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CAVA copycat cucumber mint lime garnished with a sprig of mint.
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CAVA Copycat Cucumber Mint Lime Recipe

If you've been looking for a good recipe for CAVA's Cucumber Mint Lime Juice Drink, you are in the right place! This refresher is cool, crisp, and just the right amount of citrusy. Perfect for get-togethers, cocktails, or a refreshing sip for the kids.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time3 minutes
Cooling time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 23 minutes
Course: Non Alcoholic Drink
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Aysegul Sanford

Equipment

Ingredients

For the simple syrup:

  • ⅔ cup honey or sugar
  • ⅔ cup water
  • 1 cup fresh mint leaves rinsed and picked over - plus more as garnish (15 g)

For the drink:

  • 6 Persian cucumbers peeled and cut into chunks or 2 English cucumber (peeled), plus more as garnish
  • Zest of 1 lime 1g - about 1 tsp
  • Zest of 1 lemon 1g - about 1 tsp
  • 1 ½ cups fresh lime juice about 10-12 medium-sized limes
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice about 5 medium-sized lemons
  • 2 cups water

As Garnish:

  • 1 lime sliced
  • Ice for serving

Instructions

  • Make the Mint Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine honey (or sugar) and water. Warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the honey dissolves completely. Remove from the heat and stir in the mint leaves. Make sure they're fully submerged. Let steep for 20 minutes, then strain and set the syrup aside to cool.
    Images showing how to make cucumber juice.
  • Juice the Cucumbers: Place peeled cucumbers in a food processor and blend until smooth. Set a fine mesh sieve or colander over a bowl and pour in the puree. Use a spoon or spatula to press out as much juice as possible. You should get about ½ cup of cucumber juice.
    Images showing how to make cucumber juice.
  • Mix the Drink: In a large pitcher, combine the cucumber juice, lime zest, lemon zest, lime juice, lemon juice, and the cooled mint syrup. Add 2 cups of water and stir well.
    A collage of images showing how to make the drink.
  • Chill: Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to blend together.
  • Serve: When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice, cucumber slices, and lime slices. Pour the drink over the ice and garnish with fresh mint.

Notes

  • Yields: This recipe makes about 6 to 7 cups of limeade, ideal for serving 6 people. The nutritional values below are per serving.
  • Simple syrup: I made a honey simple syrup to keep my drink naturally sweetened, but you can make a regular simple syrup by mixing an equal amount of granulated sugar with water (1 to 1 ratio). Do not skip this step, otherwise the sugar will not dissolve in the drink.
  • Taste and adjust: Not all lemons and limes are created equal. Some can be sweet, some can be too tart. Once you mix all the ingredients, be sure to give it a taste and adjust with more water or syrup.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in a bottle or jar with a tight fitting lid for upto 3-4 days. Be sure to give it a good shake before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 261mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 424IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg

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