Refreshing and cool homemade watermelon juice with a splash of lime is the perfect drink to enjoy on a hot summer day.
I was not a big fan of watermelon growing up. When my brother-in-law introduced homemade watermelon juice to me years ago, I was reluctant to try but ended up being surprised by how delicious it was. Now I have to make watermelon juice whenever it is in season.
Growing up, watermelon was the most common fruit during the summer time in Japan. We usually spent the summer at my grandparents’ home in Osaka. They have a big backyard and I remember having watermelon seeds spitting contest with my brother to see who can spit farther.
I also remember eating watermelon with my late grandpa on the porch after helping him tend the garden. When my family went camping, we would put the watermelon in the river to cool and played a traditional Japanese game called suikawari (スイカ割り).
Suikawari is a game where everyone takes turn to smash watermelon with a stick while blindfolded. The rule is similar to piñata except you play with a watermelon. Each person is blindfolded, spun around three times, and handed a wooden stick to strike with. The first to crack the watermelon open wins, and everyone enjoys the chunks of watermelon afterwards.
Watermelon Juice – Summer Thirst Quencher
To make the watermelon juice, I first cut them into chunks and leave them in the refrigerator to chill for 1-2 hours before blending. This keeps the juice cool without having to add too much ice. I added just a spoonful of homemade simple syrup, but you can totally skip it if your watermelon is sweet enough. To bring out the flavor of the juice, I love squeezing in a splash of fresh lime juice. It is so simple yet such a refreshing and delicious way to beat the heat on a warm summer day.
Hope you try playing Suikawari and making watermelon juice this summer!
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Watermelon Juice
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon (chopped)
- ¼ lime (squeeze, save Juice)
- 1 Tbsp simple syrup (You can replace the simple syrup with regular sugar if you want to save the time)
- 1 slice lime (for garnish; optional)
- mint leaves (for garnish; optional)
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Cut the watermelon into chunks removing the rind and seeds. Place the chunks into a bowl and let them cool in refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
- In blender, combine watermelon, lime juice, and simple syrup, and puree. If you prefer to remove the pulp, strain through a fine sieve. You will also need to double the portions for each ingredient per glass.
- Pour into the glass and garnish with a slice of lime and mint leaves (optional). Chill before serving if you like.
