Fill glasses with ice cubes.
- Pour the chilled pear basil lemonade into the ice-filled glasses.
- Garnish with lemon slices and fresh basil sprigs, if desired.
- Serve the lemonade immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust the sugar and lemon juice to your personal preference.
- Experiment with different types of pears for varied flavor profiles.
- For a sparkling lemonade, substitute some of the water with sparkling water or club soda.
- Leftover lemonade can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- For an adult version of this lemonade, add a shot of vodka, gin, or white rum to each glass.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes