The Ingredient That Will Change Your Lemonade Forever

From frozen Negronis and cold cans of beer to iced tea and ginger ale, there are so many refreshing drinks to enjoy on a hot summer day. That said, no one can deny that a cold glass of lemonade is the ultimate thirst quencher. Whether it's freshly squeezed or store bought, this sweet and tart, bright and crisp beverage is summer in a cup. 

One of the best things about this classic summer staple? Everyone has their own special spin, meaning there are many top notch lemonade recipes out there to draw inspiration from. While Beyoncé likes to sprinkle in some lemon zest, Ina Garten likes to serve her lemonade frozen (via Today). The Daily Meal recommends adding diced fruits such as strawberries or blueberries, fresh juices such as cranberry or orange, or even a little vodka for an extra kick. Simply put, when it comes to lemonade, the world is your oyster. If you are prepping for summer party or a backyard barbecue, there's one easy ingredient you can add in to make your beverage ultra-refreshing.

There are so many different ingredients you can incorporate into a batch of lemonade, from strawberries and blueberries, to soda water and vodka. However, nothing is more crowd-pleasing (and family-friendly) then a sprinkle of mint. This popular herb has a lot of different flavor components to it, as noted by The Spruce Eats. It walks the perfect line between strong and sweet, and fresh and cooling, making it a common ingredient in drinks such as mint tea, mint juleps, and mojitos. Mint adds the perfect additional element to a batch of lemonade, as this fragrant herb complements the tart flavor of the lemon by providing a "nice cooling effect," as noted by Moribyan.

Not only does mint taste delicious in lemonade, but it's also extremely easy to incorporate. There are a few ways that you can add this sweet herb into your lemonade recipe. While Bobby Flay simply chucks in a half cup of leaves to the citrusy concoction, as noted by the Food Network, Martha Stewart prefers to julienne 2 tablespoons of mint and then add in a few extra leaves for garnish.