Frozen limeade is a popular frozen summertime drink that can be purchased premade or made at home. It is made from lime juice, water, sweeteners, and sometimes other ingredients to create a slushy, frozen beverage. But what exactly is in those frozen limeade packages and pouches found in the freezer section? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and nutrition facts of popular frozen limeade brands.
Main Ingredients
The main ingredients in frozen limeade are:
Lime Juice
The key ingredient that gives frozen limeade its signature tart, citrusy taste is lime juice. Lime juice comes from squeezing fresh limes and provides the drink with that refreshing lime flavor. Most brands use reconstituted lime juice made from concentrate rather than fresh squeezed.
Water
Water makes up the liquid base of frozen limeade. Plain or sparkling water may be used. The water dilutes and mellows out the tartness of the lime juice.
Sweeteners
To balance and sweeten the tart lime juice, frozen limeade contains added sweeteners like sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, etc. The type and amount of sweetener varies by brand. Sweeteners give frozen limeade its sweet-tart flavor.
Natural Flavors
In addition to lime juice, frozen limeade often contains “natural flavors” to enhance the lime taste. These added flavors provide a limeade flavor profile when made with reconstituted lime juice concentrate.
Other Possible Ingredients
Some frozen limeade brands contain additional ingredients such as:
Citric Acid
Citric acid is sometimes added to intensify the tart, sour notes of the lime. It accentuates the drink’s citrusy zing.
Preservatives
Preservatives like potassium sorbate and sodium bisulfite help extend the shelf life and prevent spoilage of frozen limeade products.
Thickeners
Thickeners and emulsifiers like guar gum, carrageenan, and xanthan gum give frozen limeade its viscous, smoothie-like consistency. They prevent separation of ingredients.
Food Coloring
Bright green food coloring helps frozen limeade achieve that vibrant lime color. Naturally derived colors like spirulina may also be used.
Pulp or Lime Zest
Some brands add lime pulp or grated lime zest to provide flecks of lime and enhance the fresh lime flavor.
Nutrition Facts
The nutrition facts for frozen limeade vary somewhat between brands based on the specific ingredients and sweeteners used. But in general, a 1 cup serving of frozen limeade contains:
Calories
Around 110-170 calories
Total Carbohydrates
Between 28-44 g carbs, mostly from added sugars
Sugars
Around 26-42 g of sugar, from both naturally occurring sugars in lime juice and added sweeteners
Added Sugars
Around 25-40 g added sugars, from sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup
Protein
0-1 g protein
Total Fat
0 g fat
Vitamin C
Around 10-15% DV of vitamin C from lime juice
So while frozen limeade can be refreshing on a hot day, it is very high in added sugars. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 25 g per day for women and 36 g per day for men. A single serving of frozen limeade therefore contains more added sugar than the daily recommendation.
Popular Brands
Some of the top frozen limeade brands include:
Minute Maid
| Serving Size | 1 cup |
|---|---|
| Calories | 160 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Total Carbs | 44 g |
| Sugars | 42 g |
| Added Sugars | 40 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
Minute Maid frozen limeade contains lime juice concentrate, high fructose corn syrup, natural flavors, citric acid, sodium hexametaphosphate, blue 1, and yellow 5.
Country Time
| Serving Size | 1 cup |
|---|---|
| Calories | 110 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Total Carbs | 28 g |
| Sugars | 26 g |
| Added Sugars | 25 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
Country Time frozen limeade contains water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium citrate, modified food starch, ester gum, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Yellow No. 5.
Wyler’s
| Serving Size | 1 cup |
|---|---|
| Calories | 130 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Total Carbs | 33 g |
| Sugars | 31 g |
| Added Sugars | 30 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
Wyler’s frozen limeade contains water, high fructose corn syrup, lime juice concentrate, citric acid, sodium citrate, natural flavors, acacia gum, ester gum, yellow 5, and blue 1.
Simply Lemonade
| Serving Size | 1 cup |
|---|---|
| Calories | 120 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Total Carbs | 30 g |
| Sugars | 28 g |
| Added Sugars | 27 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
Simply Lemonade frozen limeade contains filtered water, lime juice concentrate, cane sugar, natural flavor, citric acid, ascorbic acid, and lime oil.
Store Brands
Major grocery store chains also offer their own store brand versions of frozen limeade, often at cheaper price points. Ingredients are similar to the name brands but may have slight variations in sweeteners used. Popular store brands include:
Kroger
Uses sweeteners like sucrose and fructose in addition to high fructose corn syrup.
Walmart Great Value
Uses concentrated lime juice and pure cane sugar.
Target Market Pantry
Uses lime juice from concentrate, cane sugar, and natural flavors.
Publix
Uses lime juice from concentrate, pure cane sugar, natural flavors, citric acid, and FD&C Yellow #5.
Wegmans
Uses water, high fructose corn syrup, concentrated lime juice, natural flavors, citric acid, gum blend, Yellow #5, and Blue #1.
Aldi Simply Nature
Uses concentrated lime juice, cane sugar, and natural flavors.
Trader Joe’s
Uses filtered water, cane sugar, lime juice concentrate, natural flavors, citric acid, lemon juice concentrate, ascorbic acid.
Homemade Limeade
For a fresher, less sugary version, many people make easy homemade frozen limeade using:
Lime Juice
1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (from about 8-10 limes)
Simple Syrup
1 cup water + 3/4 to 1 cup sugar, boiled until sugar dissolves. Adjust amount of sugar to taste.
Water
4 cups cold water
Ice
1 cup ice cubes
Lime Zest
Zest of 1 lime
Simply mix all ingredients in a blender until combined and frozen. Pour into popsicle molds or freeze in an ice cube tray for limeade ice cubes.
Nutrition Comparison
Compared to store-bought brands, homemade frozen limeade made with fresh lime juice and less added sweetener has significantly lower calories, carbs, and added sugars:
| Frozen Limeade (1 cup) | Calories | Total Carbs | Added Sugars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minute Maid | 160 | 44g | 40g |
| Country Time | 110 | 28g | 25g |
| Homemade | 60 | 15g | 12g |
So homemade frozen limeade packs more real lime flavor with less sugar!
Conclusion
Frozen limeade is a sweet summertime treat made from lime juice, added sweeteners, water, and natural flavors. While store-bought varieties are convenient, they can be high in added sugars. Making easy homemade frozen limeade allows you to control the ingredients for a fresher, more nutritious version to beat the heat. Whether store-bought or homemade, frozen limeade provides a cool, quenching citrus kick.