Blood Orange Lemonade

A refreshing naturally colored pink drink; this Blood Orange Lemonade is delicious and full of Vitamin C.

This one is great by itself and we can easily skip any sweeteners in this lemonade!

Drinks is something we enjoy and use to elevate any get together. It is a great way to set the tone of any party and perfect on warm summer days.

While there can be various kinds of drinks; some of them are popular across the globe. From milk based Thandai and Falooda to water based Lemonade and fruit based Cocktail; I have made them all for my parties.

And while there is appreciation for all kinds of drinks, lemonade definitely tops the list. I love to make lemonade with different fruits. Plus, often I simply make it with water but often I like to use sparkling water in my recipe. This recipe is made with sparkling water but it is also great to use lemon based sodas for the extra lemon-y flavor.

Jump to:

• What is Blood Orange
• This Blood Orange Lemonade
• Why this recipe works
• Ingredients and Substitutions
• How to make this recipe
• Expert Tips and Notes
• Recipe FAQs
• More Delicious Drink Recipes
• Blood Orange Lemonade

What is Blood Orange

A citrus fruit from the Orange family, Blood Orange is also called Raspberry Orange and has a crimson flesh. Given the red 'blood' color flesh, the name Blood Orange is perfect for it.

This fruit appears in the farmers markets of Bay Area between December and April. Some times the fruit has a super dark flesh and are sweet but I have also come across the fruit in a lighter shade that is not very camera friendly. The light ones tend to be more tart than the darker ones.

I always get a lot of these citrus fruits while they are still in the markets. And while we have these, apart from simply juicing them I make so many recipe using the bright flesh. While lemonade is popular, this ice cream soda using blood oranges and blood orange ice tea are simply amazing!

This Blood Orange Lemonade

Given the bright color flesh of blood oranges, this fruit makes a great addition to make lemonade. And so, this blood orange lemonade is just as bright colored as the fruit.

I first had this drink at a farmers' market a few years age. And since then I have been enjoying this over and over again. It is no surprise that I almost wait through summer and Fall to see the citrus back in season.

The lemonade is made using sparkling water, but it works equally well with just water. And if you love a more citrus kick, use any lemon flavored soda to make this one.

Why this recipe works

• It is a super refreshing drink.
• Save time while serving, by juicing the blood oranges ahead of time.
• The sweetener in the recipe is completely optional.
• The drink is great with water, sparkling water or lemon flavored soda.
• It is a great non-alcoholic drink for Halloween or Holiday Season.
• It is easy to spike the drink with your favorite alcohol.
• We can make most of the drink ahead of time.
• The same recipe works with all citruses of your choice.
• Kids and adults love this a lot!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Blood Oranges: Squeeze fresh blood oranges for the recipe. They give the best lemonade. Taste the juice to determine whether it is sweet or slightly tart. Adjust the other ingredients accordingly.
• Sugar: Most blood oranges are sweet and do not require additional sugar. However, if you want, add some sugar. Moreover; honey, maple syrup or even jaggery syrup works to sweeten the juice.
• Lemon Juice (not pictured): Lemonade needs some lemon juice for sure. However, if more than one of the blood oranges are tart, skip the lemon juice or reduce the amount. Lime juice works well too.
• Sparkling Water: I like to top off my drink with some sparkling water or club soda. However, just cold water works well too. Also add ice cubes as required. I simply skip the water and use ice cubes and sparkling water. If you like the drink sweet, add some sweetened flavored soda.
• Mint Leaves: Top the drink with flavor and a pop of color using mint leaves. Rosemary leaves or chopped blood oranges work well. Also, a cinnamon stick is great to add as garnish.

See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.

How to make this recipe

1- In a glass add ice cubes.

2- Juice two blood oranges and add sugar and lemon juice to it. Mix well and divide in two glasses.

3- Also add a slice of halved blood orange.

4- Next top the glass with sparkling water or club soda.

5- Finally top with mint leaves.

6- Serve immediately.

Expert Tips and Notes

• Lemons are a great addition to the recipe. Some times, the blood oranges tend to be sour, so adjust the lemons based on the taste of blood oranges.
• A sweetener is easy to skip in the recipe. Most of the time blood oranges are super sweet and do not need any sweetener. Moreover, opt for a natural sweetener like maple syrup or honey if desired.
• Juice the lemons and blood oranges ahead of time to save time while putting the drink together. Refrigerate the juice if storing for more than an hour or so.
• If blood oranges are not available, use just lemons, oranges, sweet limes or a mix of all the citrus fruits.
• While fresh citrus is the best, using some canned juice works too. Just ensure they are not loaded with sugar to keep the drink on the healthier side.
• The drink is best chilled. However, swap the ice for water if you would like an ice-free version.

Recipe FAQs

More Delicious Drink Recipes