Anyone who complains of ‘the Indian summer’ has never been to Australia! The temperatures soared to a 46°C this year and I thought I was going to melt away to nothingness. The heat is so dry and brutal and literally burns your skin and insides too.
Being my first summer here, I must say I was not adequately prepared or I would have stocked up on more refreshing drinks. But I did make a few, mostly classic summer drinks, and all which are common in India.
And the first one of these was the lime mint cooler. A summer drink which features on every restaurant menu in India. I love this drink because it’s cool and refreshing and I also love mint. A very simple drink to prepare – like the name, all that you need is lemon and mint.
In this recipe though, I have used a mix of both fresh lemons and a lemon cordial – the job’s much easier when you want to make large quantities. Get the freshest bunch of mint that you can find in the shop; it makes all the difference to the taste.
Lemon Mint Cooler – my fave summer classic!
Lemon Mint Cooler
Ingredients
- 2 cups Bickford’s Lime Juice Cordial
- ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup loosely packed mint leaves
- ½ cup brown sugar
- Ice cubes
- Chilled water
- Lemon slices for garnish
- Mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Blend the cordial, lemon juice, mint leaves and sugar.
- Pour into a large jar and add chilled water to make up the volume to 1 litre. Taste and add more lemon juice/sugar/mint as required.
- Pour into a tall glass over ice cubes and garnish with lemon slices and mint sprigs.
- Enjoy!
Notes
How are you beating the heat this summer?
I lived in Oz for a bit and remember how hot it could get. But despite the fact that now I am sitting here in the cold European winter I am totally longing for a glass of one your amazing drinks!
though labeled as a summer classic, I would drink this all year round. This one’s a winner if you love lemon and mint combo like me.
It has indeed been an absolute scorcher here in Canberra as well…give me cooler weather anyday at least you can rug yourself up warm. Ahh! Now I know how to cool myself down with your cooling concoction..I must try this?
first of all..didn’t know u lived in Canberra. Happy to know a fellow Oz.
secondly, yes its my first summer here and I am going crazy. like u said, winter is better and bearable.
thirdly…do try it, its lovely. I made a whole jug and stocked up during last week’s heat wave