Fruit Drink Suffix: Fresh Fruit Ade Recipe and Tips

The fruit drink suffix -ade appears in familiar names such as lemonade, and this mixed-fruit ade puts the idea to work with strawberries, orange, lemon, and lime. Blending ripe berries with fresh citrus, water, and a little sugar makes a bright, pourable drink that is easy to adjust for sweetness and pulp.

There is no single traditional formula for a general fruit ade: the fruit, sweetness, and dilution vary by preference and by what is in season. This version is served cold, with the ice added to individual glasses so the pitcher stays flavorful rather than watery.

Ingredients

2 cups hulled strawberries (about 300 g), fresh or thawed frozen
1 cup fresh orange juice (240 ml), from about 3 medium oranges
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (120 ml), from about 3 medium lemons
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (60 ml), from about 2 medium limes
1/3 cup superfine sugar (about 67 g), or to taste
3 cups cold water (720 ml), divided
1 small pinch fine salt (about 0.3 g)
2 cups ice cubes (about 260 g), for serving

Instructions

Prepare the fruit and juice. Rinse the strawberries under cool running water, remove their green tops, and let excess water drain. Juice the oranges, lemons, and limes, then remove any seeds. If you like a smooth drink, strain the citrus juice now; leaving a little pulp gives the finished ade more texture. Allow about 12 minutes for washing, trimming, and juicing, depending on the fruit and your juicer.
Blend the berry base. Put the strawberries, superfine sugar, salt, and 1 cup (240 ml) of the cold water in a blender. Blend for 30 to 45 seconds, until the berries are fully broken down and the sugar is no longer visible. If the berries are especially firm, pause and scrape down the sides before blending again. Superfine sugar dissolves more readily than standard granulated sugar; if you only have regular sugar, blend for an extra 20 to 30 seconds.
Combine with the citrus. Pour the berry mixture into a pitcher. Stir in the orange, lemon, and lime juices, followed by the remaining 2 cups (480 ml) of cold water. Stir for about 30 seconds so the berry purée is evenly distributed. If you do not have a pitcher large enough, mix everything in a large bowl and transfer it to smaller containers.
Taste and adjust. Take a small sip before adding more sweetener. If the drink tastes too tart, stir in additional sugar, 1 tablespoon (about 12 g) at a time, until it tastes balanced. If it is too concentrated, add cold water 2 tablespoons (30 ml) at a time. If the fruit is particularly sweet, the listed sugar may be enough or you may prefer slightly less. Stir thoroughly after each change.
Chill and serve. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 30 minutes so the drink becomes cold and the flavors come together. Stir again before pouring, since berry pulp can settle. Serve over ice in glasses, rather than adding all the ice to the pitcher. The recipe takes about 20 minutes of active preparation and 30 minutes of chilling.

Tips

Choose ripe, fragrant fruit. Ripe strawberries and juicy citrus give the drink its flavor without requiring a large amount of sugar. If your strawberries are bland or out of season, thawed frozen berries work well. Thaw them in the refrigerator, and include any juice released as you blend them.
Balance tartness gradually. Lemons and limes vary in size and acidity, so the exact amount of sweetener may need adjustment. Taste the drink after it has been diluted, not just the concentrated berry purée. Add sugar a tablespoon at a time; it is easy to sweeten the whole pitcher too much if you add a large amount at once.
Strain only if you want a lighter texture. The blended strawberries make a naturally pulpy drink. For a smoother pour, pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into the pitcher, pressing gently with a spoon. Pressing hard forces more tiny seeds and pulp through, so stop when the remaining pulp looks fairly dry.
Keep the ice out of the pitcher. Ice melts as the drink sits and dilutes the citrus and berry flavor. Chill the ade first, then pour it over ice just before serving. If you expect to serve it gradually, keep the pitcher refrigerated between pours.

Serving Suggestions

Serve the ade well chilled in small tumblers or tall glasses with fresh ice. A thin orange or lemon wheel makes a simple garnish, while a strawberry cut partway through can sit on the rim. A few mint leaves add a cool herbal aroma; gently clap them between your palms before adding them so they release fragrance without being crushed into the drink.

This fruit drink pairs easily with a picnic lunch, sandwiches, grilled vegetables, or a plate of salty snacks. Its citrus acidity is especially pleasant beside rich or savory foods. For a casual gathering, set out a pitcher with a spoon and let guests stir before pouring, because the berry solids naturally settle. Put garnishes and ice beside the pitcher rather than mixing them in ahead of time.

