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A refreshing drink that is perfect on a hot day! Follow this simple and easy recipe to make Lemon Lime and Bitters at home.
Lemon Lime and Bitters Recipe
Lemon Lime and Bitters is a popular drink in New Zealand and Australia. You can buy it premade in cans and glass bottles but it’s pretty easy to make at home yourself.
It has a distinctive flavour from the bitters that is a favourite of many.
What is Bitters in Lemon Lime and Bitters
Recipes can vary somewhat but the ingredients are what’s in the name – lemon, lime and bitters!
Lemonade is used for sweetness with a hit of lime juice but lime cordial can also be used. Angostura Bitters is the favourite but there are other brands of bitters with slightly different flavours.
Lemon Lime and Bitters was originally created years ago as an alcohol free version of ‘pink gin’ which is gin mixed with bitters. These days its such a popular drink, you can find it everywhere!
Angostura Bitters
Angostura Bitters is iconic with its oversized label. It’s made in Trinidad & Tobago from a blend of gentalian, herbs and spices.
It’s a popular bar mixer and is used in many different co*cktails like an Old Fashioned. The flavour is extremely strong which is why drops are only used.
Is Lemon Lime and Bitters Alcoholic
Technically yes it is alcoholic but the amount is very very small. The Angostura Bitters in Lemon Lime and Bitters is about 45% alcohol but only about 5-6 drops is used to make the drink. It isn’t classed as an alcoholic co*cktail.
Some class it as a co*cktail but a teaspoon of vanilla essence will have more alcohol than 3 glasses of lemon lime and bitters.
How much Alcohol is in Lemon Lime and Bitters
Lemon Lime and Bitters is about 0.2% alcohol but beer and wine are between 4-12%
Lemon Lime and Bitters Ingredients
- Ice
- Juice of half a Lime
- 250ml Lemonade
- 5-6 drops Angostura Bitters
How to Make Lemon Lime and Bitters
Fill your glass to the top with ice.
Squeeze in the juice of half a lime.
Fill with Lemonade.
Add 5-6 drops of the Angostura Bitters.
Stir to combine and add slices of lemon and lime to garnish.
FAQ
Where can I buy bitter?
You should be able to find bitters in any liquor shop. There are many different brands and types of bitters but I recommend the Angostura Bitters for this recipe.
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Lemon Lime and Bitters
Yield: 1
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Ingredients
- Ice
- Juice of Half a Lime
- 1 Cup / 250ml Lemonade
- 5-6 Drops Angostura Bitters
Instructions
- Fill your glass with ice.
- Squeeze in the juice of half a lime.
- Fill to the top with Lemonade.
- Add 5-6 drops of the Angostura Bitters.
- Stir to combine and add slices of lemon and lime to garnish.
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FAQs
Just because you're "not supposed to" drink bitters straight doesn't mean you can't. It might not taste great, but it'll get the job done. As such, bitters are often a hard pass for folks in recovery from alcohol abuse, making a fully alcohol-free option the much better choice.
Are bitters legal to buy under 21? ›
Bitters are technically alcoholic, and they're usually between 35% to 45% ABV. Because they're sold in such small bottles and their flavor is so strong, most recipes call for just a dash or a few drops, making its overall alcohol contribution negligible, and why you don't need to be 21 or older to buy them.
Are lemon, lime and bitters ok for kids? ›
The bitters component contains an alcohol component. When made up the drink has an almost negligible alcohol component. Can I serve it to a minor? The simple answer is “no” because it contains alcohol (even though it is a trace amount).
What alcohol goes in lemon, lime and bitters? ›
Do bitters cleanse the liver? ›
Bitters give the liver a boost by aiding in the elimination of toxins and detoxification, coordinating the metabolism of sugar and fats, and helping release gallbladder-supporting hormones like cholecystokinin (CCK).
What happens to your body when you drink bitters? ›
Your stomach contains different chemicals like pepsin and stomach acid that help you break down food. Bitters can make your stomach release more gastric juice. This can help with heartburn, cramping, and indigestion.
Is it safe to drink bitters straight? ›
For the most part, while bitters are great as a co*cktail enhancer, they shouldn't be something you consume on their own.
Are bitters actually legal? ›
co*cktail bitters are regulated as food ingredients by the US Food and Drug Administrative (FDA). Common co*cktail bitters, like almond bitters, are considered “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), in which case no additional approval is required.
Are bitters good for a hangover? ›
Today, bartenders still go for bitters when they want to make a good co*cktail great—you'll find them in an Old Fashioned, or a Manhattan, or a sazerac—but sometimes they also call on bitters for its original medicinal purpose. Or, sort of. It turns out that bitters make for a pretty solid hangover cure.
Can pregnant people drink lemon, lime and bitters? ›
The information “contains quinine” is stated on every tonic or bitter lemon beverage.
It's called bitters. And the reason you can buy without an ID. is because the US. government classifies it as a non beverage product. Because people use bitters not as a beverage, but as a flavoring agent.
Is Schweppes lemon, lime and bitters alcoholic? ›
Schweppes® Lemon Lime & Bitters 300ml bottle uses authentic aromatic bitters and a combination of seven spices that has taken time and care to master to perfection. Coming in a carton of 4, this mixed drink is a fantastic non-alcoholic beverage ideal for use in bars, hotels, restaurants, cafes and more.
What is the national drink of the United States? ›
Back in the days of the Boston Tea Party, drinking coffee became an act of patriotism as Americans protested the excessive tax levied by King George III on their tea. The Continental Congress, as a result, made coffee the “national drink”.
Can Muslims drink lemon lime bitters? ›
We do not consider this product permissible due to the presence of alcohol from the bitters.
Can you put bitters in non-alcoholic drinks? ›
Absolutely! While a few dashes of even alcoholic bitters can make a legally non-alcoholic co*cktail, because if something is less than 0.5% alcoholic, technically it can be served as non-alcoholic.
Is it bad to drink bitters straight? ›
For the most part, while bitters are great as a co*cktail enhancer, they shouldn't be something you consume on their own.
Can a sober person drink non-alcoholic beer? ›
Consuming non-alcoholic beers may also pose risks to people recovering from alcohol use disorder. The smell of beer may serve as a relapse trigger. The best advice for those trying to remain sober would be to avoid anything that smells like alcohol.