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This easy Meyer lemonade recipe uses just three ingredients and highlights the naturally sweet, floral flavor of Meyer lemons. It’s perfectly balanced, not too tart, and made with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup for the best homemade lemonade every time.
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Pin ItLiving in Southern California, having fruit trees has always been a dream of mine. When we bought our house, the very first thing I did was plant five citrus trees: a Meyer lemon tree, an Eureka lemon tree, a lime tree, a yellow grapefruit tree, and an orange tree.
Meyer lemons are my favorite because they’re naturally sweeter and less acidic than standard lemons, with a subtle hint of orange flavor. They’re incredibly juicy and produce fruit almost year-round here, which means I’m constantly making fresh lemonade, lemon recipes, and citrusy drinks straight from our backyard.
This Meyer lemonade recipe is what I make most often. It’s bright, refreshing, perfectly balanced, and truly tastes like drinkable sunshine — one of my favorite homemade lemonade recipes to enjoy year-round.
I also love using our lemons for lemon bars, a simple lemon loaf cake, classic lemon pie, smoothies, and even a light spiked lemonade when friends come over for happy hour.
This recipe makes about 6 cups of lemonade (roughly 4–6 servings). You’ll need about 5–6 medium Meyer lemons to yield 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. It easily doubles for parties and summer gatherings.
Meyer Lemonade Ingredients
This easy Meyer lemonade recipe uses just 3 simple ingredients.
Fresh Meyer Lemons – You’ll need to use fresh Meyer lemon juice from Meyer lemons for this recipe. Fresh lemon juice is the only way to go!
Granulated Sugar – White sugar works great for this recipe. You’ll be making a simple syrup to sweeten the lemonade. You can also use a sugar alternative like honey to make honey syrup, agave nectar or stevia.
Water – We recommend using filtered water for this recipe.
Why Meyer Lemons Make the Best Lemonade
- Naturally sweeter than regular lemons
- Slight floral + orange notes
- Less acidic and smoother on the palate
- Require less sugar for balance
- Juicier yield per lemon
How to Make Meyer Lemonade
Make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 3 cups of water and ¾ cup granulated sugar. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, just until the sugar fully dissolves. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool.
Juice the lemons: Squeeze fresh Meyer lemons until you have about 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Strain out any seeds if needed.
Mix the lemonade: In a large pitcher, add the lemon juice and 1 cup of cold water. Pour in the cooled simple syrup and stir well to combine.
Chill: Refrigerate the lemonade until completely cold. The flavor is best when it’s well chilled.
Serve: Serve over ice with fresh lemon slices or your favorite garnishes.
Meyer Lemonade Variations
Want to switch things up? Try one of these easy flavor twists:
- Sparkling Meyer Lemonade: Replace some of the water with sparkling water or club soda for a bubbly, refreshing drink.
- Herb-Infused Lemonade: Add fresh mint, basil, or thyme for a garden-fresh flavor.
- Berry Lemonade: Muddle strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries into the pitcher for a fruity twist.
- Lavender Lemonade: Add a small pinch of dried culinary lavender or a drop of lavender extract to the simple syrup for a floral note.
- Watermelon Meyer Lemonade: Stir in 1 cup of fresh watermelon juice for a light, naturally sweet summer variation.
- Extra Citrus Boost: Rub lemon zest into the sugar before making the syrup or add a splash of fresh orange juice for brighter citrus flavor.
Eden’s Recipe Tips
Use freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice for the best flavor.
Add the sugar gradually and taste as you go. Meyer lemons are naturally sweeter, so you may need less sugar than traditional lemonade recipes.
Prefer a tarter lemonade? Add slightly less syrup. Like it sweeter? Add a touch more.
Serving Tip: This Meyer lemonade is just as lovely for everyday sipping as it is for parties. Serve it well chilled over ice with fresh lemon slices, a sprig of mint, or edible flowers for an effortless, pretty presentation — especially when poured into simple glass pitchers or mason jars.
FAQs
Meyer lemons have a slightly sweeter and more fragrant taste than regular lemons. They are perfect for making delicious lemonade!
Meyer lemons are in season during the spring, summer and winter. However, they can be found year-round in California.
Meyer lemons can be found at most grocery stores at certain times of the year. You will also find them at your local Farmers market when they’re in season. However, if you cannot find them, you can substitute them with regular lemons.
You’ll need about 5–6 medium Meyer lemons to yield 1 cup of fresh lemon juice, which is what this recipe uses. Lemon size and juiciness can vary slightly, so it’s always a good idea to grab an extra lemon just in case.
Yes, you can substitute regular lemons if Meyer lemons aren’t available. Keep in mind that regular lemons are more tart and acidic, so you may want to increase the sugar slightly or add a splash of extra water to balance the flavor. Meyer lemons are naturally sweeter and slightly floral, which gives the lemonade a smoother, less sharp taste.
Homemade Meyer lemonade will stay fresh for about 3–4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stir before serving, as natural separation can occur.
More Lemonade recipes
If you’re looking for more refreshing drinks, try my Italian Sodas and Agua Fresca, too! Try my creamy lemon mocktail if you want a fancier lemon drink.
Let me know if you make this easy homemade lemonade recipe. I can’t wait to see what you think.
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Meyer Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1 cup Meyer lemon juice
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- In a saucepan combine 3 cups of water and 3/4 cup sugar.
- Heat on medium only until the sugar has melted, then let it cool.
- In a pitcher add the lemon juice and 1 cup water. Pour in the sugar water and mix.
- Let the mixture cool in the refrigerator. It tastes best when it’s nice and cold
- Serve with ice and slices of lemons.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is an excellent recipe! I’ve made it several times. I keep saying that I’ll try making it one time with sugar and agave nectar.
Can’t wait to try! How do you make a simple syrup using honey
Such a yummy and flavorful Meyer lemonade. If you love lemonade, you have got to try this. Don’t skip making that simple syrup!
I love Meyer lemons! This lemonade turned out FANTASTIC! Perfectly sweet.
I had never heard of Meyer lemons before but I love lemonade so I had to go out to find some. Luckily I could and when I made this lemonade it was some of the best I have ever had.