Fresh Mango Lemonade

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Everyone’s favorite summer drink is about to get even more refreshing with a big pitcher of this mango lemonade! Real mango purée is combined with fresh-squeezed lemonade to make the ultimate tropical sipper that’s perfect for any occasion. This easy recipe only calls for four simple ingredients and comes together in just 20 quick minutes — let’s whip up some homemade lemonade and stay cool on hot summer days.

Looking straight on to a glass of mango lemonade on a straw placemat with colorful flowers around it.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Step-by-Step Instructions
How to Store
Recipe FAQs
Variations and Substitutions
Expert Tips
Perfect Pairing
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

That tropical flavor: Take a sip of this classic lemonade with a tropical twist and you’ll think you’re on a beach vacation. This is paradise in a glass.

Made with real ingredients: Fresh is always best, and that’s exactly what you get with this recipe. No processed lemonade concentrate here.

Perfect party drink for all ages: The whole family can enjoy this homemade mango lemonade — adults and kids alike. Of course, if the adults would like to add a kick, I have suggestions for you. *Wink, wink*

Ingredients

Mango: We purée real mango chunks instead of using mango nectar or mango juice. Trust me — it makes all the difference for the best mango flavor.

Lemon juice: Don’t use bottled lemon juice. It lacks the brightness of fresh lemon juice and will give you a subpar lemonade. For the very best mango lemonade, we need freshly squeezed lemon juice.

White sugar: This gives us the perfect touch of sweetness to balance that tart lemon.

Water: As the base of our lemonade, I recommend using filtered water for the best flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Let's show you how to make this easy mango lemonade recipe.

Step 1: We start by boiling water and sugar together until the sugar dissolves to essentially make a simple syrup (photo 1). Some old-fashioned lemonade recipes call for simply stirring the water and granulated sugar together, but this method often leaves a gritty texture because the sugar doesn’t fully dissolve.

The water and sugar boiling in a small saucepan on the stove to make the simple syrup.

Step 2: Now we blend loads of mango pulp with a little water. Just like that, we have our mango purée (photo 2).

The mango purée in a clear blender after processing on a white wooden surface.

Step 3: From here, we pour the lemon juice, mango purée, sugar syrup and cold water into a large pitcher and stir the mixture to combine (photo 3).

A hand stirring a brown wooden spoon in a glass pitcher to combine the ingredients and make the lemonade.

That’s it! In three easy steps, we’ve prepared our refreshing mango lemonade.

Now we cover the pitcher with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for a few hours to chill. After refrigerating, we pour the chilled mango lemonade into ice-filled glasses and enjoy every sip of that tropical fruit flavor. It's truly the perfect drink on a hot day.

How to Store

Once we cover and refrigerate the lemonade, we can store it for up to three to five days. That said, I always find fresh lemonade is best when enjoyed within 24 hours.

As lemon juice sits, it starts to lose its brightness, so it won’t taste quite as fresh as time passes.

You can even freeze leftover lemonade. If stored in a freezer-safe container, it should last for up to three months.

Tip: You can partially thaw it to make a frozen mango lemonade slushy for those sweltering summer days. How refreshing does that sound?

Recipe FAQs

Can you use frozen mangoes?

Absolutely, frozen mangoes work well in this recipe. When producers freeze fruit, they freeze it at its peak ripeness, so frozen fruit is still wonderfully flavorful. This is an especially great option if ripe fresh mangoes aren’t available.

How can you tell if a mango is ripe?

Look for mangoes with an orange and red hue that slightly gives when you press your fingers into the fruit, similar to an avocado. It shouldn’t be overly mushy or hard, and you don’t want a mango that’s all green.

Can you make this mango lemonade into a cocktail?

You bet — it makes a great base for a cocktail! I’ve tried this mango lemonade with 2 ounces vodka as well as poured a splash into a flute and topped with Champagne to make a mango mimosa. Delicious!

I bet it’d also be great with some white rum or tequila. Feel free to experiment and let me know what cocktail creation you love.

How many lemons do you need?

Plan for at least eight lemons, though I like to get 10 just to be safe.

Looking down on a glass of mango lemonade with tropical flowers around it and a pitcher to the right.

Variations and Substitutions

Substitute those sweet mangoes for another fruit or even a combination. Think strawberries, peaches, raspberries, pineapple, papaya, passion fruit and more — you really can’t go wrong with most fruits.
Swap water for coconut water for an extra tropical flavor.
Infuse the syrup with fresh mint leaves to take on a mango mojito flavor.
Turn this into a mango limeade and use lime juice instead.
Give it a fizzy finish with a splash of club soda.

Expert Tips

Plan ahead: Lemonade needs time to fully chill, so I recommend not leaving this to the last minute.

Adjust to your taste: If you prefer a more tart lemonade, feel free to add more lemon juice.

Strain the lemon juice first: This removes seeds and excess pulp.

Give it a good stir before serving: As the lemonade sits, the mango will settle a bit on the bottom. That's nothing a little stirring can't fix.

Use a citrus juicer: We have a lot of lemons to juice, so a juice makes the process so much more efficient and saves your hand from cramping. A handheld juice is great, but an electric one is even better and well-worth the purchase if you enjoy making drinks in bulk.

Perfect Pairing

Of course, a glass of this lemonade isn’t complete without a few snacks. Since you clearly love mango, don’t miss my mango-habanero chicken wings and mango salsa with plenty of fresh tortilla chips.

This lemonade is also wonderful with tropical-inspired dishes. Some of my favorites include jerk chicken or jerk pork. Lobster tacos aren’t a bad idea either.

When only the most refreshing drink will do, I hope you make a pitcher of this mango lemonade. With that tropical twist, it’s your perfect summer drink.

Cheers!

A glass pitcher filled with the mango lemonade against a blue background on a straw placemat with tropical flowers around it.

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