Strawberry Brazilian Lemonade (Creamy Limeade Recipe)

Strawberry Brazilian lemonade is a creamy, refreshing summer drink made with fresh strawberries, whole limes, cold water, and sweetened condensed milk.

It is tart, sweet, a little frothy, and honestly one of those recipes that just looks like summer in a glass.

I kept seeing variations of Brazilian lemonade online, but it was the strawberry version that finally got me. The gorgeous pale pink color. The fresh lime. The creamy texture. I needed to try it.

And while the name strawberry Brazilian lemonade might make you picture a traditional pitcher of strawberry lemonade, this is something completely different.

Brazilian lemonade is actually made with limes, not lemons, and the limes are briefly blended with their peels before being strained. Sweetened condensed milk gives the finished drink its signature creamy texture.

This version adds fresh strawberries for even more flavor and that beautiful pink color, without making the recipe complicated.

It is exactly the kind of fun summer recipe I love: simple ingredients, minimal effort, and a much bigger payoff than the amount of work involved.

What Is Brazilian Lemonade?

Brazilian lemonade is a creamy lime drink often made by briefly blending whole or partially peeled limes with water, straining the mixture, and adding sweetened condensed milk.

It is also commonly called Brazilian limeade or limonada suíça.

The finished drink is sweet, tart, creamy, and refreshing all at once. And no, despite the condensed milk, it doesn’t taste like a milkshake. The fresh lime keeps everything bright and citrusy, while the condensed milk softens some of that tartness and gives the drink a smooth, almost velvety finish.

Adding strawberries turns it into a fruitier variation with a softer flavor and naturally pretty pink color.

Why Is Brazilian Lemonade Made With Limes?

This is probably the most obvious question: Why is it called Brazilian lemonade when the recipe is made with limes?

The simple answer is that citrus terminology doesn’t translate perfectly between Portuguese and English. Brazilian lemonade recipes are traditionally made with varieties of lime, even though the English name usually uses the word “lemonade.”

So when you see Brazilian lemonade, Brazilian limeade, or limonada suíça, you are generally looking at versions of the same creamy citrus drink.

And for this recipe, you definitely want fresh limes. Bottled lime juice will not give you the same flavor because part of what makes Brazilian lemonade different is the brief blending of the actual fruit.

Why This Strawberry Brazilian Lemonade Works

This isn’t regular strawberry lemonade with condensed milk stirred into it. The method is what makes the recipe different.

The whole limes are blended very briefly with strawberries and water, which extracts their fresh citrus flavor. Then everything is strained to remove the peel, seeds, and excess pulp before adding the creamy condensed milk.

The result is:

• Tart from the fresh limes
• Naturally fruity from the strawberries
• Creamy from the condensed milk
• Cold and refreshing without requiring a long list of ingredients

It also feels a little special without actually being difficult to make, which is always a win around here.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a handful of ingredients for this strawberry Brazilian lemonade recipe.

Fresh limes

The star of traditional Brazilian lemonade. Wash them thoroughly because you will be blending them with the peel still on.

The most important thing here is not to over-blend them. More on that below, because it really does matter.

Fresh strawberries

Fresh strawberries give the drink its pink color and add sweetness without overpowering the lime.

Hull them before adding them to the blender.

Cold water

You’ll use six cups of water total. Starting with cold water helps keep the finished drink extra refreshing.

Sweetened condensed milk

This is what gives Brazilian lemonade its signature creamy texture and sweetness.

For a lighter version, you can use a reduced-sugar or sugar-free sweetened condensed milk, depending on what is available to you and what you prefer.

Ice

Not technically complicated, but important. This drink is meant to be served nice and cold.

Optional sweetener

Depending on the sweetness of your strawberries, how tart your limes are, and which condensed milk you use, you may decide you want a little more sweetness.

Taste before adding anything extra. Honey, monk fruit, stevia, or another preferred sweetener can be added as needed.

How to Make Strawberry Brazilian Lemonade

The entire recipe comes together in about 10 minutes.

1. Wash and prepare the fruit

Wash the limes and strawberries thoroughly.

Hull the strawberries and quarter the limes. You do not need to completely peel the limes.

2. Blend briefly

Add the quartered limes, strawberries, and about half of the cold water to a high-powered blender.

Blend for no more than 20 to 30 seconds.

You are not trying to pulverize the lime peels into oblivion. You just want to extract the fresh lime flavor.

3. Strain immediately

Pour the blended strawberry and lime mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large pitcher or bowl.

Press gently with the back of a spoon to extract the liquid, then discard the remaining pulp and peel.

4. Add the condensed milk

Stir in the sweetened condensed milk until completely combined.

The drink should become creamy and slightly frothy.

5. Add the remaining water and ice

Pour in the remaining cold water and stir.

Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed, then serve over plenty of ice.

Do Not Over-Blend the Limes

This deserves its own section because it is probably the most important tip in the entire recipe.

Do not blend the limes for longer than about 30 seconds.

The white pith underneath the lime peel can be bitter. The longer you blend, the more bitterness can end up in your drink.

A short, quick blend gives you that bright lime flavor without pulverizing the peel.

And once you’ve blended it, strain the mixture right away rather than letting the lime pulp sit in the liquid.

This is not the moment to start unloading the dishwasher or answering an email. Blend, strain, move on with your life.

What You’ll Need for This Recipe and Other Fun Summer Drinks

You don’t need much to make strawberry Brazilian lemonade, but a few good basics make this recipe—and pretty much every other fun summer drink you decide to make—much easier.

A high-powered blender

You’ll need a decent blender to quickly break down the strawberries and limes. You do not want to completely pulverize the lime peel, though, so remember: 20 to 30 seconds is plenty.

• My go to blender is the Ninja (and it’s a fraction of the price of a Vitamix) →

A fine mesh strainer

This is the one tool I didn’t already have and finally had a good reason to buy.

A fine mesh strainer removes the lime peel, seeds, and extra pulp so you get that smooth, creamy texture.

And honestly, once you have one, you can use it for homemade lemonades, fruit drinks, infused syrups, cocktails, mocktails, sauces, and plenty more.

• Grab a set of fine mesh strainers →

A pretty glass pitcher

Completely optional, obviously.

But if you are making a beautiful pink summer drink, you may as well let her have her moment.

A clear glass pitcher is especially nice for strawberry lemonade, agua fresca, iced tea, fruit-infused water, and all the other cold drinks that somehow taste better when they look good too.

• Shop this stunning Libbey Acapulco Large Glass Pitcher on Amazon →

Fun glasses and reusable straws

Also not necessary. Also very fun.

A few pretty glasses and reusable or stripped paper straws can make a regular afternoon drink feel slightly more special without requiring any actual event, which is very much my preferred kind of luxury.

• Shop glasses →
• Shop straws →

What Does Strawberry Brazilian Lemonade Taste Like?

Strawberry Brazilian lemonade tastes like a cross between fresh strawberry limeade and a creamy tropical drink.

The lime is still very much present, so it doesn’t become overly sweet or heavy. You get the bright tartness first, followed by fresh strawberry flavor and then a smooth, creamy finish from the condensed milk.

It is definitely richer than regular lemonade, but still refreshing enough for a hot summer day.

And because the strawberries mellow some of the sharper citrus flavor, I think this version may actually be even more approachable for someone who finds traditional Brazilian lemonade a little too tart.

Is Strawberry Brazilian Lemonade Healthy?

I wouldn’t call traditional Brazilian lemonade a health food simply because it contains fresh fruit. Sweetened condensed milk can add a significant amount of sugar, depending on how much you use.

But this is where making it at home gives you some control.

You can use less condensed milk, choose a lower-sugar version, skip additional sweetener, and let the fresh strawberries do some of the work.

The recipe that originally caught my attention used sugar-free condensed milk, which is another option for reducing added sugar if you like the ingredients in the brand you find.

My general approach with recipes like this is not to take all the fun out of them in an effort to make them “perfect.” I’d rather make the actual thing, use real ingredients, adjust where it makes sense, and enjoy it.

That feels a lot more sustainable to me than pretending a glass of lime-flavored water is the same experience.

Can You Make Strawberry Brazilian Lemonade Ahead of Time?

You can prepare it slightly ahead of serving, but Brazilian lemonade is really at its best fresh.

