Vietnamese Limemade is a refreshing, zingy, and sweet cool drink for the summer. This is a common beverage served in cafes in Vietnam to beat the heat.
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What is Viet Limeade?
Vietnamese Limemade is a must-try drink for the summer. It's made with fresh, zingy limes balanced with sugary crushed ice. Since Vietnam is summer year-round (at least in the south), this is a drink loved by locals.
When I was a kid, my mom used to make me a huge glass of limeade when I had a fever to cool down, making it a great feel-better drink.
Why You'll Love Viet Limeade
It's simple yet refreshing you can count on being tasty every time since it's hard to mess up.
- Fresh and simple: made with just three ingredients (lime, sugar, ice)
- Easy to make a large batch: easily adjust to make a huge pitcher for a party!
- Pairs well with summery Asian food: a delicious beverage to have with fiery noodles, crisp noodle salad, or grilled seafood.
Ingredients
It uses just THREE simply ingredients:
- FRESH limes (use fresh lime, not bottled lime juice)
- White cane sugar
- Crushed ice
Expert Tips
- ONLY use fresh limes. Use real limes because it has a juicer, zingy flavour. The skins also release it's unique fragrant oils into the drink, which isn't the same as bottled lime juice.
- Massage and roll the limes before squeezing. Ever try to squeeze a lime/lemon and barely any juice comes out? This trick releases the juice from the lime's pulp.
- Leave the actual lime slices in the drink. This is the way locals drink it! It not only looks pretty, but it lets the limes "steep" in the drink to intensify the flavour as you sip. It also adds a slightly tangy-bitter undertone that makes Viet limemade it's own unique drink.
Can I Use Lemons?
Um...no.....:)
It'll be delicious but a whole different drink (aka American Lemonade).
Can I Use Bottled Lime Juice?
Yes if you have no other option, but it won't taste the same because there's no peel to release it's natural fragrant oils.
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Recipe for Vietnamese Limemade
Vietnamese Limeade (Mom's Recipe) (Nước chanh đá)
Ingredients
- 4 fresh limes
- 6 tablespoon white cane sugar
- 2 cups crushed ice
- 2 cute straws
Instructions
- Massage and roll the limes to release it's juices. Cut limes into slices and squeeze into tall servings glasses. Add 3 tablespoon sugar to each glass and dissolve into the lime juice as much as possible. Leave squeezed limes in the sugar/lime juice mixture for extra flavour. Top with ice and water. Serve extra cold.
