The minty lemonade popular in Israel and the Middle East is called limonana. The name combines limon, meaning “lemon,” with na’na’, the Arabic word for mint. It is usually made with lemon juice, water, sugar, fresh mint and ice, creating a bright, cooling drink that is especially popular during hot summers.
Limonana may be served still, over ice, or blended into a frozen slush. Restaurants and cafés often puree the mint into the drink, giving it a vivid green color, while other versions use whole leaves or mint syrup. Its flavor profile is fresh and herbal rather than alcoholic.
A common mix-up is calling limonana a mojito or a virgin mojito. Both drinks can contain mint and citrus, but limonana is fundamentally a lemonade, while a mojito traditionally includes lime, soda water and rum. The drink is strongly associated with Israel, though mint lemonade is enjoyed across the wider Middle East and elsewhere.