Despite its name, Brazilian lemonade is usually made with lime.
The drink is known in Brazil as limonada suíça, or “Swiss lemonade,” and is a limeade made by blending lime pieces, water, sugar, and ice. Recipes commonly use the fruit with its peel, then strain the mixture to remove much of the pulp and rind. Some versions add sweetened condensed milk, creating a richer, creamier drink.
The name causes confusion because English speakers generally distinguish lemons from limes, while Brazilian Portuguese commonly calls the Tahitian lime limão-taiti, literally associating it with “lemon.” Thus, “lemonade” in the English name does not mean that yellow lemons are the standard ingredient.
Brazilian lemonade is also different from bottled or powdered lemonade and from classic American lemonade, which is normally based on lemon juice. The blending method gives the Brazilian version a vivid citrus aroma and can add a slight bitterness from the peel, so straining and balancing the sugar are important parts of the preparation.