Simple Whey Lemondade

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Bright, bubbly, and bursting with flavor, this simple whey lemonade is made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, a touch of sugar, and loaded with natural probiotics to support gut health. It’s the perfect healthy twist on a classic summertime drink.

Lemonade will forever be a nostalgic nod to my childhood. Of course, kids still love it. But the store-bought versions are usually loaded with sugar and boosted with “natural flavors” that make the lemon taste overly intense. That’s why I prefer this homemade lemonade, bonus points that it’s naturally fermented to boost our gut health. It has that classic, nostalgic flavor, but it’s gentle, more balanced, and far less sugary than what you’ll find on the shelf.

What we love about simple whey lemonade

• It’s refreshing and delightful.
• It’s not overly sweet, so kids can feel free to drink up.
• It’s a fermented drink that will naturally support gut health while still being delicious. Win win!
• The kids can help make it and they love being a part of the action.
• It’s uses up a product that’s typically discarded to the chickens for a no-waste kitchen.

Equipment needed

• lemon juicer
• fine mesh strainer, or cheese cloth
• large bowl, or large glass jar
• swing top glass storage jars, for a tight seal

Ingredients

• ¾ cup cane sugar
• ¾ cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 8 cups filtered water
• 1 cup whey, strained from full-fat plain yogurt (get my homemade yogurt recipe here)

Instructions

1. Make sure your whey is strained well through a fine mesh stainer, or cheese cloth.
2. Combine the sugar, lemon juice, whey, and filtered water into a glass jar, jug or bowl. I used a gallon-sized jar. Mix well until sugar dissolves.
3. Once combined, use your funnel to add the mixture to your swing top bottles, (can also use mason jars here, if they seal well).
4. Leave your jars on the counter to ferment for 2-7 days, or until they carbonate.
5. During the fermentation period, burp and mix the jars once per day. To do this, simply open the top to release pressure. You’ll notice it getting more and more carbonated every day. Once you close the lid gently, tip the jar over 3-4 times to keep mixture combined. I find most of my batches carbonate in the 2-4 day range, but if it’s cold it may take longer.
6. Check them daily because the fermentation time can vary a lot and they will explode if left too long. Once carbonated, store them in the fridge and enjoy!

Tips for making simple whey lemonade

• Use fresh lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice just doesn’t compare. It lacks the brightness and sweetness of fresh lemons and often contains preservatives that can interfere with fermentation.
• Stick with filtered water. Chlorine and other chemicals in tap water can disrupt the fermentation process and alter the flavor.
• Make juicing easier. A lemon squeezer is super handy, but if you’re going by hand, roll the lemons on the counter first to soften them up and get more juice.
• “Burp” your jar daily. Open the lid once a day to release built-up pressure, then seal it back up.
• Time builds flavor. The longer your lemonade ferments, even in the fridge, the tangier and fizzier it will become.
• Temperature matters. Warm kitchens speed up fermentation, so your lemonade might be ready in just a few days. Cooler temps will slow things down.
• Try flip-top bottles. Swing-top jars not only help build up that fizzy finish. They also look great on your counter or in the fridge!

So what is whey anyway?

Whey is the liquid that separates from yogurt or cheese products when it curdles. You’ll often see it sitting on top of your yogurt container. Some people pour it off, but did you know you can stir it right back in? It’s packed with protein and beneficial nutrients. In this recipe, we’re actually using whey from strained yogurt as a natural starter culture to kick off fermentation.

Now, we’ve all stumbled across a forgotten sippy cup of juice that’s been sitting for weeks. Sour, smelly, possibly moldy… definitely not appetizing. That’s what happens with unintentional fermentation.

But when fermentation is done intentionally, using a starter like whey, it’s a completely different story: safe, healthy, packed with probiotics, and surprisingly delicious.

This simple whey lemonade is the perfect addition to an afternoon snack of my yummy sourdough cinnamon rolls! The kids will jump up from afternoon naps and excitedly run to the kitchen for a snack!

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