Winter Lemonade with Mandarin and Mint is a delightful seasonal twist on classic lemonade that celebrates the sweet, vibrant flavor of winter citrus. When life gives you mandarins in the cold months, make this stunning drink that combines the mellow sweetness of mandarin oranges with bright lemon and cooling fresh mint. Unlike traditional summer lemonade, this winter version is perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, with the mandarins adding a softer, more complex citrus flavor than lemons alone. The fresh mint brings an unexpected freshness that makes this drink feel special and sophisticated. Beautiful to look at with its sunny orange-gold color and green mint leaves, this lemonade is perfect for holiday gatherings, winter brunches, or simply brightening up a cold, gray day. It can be served chilled or even warm as a comforting winter beverage, making it versatile for any winter occasion.
Serving Quantity: 6 servings (about 6 cups)
Cooking Time: 20 minutes (plus chilling time)
1. Ingredients
- 6 to 8 mandarin oranges (about 1 and 1/2 cups juice)
- 3 large lemons (about 3/4 cup juice)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 4 cups cold water
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
- Ice cubes for serving
- Additional mandarin slices and mint sprigs for garnish
- Optional: sparkling water for a fizzy version
2. Nutrition Information Per Serving
- Calories: 105
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fat: 0g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sodium: 5mg
3. Select Ripe Mandarins
Choose ripe, sweet mandarins for the best flavor. They should feel heavy for their size, have bright orange skin, and give slightly when gently squeezed. Clementines, tangerines, satsumas, or any variety of mandarin orange work beautifully. Avoid mandarins that are too firm or have dry, wrinkled skin. The sweeter your mandarins, the better your lemonade will taste.
4. Wash All Citrus
Thoroughly wash all the mandarins and lemons under running water, even though you’ll be peeling the mandarins. This removes any dirt, wax, or pesticide residue. Pat them dry with a clean towel. Clean fruit is especially important if you plan to use any of the peel for garnish.
5. Roll the Citrus
Before juicing, roll each mandarin and lemon firmly on the countertop with the palm of your hand, applying pressure. This breaks down the membranes inside the fruit and releases more juice, making them easier to juice. Roll each piece of fruit for about 10 seconds.
6. Juice the Mandarins
Peel the mandarins and separate them into segments. Remove as much of the white pith as possible as it can add bitterness. You can juice them by hand by squeezing the segments over a bowl and straining, or use a citrus juicer. If using a juicer, you may be able to juice them with the peel on depending on your juicer type. You need about 1 and a half cups of mandarin juice. Strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve to remove pulp and seeds.
7. Juice the Lemons
Cut the lemons in half and juice them using a citrus juicer or reamer. You need about three-quarters of a cup of fresh lemon juice, which typically comes from 3 large lemons. Strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds and pulp. Fresh lemon juice is essential – bottled will not provide the bright, fresh flavor this drink needs.
8. Make Simple Syrup With Mint
In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar with 1 cup of water. Add half of the fresh mint leaves (about half a cup). Place over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Once the sugar is dissolved, bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. This creates a mint-infused simple syrup. Remove from heat and let it steep for 10 minutes to intensify the mint flavor.
9. Strain the Mint Syrup
After steeping, strain the mint simple syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a large pitcher, pressing on the mint leaves to extract all the flavor. Discard the used mint leaves. The syrup should be clear and smell wonderfully of mint with a slight green tint.
10. Combine Juices and Syrup
Add the strained mandarin juice and lemon juice to the pitcher with the mint simple syrup. Stir well to combine. The mixture will be quite concentrated at this point – very sweet and intensely citrus-flavored.
11. Add Cold Water
Add the remaining 3 cups of cold water to the pitcher. Stir well to combine everything. The lemonade should now be properly diluted and balanced. Taste the lemonade and adjust if needed – add more water if too strong, more sugar if too tart, or more lemon juice if too sweet.
12. Add Fresh Mint
Roughly tear or bruise the remaining mint leaves (about half a cup) with your hands to release their oils. Add them to the pitcher. These leaves infuse more mint flavor as the lemonade sits and also look beautiful floating in the drink.