For a less sweet glass, pour the ade over extra ice or top it with a splash of cold sparkling water just before serving. Sparkling water makes the drink lighter and more effervescent, but it will lose its bubbles if stored in the pitcher, so add it glass by glass.

Variations

Use other berries. Replace the strawberries with 2 cups (about 300 g) raspberries, blackberries, or a mixture. Raspberries and blackberries have more noticeable seeds, so strain the blended drink for a smoother result. Blueberries are less tart and may need a little extra lemon juice to keep the flavor lively.
Make a tropical version. Swap 1 cup (240 ml) of the water for 1 cup (240 ml) pineapple juice, and use only half the sugar to start. Pineapple juice adds sweetness and body, so taste the finished mixture before adding more. A small amount of lime keeps this variation from tasting too sweet.
Try a gentler citrus blend. If you prefer less sharpness, use 3/4 cup orange juice (180 ml), 1/3 cup lemon juice (80 ml), and omit the lime. Replace the omitted juice with 1/4 cup cold water (60 ml). This makes a softer, more orange-forward drink; it will be less tangy than the standard version.
Sweeten with honey. Substitute 1/4 cup honey (about 85 g) for the sugar, starting with less if the fruit is ripe. Honey has a distinct floral flavor and can be harder to mix into a very cold drink. Stir it into the berry mixture while blending, and taste before adding the full amount.
Make individual sparkling glasses. Prepare and chill the recipe as written, then pour 3/4 cup (180 ml) ade over ice and top each glass with 1/4 cup (60 ml) chilled sparkling water. The result is fizzier and less concentrated, so skip this if you prefer a fuller fruit flavor.

Storage and Reheating

Refrigerate the drink within 2 hours of preparing it, covered in a pitcher or a clean, sealed container. It is best within 2 days, while the berry flavor and citrus aroma are freshest. It may be drinkable for up to 3 days if kept continuously refrigerated, but separation and fading flavor become more noticeable over time. Stir well before serving, and discard it if it has been left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Do not store the ade with ice or sparkling water mixed in; both dilute it, and sparkling water goes flat. For make-ahead serving, prepare the fruit and juice mixture, cover it, and chill it without ice. This is a cold drink, so reheating is not needed. Freezing is possible, but the texture may separate after thawing; if you freeze it, leave room in a freezer-safe container for expansion, thaw it in the refrigerator, and blend or stir it thoroughly before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the suffix “-ade” mean in a fruit drink?
The ending -ade is used in names for drinks commonly made with fruit juice, water, and often a sweetener, as in lemonade. It is a useful naming pattern, not a guarantee that every drink with that ending follows one fixed recipe. This mixed-fruit version combines several citrus juices with blended strawberries.

Can I make this without a blender?
Yes. Mash the strawberries very thoroughly with a fork or potato masher, then stir them with the sugar and a little water until the sugar dissolves as much as possible. Add the juices and remaining water, and strain if you want to remove larger pieces. The drink will usually be less smooth than the blended version, but it will still have fresh berry flavor.

Can I use bottled lemon or lime juice?
You can, but the flavor is usually less fragrant and can taste sharper or flatter than freshly squeezed juice. If bottled juice is what you have, begin with about three-quarters of the listed lemon and lime amounts, mix the drink, and add more to taste. Keep the orange juice fresh if possible, since it contributes much of the drink’s rounded fruit flavor.

How can I make the drink less sweet?
Start with 2 tablespoons sugar (about 25 g) instead of 1/3 cup, then taste after blending and diluting. You can leave out added sugar entirely if the berries and oranges are very ripe, though the drink will taste more tart. Add a little more water if the citrus feels too intense, and remember that ice will also soften the flavor as it melts.

Why does the fruit pulp settle in the pitcher?
Strawberry purée contains small fruit particles that naturally settle when the drink stands. This is normal and does not mean the ade has spoiled. Stir it before pouring, or strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve before chilling if you would rather have a clearer drink. Keep it refrigerated either way.

Can I prepare it the night before?
Yes. Mix the drink, cover it, and refrigerate it overnight, then stir well before serving. For the freshest citrus aroma, you can also juice and blend the berries ahead, keep the components covered and refrigerated, and combine them shortly before serving. In either case, add ice only to the glasses.

More recipes to cook

Safety notes: safe minimum internal temperatures from USDA FSIS; raw and undercooked fish guidance from the U.S. FDA. Food safety notes

Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it (corrections policy).