• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Wellness Mama script logo

Wellness Mama®

Simple Answers for Healthier Families

  • About
  • Favorites
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Health
  • Natural Home
  • Motherhood
  • Mindset
  • Natural Remedies
  • Beauty
  • Organization
  • Travel
  • Reviews
  • Recipes
Probiotic lemonade recipe
  • Drink Recipes
  • Recipes

Refreshing Lemonade Recipe (With Probiotics)

Katie WellsJun 26, 2018Updated: Oct 7, 2019
Reading Time: 3 min

This post contains affiliate links.
Click here to read my affiliate policy.

Jump to Recipe
Wellness Mama » Blog » Recipes » Drink Recipes » Refreshing Lemonade Recipe (With Probiotics)
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Real Lemonade... With Probiotics!
  • What Makes Probiotic Lemonade?
  • Probiotic Lemonade Recipe

Lemonade is the classic drink for a hot summer day, but the usual recipes are super sweetened and involve a lot of sugar! I love the flavor and effervescence of other fermented drinks, so why not probiotic lemonade? I looked it up to find it was a thing and decided to give it a try.

The result was wonderful, and thanks to the benefits of fermentation this lemonade contains little sugar and lots of healthy bacteria that is good for gut health.

Real Lemonade… With Probiotics!

I’m a big fan of water kefir and kombucha for their probiotics and beneficial enzymes. They do require specific cultures though, so if you don’t happen to have a SCOBY sitting around your kitchen, you are pretty much out of luck.

Luckily, there is an easy lacto-fermented drink that you can make with basic ingredients from your grocery store, and your kids will probably even drink it!

Green ebook cover with spices, bears, and veggies on a table

Meal Prep!

Busy? Save Time + Eat More Protein

With my High-Protein (Family-Friendly) Bulk Meal Prep Guide. This saves me so much time each week and keeps my family fueled! Download it free here:

This probiotic lemonade is very easy to make and is ready in just a couple of days. As I mentioned, you don’t need any special ingredients like kefir grains or kombucha starter to make it (just the liquid from some strained yogurt).

As for the flavor, we all loved it (even the kids) and now keep a batch going through most of the summer months.

Probiotic Lemonade Recipe

What Makes Probiotic Lemonade?

Full disclosure: this recipe does call for whey, which is basically the liquid drained off of yogurt. It’s packed with probiotics and easy to make if you start the night before. The recipe is here.

I get lots of requests for a dairy-free option for this recipe (or a way to make it if you just don’t have whey around). I haven’t tried to make a dairy-free version myself yet (will update when I do), but there are dairy-free yogurts or yogurt starters that may work. I’ve also heard of using kombucha or a ginger bug as a starter. Let me know if you try it!

Probiotic lemonade recipe

Probiotic Lemonade Recipe

Katie Wells
A fizzy and tangy fermented lemonade that has a boost of probiotics.
4.71 from 41 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 2 d 5 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 12 cups
Calories 13 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup sugar or sucanat
  • 2½ to 3 quarts filtered water
  • 10 lemons or limes juiced to make about 1 cup
  • 1 cup whey here's how to make it

Instructions
 

  • In a gallon size glass jar, stir together sugar and just enough hot water to dissolve the sugar.
  • Add the lemon juice and fill the jar about ¾ full with filtered water.
  • Make sure the liquid is at room temperature and then add the whey.
  • Cover tightly and let sit on the counter for 2-3 days. 
  • After 2-3 days, keep the lemonade in the refrigerator and drink 4-6 ounces per day. The flavor will continue to develop.
  • Since the sugar ferments out, it is rather tart. Add a couple drops of stevia if it is too tart for you!

Notes

You can add about 1 teaspoon of molasses to the sugar before dissolving to add extra minerals and a bit more sweetness. 
Blending the final product with ice cubes will make a delicious slushie (or margarita if you're using limes!).

Nutrition

Calories: 13kcalCarbohydrates: 2.8gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 10mgSugar: 2.8g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!

Feeling adventurous? Will you try this healthy drink? Tell me below!

This simple probiotic lemonade uses natural fermentation to reduce the sugar content and add probiotics to this delicious drink.

Category: Drink Recipes, Recipes

Share this article

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn
Print / PDF / Email

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

  • All Posts

You may also enjoy these posts…

how to make fresh lemonade with turmeric

Iced Turmeric Lemonade Recipe

How to make cold brew coffee

Refreshing Cold Brew Coffee Recipe

How to make honey ginger switchel

Refreshing Ginger Honey Switchel Recipe

Fruit infused water recipe

10 Refreshing Infused Water Recipes (With Fruit & Herbs!)

probiotic gummies

Berry Probiotic Gummies

probiotic deodorant

How to Make a Probiotic Deodorant Bar (Easy Recipe)

Reader Interactions

Discussion (206 Comments)

  1. Maryanne Anthopoulos

    September 13, 2012 at 9:27 PM

    Think I can use 1 cup of ginger bug instead of the whey?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      September 13, 2012 at 9:37 PM

      It should work… let us know how it turns out!

      Reply
      • Jamie Campbell

        January 26, 2014 at 9:16 PM

        I tried it — I don’t have a basis of comparison since as a vegan I can’t do the whey recipe, but, it seemed to turn out much as I’d expect fermented lemonade to turn out. Probably not to everyone’s taste (as the notes in the recipe say, it is indeed quite tart) but, I like it 🙂

        Reply
    • irene

      March 12, 2015 at 2:52 PM

      What is gingerbug? Sounds like it would be simplar than making whey.

