This Italian lemon soda, or limonata recipe, is the homemade soda recipe you never knew you always needed, especially if you were a fan of sour lemon candies as a kid. It’s a bubbly take on classic lemonade made with homemade lemon syrup!
This recipe uses my easy lemon simple syrup for the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and the bubbles make it more fun than regular lemonade. Use this soda to amp up the lemon flavor in a classic Italian limoncello cocktail for an extra zingy sip. This soda is perfect when served alongside a summery burrata caprese salad with oven baked crostini crackers, too!
When I went to Italy to see where my grandmother’s family came to America from, I realized how popular lemons are in Italian culture. Lemons are probably the most famous fruit in Italy, second only to blood oranges (unless you count olives, too)!
why this Italian lemon soda recipe works:
🍋 zesty & refreshing. If you’re a fan of lemonade, you’re going to love this homemade lemon soda pop!
🥳 party perfect. This recipe is perfect for scaling up for parties, especially during the spring or summer, or when you’re craving warmer days during winter!
☀️ bubbly & bright. Limonata is Italy’s answer to lemonade, made with bubbly, effervescent sparkling water instead of still water, which makes it so much more fun!
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
Step 1: Fill your preferred glass halfway with ice.
Step 2: Layer lemon slices against the wall of the glass, as a garnish.
Step 3: Fill the remaining half of the glass with ice.
Step 4: Add 1 ounce of lemon simple syrup to the glass.
Step 5: Layer in 1/2 to 1 ounce of fresh squeezed lemon juice to the glass on top of the lemon syrup.
Step 6: Fill the remainder of the glass with sparkling water.
Step 7: Garnish with a slice of lemon, a twisted slice of lemon zest, or both!
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
- cool off – this Italian lemon soda is perfect for a spring or summer day, poolside or at the beach! You can prepare the base in a portable pitcher and bring cans of sparkling water to make on-site.
- spike it – want to spike your soda? Try adding an ounce or two of homemade limoncello for an easy sweet-tart cocktail!
- as a mocktail – It’s also a great mocktail to serve alongside limoncello spritzes at brunch!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- bitter – Citrus can vary wildly in flavor, so it can sometimes be hard to say how much juice you should use in a recipe. If your beverage is bitter, add more sugar a little at a time until things even out. The general rule is to taste as you go, and start with half the amount and increase from there. I’ve tested this recipe several times using a variety of lemons, and this is the ratio I’ve found to work best.
⚖️ scaling tips
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a party! If you are making it for a gathering, I suggest juicing a few lemons first so you have all the ingredients on hand. You can mix the lemon simple syrup and the lemon juice first, and then add the sparkling water just before serving to keep the beverage as bubbly as possible.
🔆 top tip
If you are preparing your lemon simple syrup at the same time you want to make these beverages, make the syrup first to allow it to cool slightly before making these drinks.
♻️ make your limonata your own!
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- citrus – you can experiment with different citrus flavors to mix up this recipe. Try it with oranges, limes, or grapefruit!
- minty – fresh mint is the perfect garnish or addition to this lemon soda, especially during summertime!
- herby – add a few sprigs of rosemary or basil for an herbaceous twist on this lemon soda!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 can you store homemade soda?!
It’s best to enjoy this lemon soda shortly after making it, to maintain maximum bubbliness!
If you must make it in advance, be sure to store it in a bottle with a stopper, like the bottles from Bormioli Rocco. The ingredients don’t hold up well to storage for more than 24 hours.
💬 q+a
What is the difference between limonata and lemon soda?
Lemon soda doesn’t usually have lemon juice added to it, just lemon simple syrup. The addition of lemon juice gives this soda an even more lemony flavor!
Is limonata the same as lemonade?
Limonata is an Italian lemonade, and traditionally uses sparkling water. American lemonade traditionally uses still water, so this version is basically lemonade with bubbles!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Italian Lemon Soda (Limonata)
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Equipment
- 1 drinking glass
- 1 straw
Ingredients
- 1 ounce lemon simple syrup
- 1 ounce lemon juice, fresh use 0.5 – 1 ounce, depending on preference
- 8 ounces sparkling water can substitute seltzer, soda water, or club soda
- ice to fill glass
- 1 lemon sliced, used as a garnish
Instructions
- Layer ice. Fill your preferred glass halfway with ice.
- Garnish glassware. Layer lemon slices against the wall of the glass, as a garnish.
- Add more ice. Fill the remaining half of the glass with ice.
- Add syrup. Add 1 ounce of lemon simple syrup to the glass.
- Add juice. Pour in 1/2 to 1 ounce of fresh squeezed lemon juice, depending on how tart you want your soda, to the glass on top of the lemon syrup.
- Top with bubbles. Fill the remainder of the glass with sparkling water.
- Garnish. Garnish with a slice of lemon, a twisted slice of lemon zest, or both!
- Serve. This drink is best enjoyed immediately, so serve it shortly after making it to preserve the bubbles!
Notes
- spike it – want to spike your soda? Try adding an ounce or two of homemade limoncello for an easy sweet-tart cocktail!
- as a mocktail – this drink is a great mocktail to serve alongside (or instead of!) limoncello spritzes at brunch! Pour them in wine goblets instead of collins glasses so they look just like the real spritzes!
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
I was looking for a non-alcoholic drink with lemon, and this was a winner! I had some fresh mint and added it to the garnish. This is a very refreshing drink!
I’m so glad you liked it, Maria! Mint is ALWAYS a great garnish choice, too! Thank you so much for your review! 💕