Lemonade Vs Pink Lemonade

Spring and summer are the best times of year for a pitcher of cold lemonade. It’s a refreshing, all natural drink you can easily make at home with just water, lemons and sugar. There’s no need to buy powders or liquid mixes that may contain chemical additives. Lemonade vs pink lemonade. They’re almost exactly the same drink except pink has more sugar and coloring or other juices added in. Lemonade is more sour but pink lemonade is sweeter because is has more sugar. The pink in pink lemonade comes from dye or fruit juices like strawberry, raspberry, grapefruit or cranberry juice. When pink lemonade has additional juices, it gives it a fruitier flavor.

Whether you choose pink or yellow lemonade, both are tasty, refreshing drinks with their own unique flavors. And since you’re making it yourself, you can adjust the sour and sweet levels according to your own taste. I prefer mine a little sour but the kids like their lemonade on the sweet side. Simply adjust the sugar and lemon levels as needed.

Making great lemonade is all about the lemons. Here in the US, lemons are pretty sour. But the amount of sour and sweet they have depends on the lemon, when it was grown and what type it is. Experiment a little to see what tastes best for you. And if you don’t want to squeeze lemons yourself, just buy the juice. It’s available in just about every food store.

Lemonade has some health benefits too. Lemon juice contains vitamin C, Iron, B6, Magnesium and Calcium. Compared to most sports drinks and soda, Lemonade can be a healthier option. Just try and keep the sugar as low as possible.

In this article, we’ll discuss the similarities and differences between lemonade and pink lemonade. Which is better?

What’s The Difference Between Lemonade & Pink Lemonade?

Lemonade is an all natural drink made from lemon juice, water and sugar. Lemon juice and water make a pretty sour drink, so sugar is added to cut the sour. The result is a balance of sweetness and tartness. Lemonade’s flavor can be changed by adjusting the ratio of lemon juice to sugar in the mix.

Pink lemonade starts off as regular lemonade, but has red dye or other juices added to change the color and flavor. Cranberry, strawberry, raspberry or grapefruit are the most common. Pink also has more sugar which make it a sweeter drink.

You can make your own fresh lemonade at home or purchase pre-made mixes that come in powder or liquid form. Most pre-made mixes include dyes to make the drink more pink or more yellow.

Some people prefer yellow lemonade because of it’s tart flavor, while others prefer pink lemonade because it’s sweeter and more flavorful. Experiment by adding different juices to lemonade and see what you like best.

Ahead we’ll discuss lemonade and pink lemonade along with some great recipes for both.

Lemonade

Lemonade is water mixed with lemon juice and some sugar. It can be slightly yellow or cloudy depending on how much juice you add. Premade lemonade mixes appear more yellow than when you make it at home because they add dye to the mix.

When most people picture lemonade, they think of a yellow drink. But it isn’t actually yellow. That’s dye manufacturers add to change the color. If you see lemonade that’s more than just a yellow tint or cloudy, there’s probably something else added to it.

Powdered and liquid lemonade mixes are mostly lemon and sugar too, but they have coloring added in and possibly other preservative chemicals.

Lemonade is just lemon, water, and sugar. Depending on how much lemon juice you add you may need a lot of sugar to get it sweet. Some recipes call for 25g per 8 fl oz. 1 teaspoon (tsp) of sugar = 4 grams of sugar = 1 sugar cube. So lemonade can have just over 6 cubes of sugar per 8 ounce glass.

For comparison, Pepsi has 27 grams of sugar per 8 ounce can. So lemonade can be just as sugary as soda if you mix it that way.

Less sugary lemonade mixes have more a tart flavor. The more sugar you add, the less sour you’ll taste. This is because sugar counters the sour flavor and turns it sweet. But you need a lot of it. The exact amount depends on how much lemon juice you use.

Aside from the light and refreshing flavor, lemonade is a rehydrating drink that has some health benefits. Lemon juice contains vitamin C, Iron, B6, Magnesium and Calcium. Many doctors say lemon juice can be good for your heart, metabolism and digestive system.

Lemonade can be turned into a variety of drinks by adding more ingredients to it. This is how we make pink lemonade. Simply make lemonade and then add other juices like strawberry, cranberry, raspberry, grapefruit, apple or grape. My kids love a little grape juice in their lemonade.

Lemonade can be made at home from lemon juice and sugar or with a premade mix.

Pink Lemonade

Pink lemonade starts as regular lemonade but more sugar and coloring is added. Coloring can be other red juices or food coloring like grenadine. Cherry, cranberry, grapefruit, raspberry, or strawberry can be added to make lemonade pink. Rosehip can also be added to give pink lemonade a slight floral note.

If you’re adding red juice to lemonade, you probably don’t need more sugar because the extra juice will add sweetness and flavor. But if you’re using coloring you make need it. It all depends on how sweet you like your pink lemonade.

Additional juices naturally make pink lemonade taste sweeter and less tart than traditional lemonade. This is because juices contain their own sugar and flavoring that cuts the sour taste of the lemons.

Pink lemonade is just as light and refreshing as regular lemonade. But some people prefer that it’s usually not as sour and can have other flavors. Strawberry pink lemonade is one of my favorites. Pink lemonade is lemonade with a twist. Simply make a batch of lemonade and then add a bit of your favorite red juice for more sweetness and flavor.

Just like traditional lemonade, you can make pink lemonade at home with all natural ingredients or you can use a pre-mix. It’s sold in liquid, frozen, and powdered form.