13. Chill Thoroughly
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until completely chilled. The flavors will meld and improve as it chills. The mint will continue to infuse subtle flavor. For a quicker chill, you can add ice directly to the pitcher, though this will dilute the lemonade as the ice melts.
14. Prepare Garnishes
While the lemonade chills, prepare garnishes. Slice additional mandarin oranges into thin rounds. Set aside fresh mint sprigs. These garnishes make the drink visually appealing and add extra flavor.
15. Serve Over Ice
When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour the winter lemonade over the ice, making sure each glass gets some of the floating mint leaves. Fill glasses about three-quarters full.
16. Garnish Beautifully
Add a mandarin orange slice to the rim of each glass or float it in the drink. Tuck a fresh mint sprig into each glass so it stands up attractively. The combination of orange slices and green mint against the golden lemonade is visually stunning.
17. Optional Sparkling Version
For a sparkling version, fill glasses only halfway with the lemonade concentrate, then top off with sparkling water or club soda. This creates a lighter, fizzy drink that’s extra refreshing. Add the sparkling water right before serving to maintain maximum bubbles.
18. Serve Warm as a Winter Toddy
For a cozy warm version perfect for cold winter evenings, gently heat individual servings of the lemonade in a small saucepan until steaming but not boiling. Serve in mugs with fresh mandarin slices and mint. This warm version is comforting and soothing, perfect for sipping by the fireplace.
19. Tips for Success
The ratio of mandarin to lemon can be adjusted based on your preference and the sweetness of your mandarins. Sweeter mandarins allow you to use less sugar. Taste as you go. Fresh mint is essential for this recipe. Dried mint won’t provide the same bright, fresh flavor. Mint adds so much to this drink that it’s worth seeking out fresh leaves. Don’t skip the mint-infused simple syrup step. Steeping the mint in the hot syrup extracts much more flavor than just adding raw mint leaves to cold lemonade. Adjust the sweetness to your taste. Start with three-quarters cup of sugar and add more if needed. Remember that flavors mellow when chilled, so the lemonade might taste more tart when warm than it will when cold. Use freshly squeezed citrus juice always. Bottled juice simply doesn’t have the bright, fresh flavor needed for excellent lemonade. The difference is dramatic. If your mandarins aren’t very juicy, you may need a few extra to get enough juice. Have a couple extra on hand just in case. Straining the citrus juice removes pulp for a clearer, more refined lemonade. If you prefer pulpy lemonade, you can skip the straining. The mint leaves floating in the lemonade are edible and add flavor, but they’re optional. Some people prefer crystal-clear lemonade without floating herbs. This lemonade keeps refrigerated for up to 3 days. The flavors actually improve after the first day as everything melds together. Store covered in the refrigerator. For parties, make a large batch ahead of time and serve in a drink dispenser with fresh ice and garnishes. It’s a beautiful, crowd-pleasing beverage. The color of this lemonade is gorgeous – a sunny, golden-orange hue that’s perfect for winter when we crave brightness and warmth. Kids love this because it’s not as sour as traditional lemonade. The mandarins add natural sweetness and a milder citrus flavor that’s very approachable. For an adult version, add a splash of vodka, gin, or even prosecco to individual servings. The citrus and mint pair beautifully with spirits. Mandarin season typically runs from November through April, making this truly a winter drink that celebrates seasonal citrus at its peak. Different mint varieties create different flavors. Spearmint is classic and mild. Peppermint is stronger and more cooling. Chocolate mint adds an interesting subtle note. Use whatever fresh mint you can find. For a sweeter, dessert-like version, increase the sugar and serve in small portions as a palate cleanser between courses. Freeze some of the lemonade in ice cube trays. Use these citrus-mint ice cubes in future glasses of lemonade so they don’t dilute as they melt. This drink celebrates winter citrus season when mandarins, clementines, and tangerines are at their sweetest and most abundant. It’s a way to enjoy these seasonal fruits in a new way.
