Limonada de Coco cocktail recipe

“You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up / You put the lime in the…” Oh, hi! Sorry, didn't see you there. Let’s dive in.

A popular drink hailing from the North Coast of Colombia, Limonada de Coco (Coconut Limeade) highlights the delicious local tropical ingredients grown on this idyllic Caribbean coast. It’s pretty much an icy, citrusy, coconutty, boozy smoothie. Where do we sign?

With only a few ingredients, this drink is incredibly simple to make, and (more importantly) incredibly tasty. All you need is rum, coconut milk, fresh lime juice, sugar and ice. Chuck it all in a good blender, and boom – frothy, zippy and frosty, you’ve got summer in a cup.

Originally made without alcohol in Colombia, the Limonada de Coco’s popularity has spread far and wide as both a refreshing non-alc treat and a full-blown cocktail. The addition of rum at restaurants and resorts was a stroke of genius, luring in tourists and locals alike between sunning themselves on the sand, and also proving a brilliant tipple for dinner and dancing.

Especially popular in international locations that share a similar climate, the Limonada de Coco is the perfect option to sip in the tropics. The icy, slushy coolness, and zesty, creamy flavours go down an absolute treat on a summer's day. BYO cocktail umbrella, and be sure to slather on that 50-plus.

Not that dissimilar to the famous Pina Colada, just without the pineapple juice, the Limonada de Coco is all about that tangy lime sourness with the smooth and creamy coconut consistency. Feel like going a little coco-loco with your ingredients? Have at it!

In keeping with the spirit of this drink’s initial creation, the produce of Colombia’s Caribbean Coast, we suggest only using fresh lime juice and quality unsweetened coconut milk. But other than that, feel free to chop and change as you please. You can up the citrus vibes with a dash of lemon and lime, and feel free to play around with your favourite styles of rum. Garnish-wise, a few lime slices and maraschino cherries are *chef’s kiss* but a little mint can also dial up the freshness. Or, if you’re a bit of a coco-nut, feel free to sprinkle some coconut shavings on top, salt-bae style.

Try this one for yourself at your next picnic or catch-up where you want to pretend you’re somewhere a little more exotic, and watch your mates flock to you for a taste.

Now, where were we? Oh yes. “You put the lime in the coconut...”