Refreshing Lemonade

Bright, easy homemade drink with balanced sweet and tart lemon flavor.

Scale

360 ml (1 1/2 cups) freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 8–10 medium lemons)
300 g (1 1/2 cups) granulated sugar
960 ml (4 cups) water (240 ml hot for syrup + 720 ml cold for diluting)
1/8 tsp salt (pinch)
Ice, as needed for serving
Optional: fresh mint sprigs, thin lemon wheels, or a few crushed berries for garnish

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Make the Simple Syrup: Combine sugar with hot water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium until sugar dissolves, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat, add salt, and let cool.
Juice the Lemons: Juice the lemons to yield lemon juice and strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove seeds.
Combine and Dilute: In a pitcher, combine the strained lemon juice with the simple syrup and cold water. Stir well and adjust sweetness if necessary.
Chill and Rest: Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes before serving.

For a fruit-forward version, try adding muddled berries. Syrup can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.