Mint & Black Cherry Limeade

We have two cherry trees in our yard.

I hate birds.

That’s all I really have to say about the whole subject.

I won’t be regaling you with tales of my freshly picked, organic, homegrown cherries that I turned into fragrant, juicy pies or glossy cheesecake topping.

I hate birds.

Instead of climbing trees to retrieve fresh, plump cherries, I drove to the grocery store and searched the produce section for the best cherries I could find. And they were fine.

But next year…….next year I’m sitting outside on our miniature wooden picnic table for the entire month of July with a slingshot and a pile of tiny rocks.

Anywho…….this Mint Cherry Limeade. I love Limeade, I love Mint, and I love Cherries. So shouldn’t they be combined to make one vibrantly colored, tangy and tingly drink?

I thought so.

I’ve been using fresh cherry syrup in a lot of things lately. I make a syrup thats sort of a cross between a fruit puree and a simple syrup. It goes on so many things and was perfect to use in this limeade. I steeped fresh mint leaves into my lime syrup. The mint is so lovely and gives this ice cold drink a cooling, minty kick that goes so perfectly with the lime and cherry flavors.

I didn’t add any specific water amounts to the recipe because I find that everyone prefers there lemon and limeades to be different strengths. After you combine the syrups, just add water and taste until you like the strength of the limeade.

More Summer Drinks?

Watermelon Cantaloupe Lemonade

Strawberry Coconut Lemonade

Peach Coconut Lemonade Slushies

Mint & Black Cherry Limeade

 

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Serves: Makes about 2-3 quarts, depending on desired strenght.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces Black Cherries, Stems and pits removed
• 1½ cups + 3 tablespoons Sugar
• ¼ cup Water
• 1 cup Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
• 20 Mint Leaves
• Water, to taste
• Ice
• Lime Slices, Mint Leaves, and Cherries, to garnish

Instructions

1. Place the cherries, 3 tablespoons sugar, and ¼ cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium/high heat. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Place in a blender and puree until smooth. Run through a fine mesh sieve and discard solids. Place syrup in an airtight container and store in the fridge.
2. Place lime juice, mint leaves, and 1½ cups sugar in a saucepan and bring just to a simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes to allow the mint to steep. Pour through a sieve and discard mint leaves. Pour the syrup into a pitcher. Add the cherry syrup. Add water to the pitcher, stirring to combine with the syrups. Taste as you add the water, adding more until desired flavor is reached.
3. Serve over ice and garnish with mint leaves, lime slices and fresh cherries.

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