Because pink lemonade is lemonade with other juices and/or more sugar added, it can be just as sugary as soda drinks. But it still has lemon juice which contains vitamin C, Iron, B6, Magnesium and Calcium. And the same potential benefits for your heart, metabolism and digestive system.

I always recommend making my lemonade fresh. It’s easy to make and doesn’t contain any food coloring, dye or chemical additives. Just fruit juices, water and sugar.

Is Pink Lemonade Real Lemonade?

Yes, pink starts off as regular lemonade, but then dye or other juices are added for color. In the end it’s still mostly lemonade. We’ve compared lemonade vs pink lemonade, but here’s a summary of the differences.

Both drinks start off as the same regular lemonade. But pink has added ingredients that set it apart in flavor and color.
Lemonade is more sour, while pink lemonade is more sweet.
Pink lemonade can have additional flavors depending on the type of red juice you add to it.
Lemonade is just water, lemon, and sugar. Pink lemonade uses the same ingredients for a base but also includes red dye or juices like strawberry, raspberry, or cranberry for color and flavor.
Lemonade and pink lemonade can be made all natural. However pink lemonade usually contains more dyes or additives because of it’s color. Especially if you buy a pre-mix.
Natural lemonade is light yellow or cloudy in color. If you see yellow lemonade it has coloring added to it.
Pink lemonade is sometimes cloudy but always pinkish or reddish because of the ingredients used to make it pink lemonade.
Depending on how much sugar you add, both pink lemonade and lemonade can contain as much sugar as a soda can per 8 ounces.
Both versions contain vitamin C, Iron, B6, Magnesium and Calcium from the lemon juice.

FAQ

I hope this guide helps you understand, and make, lemonade and pink lemonade. Below, I’ve included a question and answer section with some additional information on the topic.

Is Pink Lemonade A Specific Flavor?

No. Pink lemonade’s flavor varies a lot based on the type of juices used and how much sugar you add to lemonade. It usually has a red or pink juice like strawberry, cherry, raspberry, cranberry or even grape added in. Or it could just be regular lemonade with red dye and more sugar.

Lemonade is more of a specific flavor because it has just lemon juice, water and sugar. Although you can adjust the tartness and sweetness by adjusting the sugar and lemon juice ratios.

Experiment with different flavors and juice combinations to perfect your own pink lemonade.

Can You Make Pink Lemonade From Scratch?

Yes. It’s actually very easy to make at home. I make mine completely from scratch using just fruits, water and sugar. I don’t buy fruit juices when I make pink lemonade. Instead I like to juice the fruit myself. I think it makes the lemonade taste fresher and lighter.

Puree some strawberries, grapes, cherries or raspberries and add the juice to your lemonade base. It won’t be as bright pink when you make it at home because pre-mixed pink lemonade has coloring added to it. But it’ll taste great and it’s a healthier option.

There are hundreds of pink lemonade recipes in books or online, but you can’t go wrong working with fresh fruit, lemons and sugar. No matter what you do it all tastes good.

Pink Lemonade Vs Strawberry Lemonade

The answer is both yes and no.

Strawberry lemonade is a very tasty version of pink lemonade. But not all pink lemonade is made using strawberries. Some use cherries, cranberries or grapes. And other versions just use regular lemonade with more sugar and red dye.

Pink lemonade is regular lemonade that has food color or other red juices added to it. Strawberry lemonade is a combination of fresh strawberries, lemon juice, and sugar.

Pink lemonade is the name given to all kinds of lemonade that’s pink. Whether it contains strawberries or not. So yes, strawberry lemonade is a type of pink lemonade. But it’s not the exact same drink as all types of pink lemonade. There are hundreds of versions of pink lemonade.

What Makes Pink Lemonade Pink?

The pink in pink lemonade is either another fruit juice or red dye.

Grenadine is a popular red food additive. It’s red, sweet and has the consistency of syrup. Grenadine is made from pomegranate juice that’s been reduced. This is what gives it its sweet taste and red color. When added to lemonade, it makes the drink sweeter and pink.
Red juices can also be added to lemonade to make it pink. Cranberry, strawberry, grape, cherry and grapefruit are a few good choices. They all make a different color pink lemonade.
Dyes are used in pre-made mixes to make lemonade pink. This is what gives store bought pink lemonade such a dark and consistent pink color.

All pink lemonade starts off as regular lemonade. The more red coloring ingredients you add, the darker pink the lemonade will get.

Is Pink Lemonade Sweeter Than Regular Lemonade?

It depends on the mix you use but generally yes. Pink lemonade is regular lemonade with more sugar, red color or additional juices added for taste and color.

Regular lemonade is a little more sour or tart. While pink lemonade is sweeter. Most regular lemonade mixes use about 25g of sugar per 8 fl oz. But pink lemonade uses around 27g of sugar per 8 fl oz. That additional sugar cuts down the tart flavor of regular lemonade and makes it sweeter.

If you’re making pink lemonade at home, you can adjust the sweetness however you like. Pink lemonade can be sour or sweet depending on how much sugar you add to balance out the sour flavor from the lemon juice.

Summary: Lemonade Vs Pink Lemonade

Pink lemonade vs yellow lemonade, both are tasty, refreshing drinks with their own unique flavors. And since you’re making it yourself, you can adjust the sour and sweet levels according to your own taste. I prefer mine a little sour but the kids like their lemonade on the sweet side. Simply adjust the sugar and lemon levels as needed.

Making great lemonade is all about the lemons. Here in the US, lemons are pretty sour. Experiment a little to see what tastes best for you. And if you don’t want to squeeze lemons yourself, just buy the juice. It’s available in just about every food store.

If you have any questions or comments about food and drink, email any time.