Juice the Lemons: Start by washing your lemons thoroughly. Cut them in half and squeeze the juice into a measuring cup, ensuring to remove any seeds. You should yield about a cup of lemon juice.

Make Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely to create simple syrup. Once it’s clear, remove from heat and let it cool.

Mix it All Together: In a large pitcher, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice, cooled simple syrup, and the remaining 3 cups of cold water. Stir well to combine. Feel free to taste it and adjust the sweetness with more sugar or water if desired.

Serve: Add ice cubes to glasses, and pour the refreshing lemonade over the ice. Garnish with fresh mint leaves if you like.

Chill and Enjoy: For the best flavor, let your lemonade chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully!