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Brazilian Lemonade Is The Drink Of The Summer — Here’s How To Make It

Moriah House

Every summer has a signature drink. In 2022, it was the Dirty Shirley. 2021, the espresso martini. This year? It’s early yet, but Brazilian lemonade is already a very strong contender. If you haven’t heard of this creamy, tart-yet-sweet delight, which has recently taken TikTok by storm, let me enlighten you. Brazilian lemonade, which is known as limonada suíça (Swiss lemonade) in Brazil, is typically made by blending whole limes (yes, peel and all), sugar, ice, and sweetened condensed milk. Basically, it’s summer in a glass. As soon as I saw the ingredients, I knew I had to try this drink. Anything involving sweetened condensed milk is practically guaranteed to be delicious, and you can’t go wrong with fresh citrus.

Although the classic Brazilian lemonade doesn’t contain alcohol, it can easily be added. This makes it perfect for summer 2023, as more young people are choosing not to drink, and mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages are on the rise.

What is a Brazilian lemonade?

You might be wondering why this drink is called “Swiss” lemonade in Brazil, considering that it’s not from Switzerland and is made with limes. No one knows for sure. Some say that it might have been invented by a Swiss restaurant owner, or that the most popular condensed milk to use was the Swiss brand Nestlé. As for the lemonade part, the Portuguese word for lime is limon, which is pronounced “lemon” in English.

Brazilian lemonade recipes to try

Regardless of the etymology, I think we can all agree that Brazilian lemonade is the ideal summer beverage. It’s easy to make, super refreshing, and totally customizable. No matter which version you try, Brazilian lemonade is bound to be your new fave drink of the summer. Whip up a big batch for your next poolside gathering, and thank me later.

Here’s a few of my favorite variations.

1. The classic

This version from @nytcooking is simply perfect, with just five ingredients — limes, water, ice, condensed milk, and sugar.

2. The dairy-free

This version from @kalejunkie replaces the regular condensed milk with coconut condensed milk for a delicious dairy-free beverage.

3. The strawberry

This variation from @provechostories includes strawberries for a fresh and fruity twist.

4. The cocktail

This recipe from @realtipsybartender includes rum. Need I say more?

Moriah House
Moriah House is a National Writer at Spoon University. She writes about all things related to food culture, from Trader Joe’s tips to TikTok trends. Beyond Spoon University, Moriah works as an elevator operator, which has its ups and downs. Her first job was at a frozen custard shop, and although she still loves dairy desserts, she is currently taking a break from the ice cream industry. Additionally, she serves as Views Editor for the FSView, Florida State University's independent, student-run newspaper. Moriah is currently a Senior at Florida State University, majoring in Anthropology with a minor in Geography.In her free time, Moriah enjoys baking chocolate-chip cookies, attempting to learn Italian, obsessing over cool plants, and going for podcast walks. She loves reading, and would be delighted to give you a book recommendation. Her favorite foods are peanut butter, banana pudding, and anything involving eggs and cheese. She is trying to teach herself to cook, and is very proud of her roasted potatoes, pasta salad, and frozen pizza. Her drink of choice is a frozen margarita, and she liked cottage cheese before it was cool.