Black lemonade is a dark, tart drink of fresh lemon juice, honey and food-grade activated charcoal, ready in about 10 minutes. It makes 2 tall glasses, looks striking with a black salt rim, and tastes like classic lemonade.
Why This Recipe Works
The charcoal gives the color and almost no taste. Whisk it into the lemon juice and honey before any water goes in, so the powder blends smooth and doesn’t float in clumps.
A lemon wedge around the rim makes the black salt stick. Wipe the wedge along the whole edge of the glass, then dip straight away, while the juice is still wet.
Honey dissolves best in the lemon juice, not in cold water. Stir it into the juice first and the sweetness spreads evenly through the whole pitcher.
Black Lemonade Ingredients
For the lemonade
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
- 1/4 cup honey or simple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon activated charcoal powder (food grade)
- 2 cups cold water
- Ice
For the rim and garnish
- Black salt or black sea salt, for the rim
- 1 lemon wedge, for the rim
- Dried orange slices, for garnish
- Fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish
How To Make Black Lemonade
Make the lemonade base
- Mix the base: Pour the lemon juice and honey into a pitcher. Stir until the honey has fully dissolved, so no sweet syrup sinks to the bottom.
- Add the charcoal: Whisk in the charcoal powder until the mix is smooth and evenly dark. Pour in the cold water and stir well.
Prep the glasses
- Rim the glasses: Rub the lemon wedge around the rim of each glass. Dip the wet rim into the black salt so it coats evenly.
- Add ice: Fill each glass with ice. Ice in the glass keeps the lemonade cold without watering down the pitcher.
Pour and garnish
- Pour: Pour the lemonade over the ice, going slowly so the salt rim stays clean.
- Garnish: Set a dried orange slice and a rosemary sprig in each glass.
- Stir and serve: Serve right away. Stir before the first sip, since the charcoal settles as the drink sits.
Recipe Tips
- Use food-grade charcoal: Buy powder labeled food grade. Other types of charcoal are not meant to be eaten.
- Whisk, don’t stir: Charcoal powder clumps when you stir it with a spoon. A whisk breaks it up and gives an even black.
- Check the sweetness: Taste the pitcher before pouring. If it’s too tart, add a spoonful more honey and whisk again.
- Keep medication in mind: Activated charcoal can affect how medicines work, so do not serve this drink to anyone taking medication.
What To Serve With Black Lemonade
Serve this lemonade right after pouring, while the ice is full and the rim is fresh. It fits a Halloween party or a dinner table, next to a plate of appetizers or a light antipasto spread.
How To Store
- Fridge: Keep the pitcher covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Whisk or stir well before pouring, since the charcoal settles.
- Make ahead: Mix the base with the charcoal and water ahead of time. Rim the glasses and add the ice just before serving.
FAQs
Does black lemonade taste different from regular lemonade?
No. Activated charcoal has almost no taste, so this tastes like classic honey lemonade. Only the color changes.
Is black lemonade vegan?
Not as written, because it uses honey. Swap the honey for simple syrup, which is just sugar and water, and the drink is vegan. It is also dairy-free and gluten-free as written.
Can I make black lemonade ahead of time?
Yes. Mix the pitcher up to 2 days ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Whisk it well before serving and add ice only to the glasses.
Why does my black lemonade look gritty or clumpy?
The charcoal was stirred in without being whisked smooth. Whisk it into the lemon juice and honey first, before adding the water, and the drink will turn out smooth.
Nutrition
Estimated per serving (1 of 2), worked out from the ingredients.
- Calories: about 130 kcal
- Total Fat: 0g
- Total Carbohydrate: 35g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Black Lemonade
2
servings9
minutes1
minute10
minutesA dark, tart lemonade of fresh lemon juice, honey and food-grade charcoal, served over ice with a black salt rim. Makes 2 tall glasses in about 10 minutes.
Ingredients
- For the lemonade
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
1/4 cup honey or simple syrup
1/2 teaspoon activated charcoal powder (food grade)
2 cups cold water
Ice
- For the rim and garnish
Black salt or black sea salt, for the rim
1 lemon wedge, for the rim
Dried orange slices, for garnish
Fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish
Directions
- Mix the base: Pour the lemon juice and honey into a pitcher. Stir until the honey has fully dissolved, so no sweet syrup sinks to the bottom.
- Add the charcoal: Whisk in the charcoal powder until the mix is smooth and evenly dark. Pour in the cold water and stir well.
- Rim the glasses: Rub the lemon wedge around the rim of each glass. Dip the wet rim into the black salt so it coats evenly.
- Add ice: Fill each glass with ice. Ice in the glass keeps the lemonade cold without watering down the pitcher.
- Pour: Pour the lemonade over the ice, going slowly so the salt rim stays clean.
- Garnish: Set a dried orange slice and a rosemary sprig in each glass.
- Stir and serve: Serve right away. Stir before the first sip, since the charcoal settles as the drink sits.
