Strawberry Rose Lemonade Pitcher (Print Version)

A floral strawberry lemonade with fresh lemon juice and rose water for a light refreshment.

# Components:

→ Fruit & Juice

01 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
02 - 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice from approximately 4 to 6 lemons
03 - 4 cups cold water

→ Sweetener & Floral

04 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar or to taste
05 - 1 to 2 tablespoons rose water

→ Garnish

06 - Fresh strawberry slices
07 - Lemon wheels
08 - Edible rose petals
09 - Fresh mint sprigs
10 - Ice cubes

# Directions:

01 - In a large pitcher, combine sliced strawberries and sugar. Muddle gently with a wooden spoon to release juices without pureeing the fruit.
02 - Add freshly squeezed lemon juice and rose water to the pitcher. Stir until sugar is mostly dissolved.
03 - Pour cold water into the pitcher and mix thoroughly. Taste and adjust sweetness or rose water intensity as desired.
04 - Add ice cubes to the pitcher and stir to bring the lemonade to serving temperature.
05 - Top with fresh strawberry slices, lemon wheels, edible rose petals, and mint sprigs for visual appeal.
06 - Serve immediately for optimal flavor, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours to allow flavors to meld. Stir before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like summer actually tastes, not like something that's trying too hard to be fancy.
  • Rose water is easier to work with than you'd think, and it transforms ordinary lemonade into something people actually remember.
  • You can make it in fifteen minutes, which means it's perfect for when guests are already on their way.
02 -
  • Rose water is potent—start with one tablespoon, taste, then add more if you want it. I once added three tablespoons thinking more floral meant more delicious, and it tasted like a perfume counter, not a drink.
  • Don't skip the fresh lemon juice; bottled juice tastes flat and one-dimensional by comparison. The difference is noticeable enough that it changes whether people ask for seconds.
03 -
  • Make a strawberry-rose syrup base the night before if you're hosting—combine the strawberries, sugar, and rose water, let it sit overnight, then add lemon juice and water the morning of. The flavors become more integrated and the pitcher tastes richer.
  • Freeze some strawberry slices in ice cubes ahead of time so your pitcher stays cold without diluting as the regular ice melts.
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