Sparkling Yuzu Lemonade

This Sparkling Yuzu Lemonade recipe is just what you need on a hot summer day! Sour, sweet, and complex, this recipe puts a fun twist on a classic drink using twice the citrus. Make it extra refreshing with fresh mint or add a shot of your favorite spirit for an adult-approved lemonade cocktail!

I think it’s safe to say that I’ve fallen for the yuzu fruit. From salad dressings to espresso tonics and margaritas, I’ll take any opportunity to use yuzu in new and creative ways! 

This sour and slightly floral citrus is native to East Asia but regularly shows up in Korean and Japanese cuisine. While not quite the same as lemons and limes, yuzu is also a citrus fruit with green and yellow rinds and distinct zingy flavors. If you love upgrading your recipes with fresh citrus, then you’ll surely love yuzu as much as I do.

Yuzu Lemonade Ingredients

One sip of this yuzu lemonade and I know you’ll be making it all summer long. Luckily, you only need 5 ingredients and a few minutes to make a glass! 

These are the ingredients you will need:

• 100% yuzu juice or super juice. I like Yuzuco’s super juice best because it’s a budget-friendly option that’s easy to find online. Other brands of yuzu juice can be found in the international aisle of well-stocked grocery stores, in Asian grocery stores, or online.
• Lemon juice. A 1:1 mix of yuzu juice and lemon juice gives this homemade lemonade recipe its characteristic vibrant, sunshine-like flavors. Either use bottled lemon juice or squeeze fresh lemons with a citrus reamer.
• Simple syrup. You can make your own simple syrup at home by simmering a 1:1 ratio of granulated sugar and water together. Once the sugar is dissolved, allow the syrup to cool before using it in the lemonade. This fantastic all-purpose syrup adds sweetness and balance to all kinds of over-the-top beverages, like iced coffee, lattes, iced tea, fruity mocktails, and cocktails.
• Sparkling water. It’s the “sparkle” in this sparkling lemonade!
• Ice
• Fresh mint leaves

(full list of ingredients and quantities in the recipe card below)

Street Smart Nutrition Tip: This recipe calls for bottled yuzu juice rather than freshly squeezed because I wanted to make the drink as accessible as possible. It’s very hard to find fresh yuzu fruit in the United States. If you’re ever lucky enough to get your hands on some, take advantage!

Swaps and Substitutions

You can have a lot of fun with this refreshing drink! Whether you’re serving it to kids or adults, it’s easy to tailor the ingredients to your tastebuds or what’s available near you.

There are 3 key substitutions you can rely on here:

• Don’t feel like making simple syrup from scratch? No problem! Use store-bought simple syrup or agave syrup instead.
• The sparkling water can easily be substituted for club soda. 
• Yuzu juice and yuzu super juice can be hard to find depending on where you live. If you’ve searched high and low and still can’t find it, substitute it with an equal amount of lemon juice or another citrus juice (lemon, orange, or grapefruit). This will no longer be a yuzu lemonade recipe but it will still be tasty and refreshing!

You can also take the fruity flavors up a notch by stirring in a spoonful of mango or peach puree.

Pour an ounce of prepared and cooled matcha tea over the assembled lemonade. The green and yellow hues will look so gorgeous and give the drink a subtle caffeine boost.

And listen up, adults: a yuzu lemonade cocktail is where it’s at. The refreshing citrus flavors pair perfectly with an ounce of the clear spirit of your choice, such as gin, vodka, mezcal, and blanco tequila. A splash of St. Germain is also delicious. Just mix, sip responsibly, and enjoy!

How to Make Sparkling Yuzu Lemonade

The refreshing glass of lemonade takes less than 5 minutes to stir together. Here’s how to do it:

1. Whisk the yuzu juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup together in a tall glass.
2. Add the ice cubes to the glass, then top with sparkling water. Stir to combine.
3. Serve the lemonade with fresh mint leaves on top or with a lemon wedge. Sip and enjoy!

Street Smart Nutrition Tip: This recipe makes one beverage in a tall glass filled with ice. I like to use a 10 to 12 oz cocktail glass, a highball glass, or a Collins glass. If you want to serve this to your friends, just double or triple the recipe and stir it together in a cocktail mixing glass or individual glasses. I’ve also included instructions on how to make a big batch of sparkling lemonade in a pitcher in the FAQs below (the best option for pool parties and picnics)!

What to Serve with Sparkling Yuzu Lemonade

Think of colorful summer salads, fresh seafood, and no-cook sides when considering what to serve with your bubbly sparkling lemonade. It’s the perfect finishing touch to any summer meal:

• Colorful salads with heaps of leafy greens and fresh vegetables are a great fit. My Massaged Kale Salad, Summer Salmon Salad, and Summer Stone Fruit Salad would all be delicious.
• Hosting a picnic or pool party? Wash down your burgers, hot dogs, and other dippable and hand-held snacks with a glass of yuzu lemonade. 
• Yuzu and fish (raw or cooked) go great together. If you want to serve ceviche, cod, scallops, sashimi, or salmon for dinner, make sure you have your sparkling yuzu lemonade on the side.

Yuzu Lemonade FAQs

What does yuzu taste like?

As I talk about in my Ultimate Guide to Cooking with Yuzu, yuzu’s flavor is like a mix between tart lemon, sour grapefruit, and sweet mandarin orange. What makes it unique, though, is its subtle notes of bergamot and flower blossom. This complex floral essence is what sets yuzu apart from other citrus fruits.

Can I make a big batch of yuzu lemonade?

Sure! Instead of making only one drink, quadruple the recipe ingredients and stir the yuzu juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup or agave syrup together in a pitcher, then pop it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Pour the lemonade into tall glasses filled with ice, then top with sparkling water. Enjoy!

There it is—the drink that’s going to change how you sip this summer! You’ll definitely find me sitting by the pool with a glass.

Don’t forget to check out The Ultimate Guide to Cooking with Yuzu if you’re now a full-blown yuzu enthusiast! It’s chock-full of pairing ideas to help you get the most out of this fun citrus.

As always, thanks for stopping by the Street Smart Nutrition blog! Here’s to fearlessly fighting food waste and eating more nourishing meals.