I’ve always been a lemonade person. Pink lemonade, regular lemonade, Chick-fil-A’s frosted lemonade; if you name it, I’ve probably chugged it like it’s liquid sunshine. That’s why when TikTok started buzzing about tomato lemonade, I couldn’t look away. Equal parts intriguing and “wait what?” This viral drink mashup somehow manages to turn a summer classic into something totally unexpected, and yes, I had to find out what all the hype was about.
What is tomato lemonade?
This summer trend is just what it sounds like: fresh tomatoes mixed into a classic lemonade base. Most recipes call for a combination of tomatoes, lemons, and sugar before mashing the fruits with a muddler until the refreshing juices are released. Then you top with some water, stir, and voila! You have a vibrant drink with an earthy twist that’s equal parts refreshing and surprising.
How did this trend start?
This unexpected trend traces back to early July, when TikToker @babyhandbakes, also known as Becca, who usually shares comforting home-cooked recipes, decided to experiment with tomatoes in her lemonade. The clip quickly caught attention, with viewers both fascinated and skeptical. From there, other creators picked up the idea, putting their own spin on the drink and helping it snowball into one of the most talked-about TikTok beverages of the summer.
Why does it make sense?
According to @babyhandbakes, “The tomato just adds this like mouth-watering… I don’t know if it’s umami, but tomato has MSG in it naturally, so it’s like this savory but not really savory ‘cause it’s sweet like taste.”
And honestly, the internet couldn’t agree more, with creator @thewrittenverse exclaiming, “It has no business being that good!”
In her take, she used monk fruit as a sweetener because she’s trying to do sugar-free stuff and claims it tastes just as good as when you put regular sugar in it.
Creator @livewithmicheale said, “Becca girl, they called you crazy. They called you crazy, but you on to something.”
In her version, she used cherry tomatoes instead of regular, less sugar, and Sprite instead of water.
Are there other versions I can try?
Since her initial video, Becca has been taking notes from her followers and making a bunch of different versions of her tomato lemonade. This includes green tomato, herbaceous basil, and the one that intrigues me the most: creamy tomato lemonade, which features sweetened condensed milk.