Pear Lemonade with Thai Basil
This Pear Lemonade with Thai Basil combines ripe pears and fresh lemon juice in a harmonious blend, delicately infused with aromatic Thai basil for a refreshing, sophisticated beverage that balances sweet, tart, and herbaceous notes perfectly.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe pears Bartlett or Anjou, cored and roughly chopped
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice approximately 6-7 lemons
- 1/2 cup honey or agave syrup adjust to taste
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves plus extra sprigs for garnish (substitute regular basil if unavailable, though flavor profile will differ)
- 6 cups cold water divided
- 1/4 teaspoon salt enhances flavors
- Ice cubes for serving
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the pear purée: Place chopped pears in a blender with 1 cup of water. Blend until completely smooth, about 45-60 seconds. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, pressing with a spoon to extract maximum juice. Discard solids or save for another use.
- Create the basil syrup: In a small saucepan, combine honey/agave with 1 cup of water and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, remove from heat, add Thai basil leaves, and stir to submerge. Cover and let steep for 8-10 minutes until the syrup is fragrant and has taken on a slight green tint.
- Strain and cool the basil syrup: Remove basil leaves (they’ll have turned darker) and allow the syrup to cool to room temperature. This infusion can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Combine the base ingredients: In a large pitcher, mix the strained pear purée, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and basil-infused syrup. Add the salt and stir thoroughly to combine.
- Dilute and adjust: Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water and stir well. Taste and adjust sweetness by adding more honey/agave if desired, or more lemon juice for extra tartness. Remember that over ice, flavors will become slightly diluted.
- Chill thoroughly: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld. If time is short, add extra ice when serving.
- Serve with style: Pour over ice in tall glasses, garnish with fresh Thai basil sprigs and lemon slices. For an extra visual appeal, add a few thin pear slices to each glass.
Notes
- For best results, select pears that yield slightly to gentle pressure—neither too firm nor overly soft.
- Make a double batch of the basil syrup and refrigerate it for up to two weeks to make future batches quicker.
- This lemonade can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance, but the vibrant flavor is best within the first 8 hours.
- For a sparkling version, substitute 2 cups of the water with chilled sparkling water just before serving.
- To make this adult-friendly, add 1.5 oz of vodka, gin, or white rum per serving.