Honey Coconut Water Lemonade
Just imagine, it’s a beautiful summer day and you’ve been working in the garden harvesting vegetables and pulling weeds with your loved ones. You’re covered in soil, sweat, and thankfulness for a fun day in the sun. What’s the best thing to cool you down and replenish those lost electrolytes? A lovely fresh squeezed glass of lemonade, of course! A day spent basking in the summer sun would be incomplete without this refreshing beverage!
I know what you may be thinking, do I really need a recipe for lemonade? The answer is yes, absolutely! The ratios in a lemonade make all the difference. Too sweet, too sour, too bitter, the list could go on and on. Look no further though, this lemonade is the perfect combination of sweet and sour, and is sure to be a hit with you and your family!
This isn’t your typical lemonade, this version is one you will feel great about serving to your loved ones as it is packed with vitamins, antioxidants, & uses honey to naturally sweeten to perfection!
Limiting sugar intake is something I personally do with my family as there are a vast array of benefits from doing so. Finding healthy alternatives to quintessential spring/ summer beverages is always a win in my book, so I’m happy to share this recipe!
When I was a little girl, I spent my summer days riding my bike around town, foraging honeysuckle, climbing trees, and finding ways to use my creativity to keep me busy. Of course, one of those creative endeavors was a lemonade stand, as I’m sure many of you have also done. Good ol’ Country Time Lemonade was working overtime during the early 2000’s, such sweet memories!
Although that flavor is nostalgic, The ingredients don’t give me the same warm and fuzzy feelings. My general rule of thumb is, if I can’t pronounce it, I probably shouldn’t consume it. However, even the ones I can pronounce aren’t comforting either. Yellow 5 Lake, Soy Lecithin, natural flavors… What are natural flavors anyways? An umbrella term for “a sneaky way to put in chemical additives and who knows what else.” No, thank you.
That’s the beauty of this recipe! This lemonade is made with wholesome ingredients and is absolutely delicious! Gone are the days of the powdered lemonades of our youth. This recipe doesn’t even take much longer to prepare, truly a win on all fronts.
Why use coconut water?
Coconut water has so many amazing health benefits, my favorite one being the fact that it is incredibly hydrating to the body. This is a necessity during the hot summer months. I used to reach for sport drinks when I felt like I needed to replenish lost electrolytes quickly, but honestly, these drinks are mainly full of sugar and hardly even do the job they are advertised to do. Coconut water on the other hand is a powerhouse when it comes to rehydrating! Make sure to buy unsweetened to ensure you’re only getting natural sugars. Due to the high concentration of potassium, sodium and manganese, coconut water will keep you more hydrating than a typical sports drink.
Obviously we need lemons for lemonade, but let’s look at some benefits of lemons anyways!
Lemons are incredibly high in vitamin C as well as antioxidants! These two attributes are key in having the ability to fight off sickness. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb electrolytes, so the combination of coconut water and lemons makes for a pretty dynamic duo when it comes to hydrating properly.
What about honey?
A spoonful of honey each day has been shown to manage a variety of health conditions due to the vital nutrients it provides. Unlike the traditional cane sugar which is pro-inflammatory, honey is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant rich natural sweetener. Sourcing local honey has also been shown to help with allergies, yet another valuable benefit! Plus, you will be supporting your local beekeepers, which is the bee’s knees. Sorry, I had to!
I hope this lemonade is enjoyed by you and your family for years to come, and the flavor becomes that nostalgic reminder of the memories made during the summer months with friends and loved ones. That each sip would bring refreshment, nourishment, and a little bit of sunshine to your day!
Questions about this coconut water honey lemonade.
How many lemons do I need to make one cup of lemon juice? – Typically you would need 5-6 lemons since there is around 3 tbsp of juice in each lemon. This obviously varies as lemons all contain different amounts of juice. I would get 7 just to make sure you have plenty leftover to slice and garnish with to make it beautiful!
Can I use bottled lemon juice? – You can, but nothing beats freshly squeezed lemon juice!
I don’t like honey, can I use something else? – Of course! You could use ½ cup of pure maple syrup instead if that is more favorable for your pallet, plus it’s still a natural sugar option!
Do I have to use coconut water or can I just use water for this recipe? – You can absolutely just use water for this recipe, however you would be missing out on some of the nutrient benefits I mentioned above, so keep that in mind.
