Ginger Thyme Lemonade
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This ginger thyme lemonade is bright, zesty, and layered with the gentle warmth of fresh ginger and the subtle earthiness of thyme. It’s a refreshing twist on classic lemonade that feels a little fancy, yet couldn’t be easier to make.
With over a dozen lemonade recipes on my website, you can trust that I know a thing or two about making lemonade. This ginger thyme version is everything you love about the classic — bright, sweet-tart lemon — but infused with fresh thyme and warming ginger for a drink that feels vibrant, layered, and just a little bit elevated.
I’ve balanced it so the ginger adds a gentle zing, the thyme brings soft herbal notes, and honey (or sugar) smooths out the lemon’s tang. It’s refreshing poured over ice in the summer, cozy served warm in cooler months, and just as lovely as a mocktail as it is with a splash of gin or whiskey. If you’ve got extra lemons on the counter, you could go classic — or you could turn things up a notch.
Variations to try
I love how versatile this ginger thyme lemonade is – while I love it how it’s written in the recipe, you can also easily tweak it to suit your mood or the season! Here are some fun ideas to make it your own:
- Bubbles: Instead of using four cups of water in step three, use sparkling water or soda water instead to add some fizz. This makes it feel more like a mocktail.
- Herb swap: Replace thyme with fresh mint leaves, fresh rosemary, or lavender to mix things up.
- Spice it up: In fall or winter, I like to add spices to the pot for a cozier variation. I’ll add a cinnamon stick or a few cloves to make it cozy.
- Adults lemonade: Add in a shot of your favorite spirit to make this a refreshing cocktail. I like gin or vodka in summer or spring. In fall and winter, I’d reach for a whiskey or spiced rum.
Ginger Thyme Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups water (divided)
- ½ cup honey or sugar (see notes)
- 12 stems fresh thyme
- 3 inch piece of ginger (thinly sliced)
- ½ cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best!)
- Lemon slices, ginger slices, and thyme sprigs (to serve)
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of water, the honey, thyme, and ginger to a small pot over high heat and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Set the pot aside to cool.6 cups water, ½ cup honey or sugar, 12 stems fresh thyme, 3 inch piece of ginger
- Once it's cool, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher.
- Add the lemon juice and the remaining 4 cups of water. If you like, add lemon slices, thyme sprigs, and slices of ginger to the pitcher.½ cup lemon juice
- Either serve right away over ice and garnish with lemon, ginger, and thyme or place the pitcher into your fridge to cool.Lemon slices, ginger slices, and thyme sprigs
Equipment Used
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