      Reply
      • Kay

        March 12, 2015 at 6:39 PM

        5 stars
        I have never made a ginger bug, but have looked up the information on how to make one. It takes 5 days and seems more onerous than a 24 hour drip of yogurt to make whey. In that 5 days you could be sipping on your flavored probiotic lemonade. You can put ginger or whatever flavors you want in the lemonade during the 2nd fermentation. Of course, if you want to make a ginger bug, it would certainly be something to try. Maybe you’d like that better. At present, I really like Kombucha and Water Kefir flavor with Ginger, Lemon, and Lime. Tart, but oh so good.

        Reply
  2. Jess

    August 8, 2012 at 8:51 AM

    I tried this one and after 2 days of fermenting it developed a skim of mould on top.  Thoughts?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      August 8, 2012 at 9:31 AM

      It could be a temperature thing or from some other bacteria in the air. Mine did that once, but I just carefully removed the top layer and it was fine.

      Reply
    • Melissa

      November 14, 2013 at 11:55 PM

      If it’s a thin white film it is most likely Kahm yeast. Completely harmless, but do skim or it will change the flavor of your ferment.

      Reply
  3. Hanna

    July 26, 2012 at 3:43 PM

    I LOVE that I’m giving my children healthy, good for them lemonade, instead of yucky stuff!  I have shared this recipe with several people since finding it!

    Reply
  4. Quad

    June 8, 2012 at 1:32 PM

    Made my second batch this week (the first batch was a hit when mixed with stevia sweetened iced tea for “Arnold Palmers”).  Question…I did not get it in the fridge last night (day 3), and when I came out this morning, there were three little pieces of mold floating on top.  I scooped them out, and stuck it in the fridge, but not sure if its safe.  Do you know?  Certainly don’t want to put any of us in danger, but hate to waste a gallon of it if it’s OK to drink.  Your thoughts?  Thanks!

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      June 10, 2012 at 11:37 PM

      I’ve done the same thing before and drank them with no problem…

      Reply
      • Quad

        June 11, 2012 at 10:19 AM

        Thanks for your reply.  After I left my question, I searched around on other blogs a bit, and others said the same thing, so we drank it…no problem!  Thanks again.  Another question…I’m all out of lemons, but have some whey left that I would like to use up.  I do have oranges, is there any reason that I can’t make probiotic orange juice?

        Reply
        • Wellness Mama

          June 11, 2012 at 12:05 PM

          I don’t see why it wouldn’t work… let me know if you try it!

          Reply
          • Shel

            March 3, 2016 at 2:17 PM

            I tried it with oranges. No, don’t do it. It doesn’t taste good.

    • Manda

      May 9, 2015 at 6:29 PM

      5 stars
      I had this problem with my first batch as well… And I believe it was because I used bottled lemon juice… Aftrer looking at the ingredients, found out it actually had a preservative in it! So it didn’t actually let it ferment the way it should have and molded instead. :/ So be sure to use fresh juiced or a bottled without any preservatives, if there’s such a thing!

      Reply
  5. Consuegra

    May 28, 2012 at 3:52 PM

    So good! I am enjoying this lemonade thanks so much!! Even been using it to mix with my daily dose of apple cider vineger for added punch of tartness! Thanks again for your inspired and well informed outlook!

    Reply
  6. Sonja

    May 10, 2012 at 2:40 PM

    Made this-it was wonderful!!! And you’re right..kids love it.

    Reply
  7. Jallison

    May 3, 2012 at 3:47 AM

    I made this a couple of days ago, it actually tastes nice, the kids drunk it under duress!

    Reply
  8. jon

    February 26, 2012 at 11:50 PM

    How do you know when it is ready?  I made some and it ended up with a bunch of black stuff in it.  So I figured that I left it out too long.

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      February 28, 2012 at 8:42 PM

      Usually about two days, but it depends on the temperature in your kitchen…

      Reply
  9. Mona

    October 20, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    I have a jar on my counter and I’m excited to give it a try tomorrow. Question, though… should I strain it before drinking? My juice had a lot of pulp and there’s a film on the top. Don’t want to remove anything I should be keeping in… Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Carol Procter

    October 3, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    I have just made half quantities of this but forgot to measure the whey and tipped it in, will it be ok?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      October 3, 2011 at 9:13 AM

      It will be fine. It may ferment a little faster, so just keep an eye on it, but it should still taste great.

      Reply
      • Carol Procter

        October 14, 2011 at 9:47 AM

        I am now drinking this each morning and it is lovely, will have to make some more. Its coming up to flu season here, so the vitamin C should ward off the bugs!

        Reply
« Older Comments
Newer Comments »

Join the Conversation... Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Please read the comment policy.

Recipe Rating




The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service, Full Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Affiliate Disclosure, and Comment Policy. Content may not be reproduced in any form. Ads provided by CafeMedia Family & Parenting Network. Displayed ads do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by Wellness Mama.


Content

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Favorites
  • Wellnesse

Support

  • Newsletter
  • Podcast Application
  • Medical Review Board
  • My Books
  • Sitemap
  • Contact

Policies

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Full Disclaimer
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Promo Guidelines
  • Comment Policy

Join the
Wellness Mama Tribe!


Copyright © 2023 · Wellness Mama® · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding