Honeydew Melon Juice with Basil is a hydrating, vitamin-rich drink made with sweet honeydew, tart lemon, and fresh basil. It's naturally sweet enough to skip added sugar, and a fresh batch comes together in 10 minutes. Enjoy as-is, turn it into sparkling agua fresca, or even a refreshing cocktail!
This refreshing Honeydew Melon Juice is a unique blend of sweet basil, tart lemon juice, and the refreshing sweetness of honeydew melon.
This drink is packed with vitamin C and vitamin K, incredibly hydrating, and a delicious way to get a boost of natural nutrients. Serve over ice-filled glasses, sit back, unwind, and enjoy!
Love summer drinks and mocktails? Then you'll also love my Pineapple Mocktail or this refreshing Pina Colada Mocktail.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy and refreshing: Juice it in minutes for a revitalizing drink any time of day. Perfect with or without sparkling water — a blending method is included too.
- Nutrient-rich: Honeydew melon is a potassium-rich fruit that hydrates and provides essential vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin K.
- Hydrating and aromatic: Fresh lemon juice, melon, and basil create a balance of tart and natural sweetness that quenches your thirst.
- Versatile: Enjoy it as a fresh juice, a sparkling agua fresca, or even a basil lemonade cocktail.
Ingredients & Notes
- Honeydew melon: Use a ripe honeydew melon for maximum sweetness and juiciness. A bright yellow Canary melon works too, for an even sweeter flavor, and cantaloupe is a great alternative. Save the other half to make this Cantaloupe Smoothie. The color of your melon juice will vary depending on the type of melon you choose.
- Lemons: Provide a bright, citrusy flavor. Try Meyer lemons if you can find them; they're sweeter and more floral.
- Fresh basil: Adds a subtle herbal, floral note that pairs beautifully with melon. Keep a little extra for garnish.
- Sweetener (optional): A touch of coconut sugar or monk fruit adds sweetness without overpowering the flavors, turning this more into a melon lemonade. It's not necessary, though, this drink is naturally sweet enough on its own.
- Sparkling water (optional): Use fresh water, coconut water, or sparkling water for a refreshing twist.
Note: There are so many good uses of lemon peel. I often use mine to deodorize the garbage disposal.
How to Make Honeydew Melon Juice
Juicing method: Wash and peel all the produce. Place the fruits and herbs in your juicer's hopper and let the juicer do its work. Transfer the juice to a glass bottle or jar for storing.
Blending method:
Step One — Juice the lemons first using a hand juicer. Combine the lemon juice, melon, basil, and sweetener (if using) in a blender.
Step Two — Blend until the melon and basil are completely broken down into the lemon juice.
Step Three — Pour the juice through a fine mesh strainer or a nut milk bag into a large bowl.
Step Four — Enjoy as-is, or combine with sparkling water.
Top Tips
- Use fresh, ripe honeydew: Sweet, perfectly ripe melon makes all the difference in this juice.
- Cold press juicer or blender: Either works well. Use a cold press juicer, or a blender followed by a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag.
- Best served cold: Chill before serving, or pour over ice for a perfect drink on a hot day.
- Hydration boost: Swap in coconut water for an electrolyte-rich version, ideal after a workout.
- Chill in advance: For an extra-cold drink, chill it in the fridge a few hours before serving. This also helps the flavors meld for a more delicious taste.
- Color may vary: The color of the drink depends on the type of melon and the color of the basil leaves used (green or purple).
Variations & Substitutions
- Make it sparkly: Add sparkling water to your glass for a fizzy agua fresca.
- Basil lemonade cocktail: Add your favorite spirit to turn this into a refreshing summer cocktail.
- Extra citrus: Substitute some of the lemons for lime for a slightly different flavor.
- Sugar or honey: If you prefer a sweeter drink, add coconut sugar or honey to taste. Make sure it dissolves thoroughly while stirring.
- Other melons: Different types and colors of honeydew can be used, though each variety will change the taste and color of the drink.
Storage
Refrigerate: Store your honeydew juice in the fridge to keep it chilled and fresh. For best results, use a large pitcher or transfer it to a mason jar with a lid or an airtight container. It stays fresh for 5 days.
Shake it up: Give it a good shake before serving to redistribute any settling at the bottom.
Recipe FAQs
From backyard entertaining to making a jug just for yourself, I have some delicious food ideas that pair well with honeydew lemonade.
For entertaining: Try a large thick-crust pizza or polenta pizza, juicy burgers, spicy chicken wings, fennel-cucumber bites, or a savory and sweet Mezze board.
Pair with healthy sweet treats like date brownies, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, or mascarpone cookies.
For a quick snack or small bite, try salty pretzels, simple potato or cassava chips, or a mix of your favorite nuts (salty pistachios are good here).
A great way to use any leftovers:
Make popsicles. By the way, I also have some creamy vegan and Paleo-friendly Ice cream to cool off this summer.
As flavored ice cubes, which you can drop into other drinks and smoothies.
Create a healthy version of a snow cone when crushed or blended.
They have a deeper, more orange-toned color than regular lemons.
Although they still have that pleasant citrusy taste, they also have a much sweeter and more floral flavor because they are a cross between regular lemons and mandarin oranges.
You can use regular or Meyer lemons.
I always look for a honeydew melon that has developed a somewhat yellowish outer skin color.
Avoid the ones that are still too firm and whiteish. They also should have a waxy feeling to the touch.
But the best way to tell is by smell. Ripe Honeydew melons that are ready to eat should be fragrant and faintly sweet.
Always allow the fruit to rest for a few days at room temperature before enjoying it instead of directly out of the fridge.
They taste better and sweeter that way!
Other Healthy Juice Drink Recipes You Might Like
Made this? Tell me how it went in the comments and leave a star rating below. I love to hear from you. And don't forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletter! — Mariska
Looking for more healthy drink ideas? Browse my full collection of Smoothies, Juices & Restorative Drinks for fresh, nourishing recipes made with whole ingredients.
📖 Recipe
Refreshing Honeydew Melon Juice With Basil
Mariska RamondinoEquipment
- 1 Slow Juicer I love Hurom
- Mason Jars or Pitchers for storing
- 1 Juicing Strainer or Nut Milk Bag optional, if you don't have a juicer
- 1 high-speed blender optional, if you don't have a juicer
Ingredients
- ½ of a large Honeydew melon
- 6 (Meyer) lemons—see note
- ½ cup loosely packed sweet fresh basil leaves plus more to garnish (about 10 grams)
- 3 tablespoons coconut sugar (27 grams) or Monk fruit sweetener optional and more if making a cocktail
- 2 cups of sparkling water—see note optional to make it a sparkly drink
Instructions
- Peel the melon and remove any seeds. Then cut into smaller pieces to fit into the juice hopper (or blender alternatively).½ of a large Honeydew melon
- Peel the lemons and quarter them. Remove any seeds, if possible.6 (Meyer) lemons—see note
- Add all the ingredients to your juicer and juice. When your juice container is full, close the juice chamber and transfer the juice to a large mason jar or pitcher with a lid. Place the juice container again under the juice chamber and open it to catch the remaining juice. See note if you don't have a juicer.½ cup loosely packed sweet fresh basil leaves
- After you have juiced all the produce and transferred the juice to your large pitcher, stir everything to distribute the flavors. Serve and enjoy or cool in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Love it more on the tart side—then add more lemon juice.
- Want it sweeter—add monk fruit or coconut sugar, or honey.
- Want a more herbal flavor—then add more basil.
- If too strong, dilute it with water.
- Make sure that your melon is ripe enough with a juicy taste.
Add your own private notes
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Nutrition (% Daily value)
Disclaimer: This nutritional data is calculated using third party tools and is only intended as a reference.
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