Sweet Lemon Water
Summer is almost here, and yummy, cold drinks are perfect to beat the heat. Sweet Lemon Water is one of my favorites, and my go-to drink to serve at any BBQ, party, or gathering. It’s incredibly simple to put together, refreshingly light, and absolutely delicious!
Affiliate links are included below for your convenience. Please see my full disclosure.

You may be thinking, lemon water? How is this different from regular ice water with sliced lemons in it? It all starts with mixing sugar in with ice cold water, and letting it dissolve, then adding lemon extract for the lemon-y flavor and then…the secret ingredient…that changes it from ordinary to extraordinary!
The recipe came to me years and years ago from a dear friend who served it at a church function, and it has been one of my very favorites ever since. It’s also very inexpensive to make, which makes it great for serving to large groups. It’s also very versatile–it works for the most casual of get togethers, and also for events that are more on the fancy side.
Table of contents

Ingredients you need
- Water
- Ice
- Lemon extract
- Citric Acid
- Sugar
- Fresh mint (optional)
- Lemons
Have you heard of citric acid? It’s used a lot in canning tomatoes as a replacement for lemon juice, and it provides just the right amount of “sparkle” to this recipe. It brings it up a notch from plain water, but isn’t carbonated or “spicy” as my kids call it. You can find it at health food stores, large retail stores like Ace Hardware and Walmart, and Amazon.
All the ingredients can be altered to taste. This recipe is on the sweeter side, so if you like things less sweet, I’d start with a little less sugar and add from there.

Equipment you need
Nothing fancy necessary for this recipe…just a pitcher, a wooden spoon, and glasses! My favorite glasses to use are mason jar nesting glasses–they are super cute, and stack perfectly in the cabinet.
How to make Sweet Lemon Water
In a large pitcher, dissolve the sugar in cold water. I like to stir it around for a minute or two until I don’t see the sugar crystals any more. If you don’t like things as sweet, you can always start with less sugar and then add more if needed.
Add the citric acid and lemon extract and stir well. You may adjust ingredients to taste. Pour in the ice when serving, and garnish with lemon slices.
Tip: Add fresh mint to the pitcher or beverage container. If you’re filling jars (or glasses) ahead of time, add a little to each individual jar. It gives it an additional depth of flavor that really gives it “oomph”.

Tips for serving
You can really serve this lemon water with any meal–it’s so light that it works with just about everything. I love to serve it at a BBQ—hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled meats–but also with salads, like my favorite Spinach Penne Pasta Salad or Summer Corn and Orzo Salad.
Consider serving it a bridal, baby shower or other event. Double or triple the recipe and add to beverage dispensers for serving–it can fit in with fancier events too.
FAQ
Can this recipe be doubled? Yes! It can very easily be doubled, tripled, and more. The more I make, the less sugar I use. For example, if I double it, I usually only start with 3-3.5 cups sugar, then add more if necessary.
Does it need any fresh lemon juice? It doesn’t need it, but if you wanted to add a few tablespoons, you can. You may need to alter the sugar if you do so.
Where can I find citric acid? I actually have citric acid in a liquid form that I bought to make simple syrup for shave ice. But you can find it on Amazon, and in larger retail stores like Walmart, as well as health food stores. Make sure it is food grade!

More summer drink recipes you’ll enjoy
Pineapple Lemonade | Ice Cream Float Bar & Recipes
Come find me on Instagram–at Old Salt Farm or Simply Kierste–I’d love to see you there!

Sweet Lemon Water
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, dissolve the sugar in the water. If you generally like things not as sweet, you can start with less sugar and add more if necessary.
- Add the citric acid and lemon extract and stir well. You may adjust ingredients to taste!
- Add ice, then garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint.
Recipe Equipment
- Drinking glasses (I like mason jars for glasses!)
*Originally posted May, 2014.
we’ve made this at each of my daughters weddings. It’s a requested favorite. We love to get Sonic’s ice for it. That’s the key ingredient we feel. Lots of ice.
Oh man, that’s a great idea to get ice from Sonic’s!!! YUM!!!!! Ice really is key, you’re right!!!
Glad to hear it was a hit at weddings. I was just thinking it looked like a good idea for my double reception coming up. Yay! One decision down.
I’m so glad I could help get one decision down!!! :) I got this recipe from Jeana, years ago–it’s wonderful!
Made this for my kids, it was gone in 5 minutes flat! So good, thanks for the recipe:)
Yay! So glad they loved it! xoxo
another awesome lemon recipe to add to the list. we cant get enough lemon here! and i tried the lemon bread you posted a while back….it was delish!! but it stuck to the pans both times and came out ripped apart, not very appealing for looks but it was only around a day anyway :)
I’m sorry that happened with the lemon bread!! Try greasing and flouring it really well—it should help.
Hi Kierste, this lemon water will the best drinks this summer…….thanks for the recipe
Hello! I can’t find your delicious lemon water recipe. Of course, here is the awesome post, but the recipe isn’t showing. Do I need to do something to get it to download? I’ve made it before and so bummed I didn’t print it up then. Can you share with me…again?? You are my favorite!!
Sharon :)
Sharon, I can’t believe I missed this! I’m so sorry! It’s probably way too late now, lol, but I’ll look it up and see if I can figure out why it isn’t showing.
I would love to get the recipe if possible. It sounds delicious!
it’s up and running now–there was a glitch, but the recipe is now on the post. xoxo