Backyard barbecues, long days at the beach, and gorgeous summer sunsets can all be elevated by one simple and delicious drink: cannabis-infused lemonade. This summer staple always helps beat the heat, and what better way to chill than with an ice-cold beverage and an afternoon elevated with a little THC? Seriously, this could be you:
Below, we bring you four classic lemonade recipes, each mixed with an infused product to provide a mind-altering twist. From cannabis sugar packets to delectable tinctures, try them all, pick your favorites, and do this summer thing right.
Each recipe yields six servings of lemonade. Refer to the infused product packaging to calculate the approximate dosage of each serving.*
Classic Cannabis-Infused Lemonade
(Alter_photo/iStock)
Cannabis product: Ruby Cannabis Sugar (available in Washington)
You can’t go wrong with a pitcher of classic lemonade. No frills or pomp here—this crowd-pleasing beverage doesn’t need any extra glamour to be just as tasty as its souped-up variations.
Ingredients
- Ruby Cannabis Sugar
- ¾–1 cup non-infused sugar (sweeten to taste)
- 6 cups cold water
- 6 lemons
Directions
- Roll lemons firmly between your hands or the countertop to make juicing easier. Juice all lemons to yield one cup of juice.
- In a large pitcher, combine one cup sugar, one cup lemon juice, and 6 cups cold water. Stir.
- Adjust water and sugar to taste. Chill.
- Each packet of Ruby Sugar contains a 10mg serving of THC. We recommend preparing and pouring your lemonade, then adding the infused sugar to individual servings according to individual preferences to achieve accurate dosage.
- Add ice and serve. Enjoy!
Pro Tip: To avoid the possibility of grainy lemonade, you can make simple syrup first using the sugar and water in this recipe. In a small saucepan, simply boil 1 cup granulated sugar and 1–1½ cups water until sugar is dissolved. Shut off stove and let cool before mixing with freshly squeezed lemon juice and remaining water.
Sparkling Rosemary-Sprig Lemonade
(ollzha/iStock)
Cannabis product: Sprig (available in California)
When you’re in the mood for a cannabis kick, reach for this recipe. It’s lightly herbal with a clean, fizzy finish that will keep you coming back for more.
Inspired by: Garden Betty
Ingredients
Syrup
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1–2 large sprigs rosemary
Lemonade
- Sprig
- 5–6 lemons
- 5–6 cups water
- Additional rosemary sprigs to garnish (optional)
Directions
Syrup
- In a small pan, bring water, sugar, and rosemary to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved, then turn off heat.
- Cover and let rosemary steep for half an hour.
- Remove sprigs.
Lemonade
- Roll lemons firmly between your hands or the countertop to make juicing easier. Juice all lemons to yield one cup of juice.
- In a large pitcher, stir lemon juice and rosemary syrup. Add water and mix well. Adjust lemonade with syrup as needed.
- Fill individual glasses three-quarters of the way with lemonade, then top with Sprig.
- Garnish with rosemary and enjoy!
Pro Tip: Each can of Sprig contains 45mg (four and a half doses) of THC, so start small and play with the ratios to reach your preferred dose and taste. If Sprig is not available to you, you can substitute a different infused soda product to make your lemonade sparkle.
Cucumber Canna-Mint Lemonade
(Fascinadora/iStock)
Cannabis product: Dixie Elixirs Spearmint Dew Drops (available in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and California)
Nothing says “refreshing” quite like cucumber and mint. You’ll feel like you’re in the midst of a relaxing spa day with the first sip of this delicious elixir.
Inspired by: The Little Epicurean
Ingredients
Syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups water
Lemonade
- Dixie Elixir Spearmint Dew Drops
- 1 cup cucumber, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup mint leaves
- 6 lemons
- 6 cups water
- Additional mint and cucumber slices to garnish
Directions
Syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 ½ cups water. Bring to a boil until sugar dissolves.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
Lemonade
- Roll lemons firmly between your hands or the countertop to make juicing easier. Juice all lemons to yield one cup of juice.
- In a blender, combine cucumbers, mint leaves, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Puree until smooth.
- Strain through a fine strainer or cheesecloth and pour into a large pitcher
- Add water and mix well. Adjust lemonade with syrup as needed.
- Fill glasses with lemonade and add Dixie Elixir Spearmint Dew Drops, adjusting each to individual taste and dosing preference.
- Garnish with mint and cucumber and enjoy!
Pro Tip: Pop some additional mint leaves into the simple syrup concoction as it boils for the extra minty flavor—just remember to remove the used leaves once it’s cooled.
Infused Honey Lavender Lemonade
(LightFieldStudios/iStock)
Cannabis product: Not So Virgin Honey (available in California)
The tartness of lemons mixed with the sweetness of honey brings out the light, herbal aroma of lavender. When mixed together, they make one of the best tasting lemonades I have ever had the pleasure to drink. Step it up a notch with infused honey for a delectable and elevating treat.
Inspired by: Small Footprint Family
Ingredients
Syrup
- ¼ cup Not So Virgin Honey
- ¾ cup raw honey
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender (or ¼ cup fresh lavender blossoms, crushed)
Lemonade
- 6 lemons
- 5–6 cups water
- Additional lavender sprigs to garnish
Directions
Syrup
- Bring 2 cups water to boil in a medium pan. Remove from heat and add honey, stirring to dissolve.
- Add the lavender to the honey water, cover, and let steep at least 20 minutes or up to several hours, to taste.
- Strain mixture and compost or discard lavender.
- Pour infusion into a large pitcher.
Lemonade
- Roll lemons firmly between your hands or the countertop to make juicing easier. Juice all lemons to yield one cup of juice.
- Pour lemon juice and water into large pitcher with the infused honey syrup. Mix well and serve over ice.
- Enjoy!
Pro Tip: This lemonade recipe yields 6 servings with about a 10mg dose of THC per serving. If you prefer a lower dose, substitute a portion of the infused honey with more regular honey and adjust ratio to your preference.
*Note: The amount of cannabis product suggested in each recipe is a very loose suggestion; the actual amount you use should be modified based on the strength of your products and the potency you desire. Dosing homemade edibles can be tricky (click here to learn why), so the best way to test for potency is to start with one portion of a serving, wait one to two hours, then make an informed decision on whether to consume more. Always dose carefully and listen to your body, and never drive under the influence of cannabis.
