Cucumber & Mint Lemonade Infusion

Prepare to be wowed by this lemonade’s electric green color — all thanks to one of the most refreshing duos you’ll ever drink — cucumber and fragrant fresh mint.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Mint Syrup

• 1  cup  loosely-packed of fresh mint
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  cup water
•  zest of one lemon

• Lemonade

• 7  mini cucumbers (or 1 1/2 English cucumbers)
• 1  cup mint syrup
• 1  cup  freshly-squeezed lemon juice, strained of pulp (8 small lemons or 4 large lemons)
• 1  cup cold water
• 1 -2  cup  ice
•  cucumber, ribbons (for garnish)
•  mint (for garnish)

Directions

1. For the mint syrup: Combine fresh mint, sugar and water in a small pot and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest. Let mint steep for 30 minutes before straining syrup through a sieve lined with cheesecloth. Allow to cool completely and store in refrigerator until ready to use.
2. For the lemonade: Slice cucumbers into rounds and add to a blender. Blend on high until cucumbers are fully broken down into juice, stirring as needed. Strain cucumber juice through a sieve lined with cheesecloth, pressing down on the pulp to remove all of the liquid. You should be left with about one cup of juice.
3. In a large pitcher, combine cucumber juice, mint syrup, lemon juice and cold water. When ready to serve, add 1-2 cups of ice. Garnish individual glasses with cucumber ribbons and fresh mint.