Because whole limes are used in the recipe, bitterness can become more pronounced as the drink sits.

For the best taste and texture, I would make this shortly before you plan to serve it, keep it cold, and enjoy it the same day.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover strawberry Brazilian lemonade in a covered pitcher or airtight container in the refrigerator.

Stir well before drinking because some separation is completely normal.

For the freshest flavor, drink it within one day.

I would not recommend freezing the finished lemonade because the condensed milk may separate and change texture once thawed.

Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?

Yes. Frozen strawberries should work well in this recipe and can make the finished drink even colder.

Just keep in mind that frozen strawberries may slightly change the texture and could require a little extra blending.

The same rule about the limes still applies: don’t keep blending just because you’re waiting for a stubborn frozen strawberry to disappear. You don’t want to over-process those lime peels.

Can I Make Brazilian Lemonade Without Condensed Milk?

You can make a lime drink without condensed milk, but it won’t have the same classic Brazilian lemonade flavor or creamy texture.

The condensed milk is part of what makes this drink what it is.

For a dairy-free option, sweetened condensed coconut milk may work as a substitute, although it will add a subtle coconut flavor.

Can I Use Lemons Instead of Limes?

You could make a creamy strawberry lemonade with lemons, but it wouldn’t really be the same as Brazilian lemonade.

The fresh lime flavor is a defining part of the recipe, so I would stick with limes for your first batch.

Can I Use Bottled Lime Juice?

I wouldn’t.

The whole-lime blending technique is part of what gives Brazilian lemonade its distinctive citrus flavor. Bottled lime juice may technically give you a sweet lime drink, but it won’t recreate the same result.

Fresh limes are absolutely worth it here.

Strawberry Brazilian Lemonade

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This strawberry Brazilian lemonade is creamy, tart, fruity, and incredibly refreshing. Made by briefly blending fresh strawberries and whole limes before straining and adding condensed milk, it’s an easy pink summer drink that comes together in just 10 minutes.

• Author: Stephanie
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings
• Category: Drinks
• Method: Blender

Ingredients

• 5 fresh limes, thoroughly washed and quartered
• 15 fresh strawberries, hulled
• 6 cups cold water, divided
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk or sugar-free sweetened condensed milk
• Ice, for serving
• Optional: sweetener of choice, to taste

Instructions

• Prepare the fruit. Wash the limes and strawberries thoroughly. Hull the strawberries and cut each lime into quarters.
• Blend briefly. Add the quartered limes, strawberries, and 3 cups of cold water to a high-powered blender. Blend for no more than 20 to 30 seconds to extract the lime flavor without creating too much bitterness from the peel and pith.
• Strain immediately. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large pitcher or bowl. Gently press the pulp with the back of a spoon to extract the liquid, then discard the remaining pulp, seeds, and peel.
• Add the condensed milk. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk until completely combined and creamy.
• Finish the lemonade. Add the remaining 3 cups of cold water and stir well. Taste and add additional sweetener only if needed.
• Serve. Pour over plenty of ice and serve immediately.

Notes

• Do not over-blend the limes. Keep blending time to 30 seconds or less to prevent the drink from becoming bitter.
• Strain the lime mixture immediately after blending.
• The amount of sweetness you need may vary depending on your strawberries, limes, and the type of condensed milk you use.
• For a lighter option, use less condensed milk or a lower-sugar version.
• Strawberry Brazilian lemonade is best enjoyed fresh and served the same day it is made.
• Stir before serving, as some natural separation may occur.

A Refreshing Summer Drink That’s Actually Fun to Make

There are plenty of recipes I make because they’re practical. And then there are the ones I make because I see a gorgeous pink drink online and immediately think, Well, clearly I need that.

This strawberry Brazilian lemonade falls into the second category—and honestly, I think we need both.

It’s creamy, tart, fruity, refreshing, and simple enough to make without turning your kitchen into a disaster zone. Plus, with only a handful of ingredients and about 10 minutes of prep, it’s an easy recipe to pull out for a summer afternoon, cookout, brunch, or anytime you want something a little more interesting than regular lemonade.

And that beautiful pink color certainly doesn’t hurt.