Sugar Free Copycat Starbuck's Cool Lime Refresher has just 16 calories per serving and no sugar added making this your new favorite way to quench your thirst!
Chilling.
Chill.
Just chill out is often what I hear from my family. You need to chill they say. Which I guess means I'm too scheduled and busy and need to slow down, way down. I usually don't take much time for myself except to work out every day, well, almost every day. But when I think of "chilling" I need a porch swing, a book and a glass of something delicious. Since I'm not a drinker I look for ways to spice up the average beverage. This recipe is my idea of relaxing.
As a partner with Kohl's and their #makeyourmove campaign, I've been all about finding ways to get out more with my family, finding time for myself, without all our electronics, and now today finding that happy place to relax even if it's just for 15 minutes.
Fresh cucumbers and fresh mint leaves from my garden and some time in the fridge marks the beginning of this tasty drink.
I never buy any lemonades or any beverages at any coffee shop simply because none of them are sugar free, except coffee as I order it. I prefer to live sugar free and have for the last 11 years. It's about being kind to myself and knowing I'm just better off without refined sugars in my life.
This gorgeous pitcher is from the Bobby Flay collection at Kohl's. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and knew I would make something special just to use it. This is perfect for parties outside since it's easy for filling and making a large amount for a crowd. You can make this ahead and just chill it until your guests come, then your job is done! Everyone can help themselves, just leave out some glasses and limes.
Grab your own glass of deliciousness and sit down for at least 15 minutes to relax a day with your feet up, porch swing not required, but encouraged. 🙂
That's my plan today as well as the days to come because we are all working hard and this life isn't easy sometimes. We all deserve some time to "chill".
Want to learn more about the healthy solutions offered at Kohl’s and their #MakeYourMove campaign? Check out their social channels: Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and Pinterest.
Sugar Free Copycat Starbuck's Cool Lime Refresher
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced English cucumber with skin on
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons Matcha green tea powder
- 4 cups water
- 4 cups crushed ice
- Your favorite Sugar Free Sweetener I used 2 teaspoons Sweetleaf lemon lime water drops to entire pitcher
- optional: crushed ice to each serving glass lime slices
Instructions
- Place cucumber, mint and 2 cups of water in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 2-24 hours.
- Strain mint and cucumbers and pour that water into a large pitcher.
- Stir in lime juice into pitcher.
- In another bowl combine Matcha powder with 4 cups of water and stir until dissolved well. Pour this into pitcher and stir to combine.
- Add the ice and sweetener then taste and adjust to your liking.
- Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Nutrition
This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Kohl's.
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Katie
This was waaay too limey for me no matter how much sweetener I added, and it wasn’t nearly minty enough. I think the problem is i used lime juice instead of fresh squeezed limes (because it’s significantly cheaper and easier) and the flavor is stronger. I usually use agave nectar as my sweetener for matcha tea but I had to use a TON of Splenda this time just to cover up the taste as much as I did. If you’re making this with lime juice rather than fresh-squeezed limes I would reduce the recipe to 3/4 cup or even less. I wish there would have been a side note, although I still appreciate having a guideline to work from!
Ainslee
I made this and followed recipe.
I have made notes to the changes, I'd make.
It wasn't minty enough for me, so I would add more and steep it separately from cucumbers. Then I'd squeeze the mint leaves to get the max flavor.
I squeezed the cucs a bit at the end because they held so much of the water, not sure that matters, but I would definitely not squeeze them at all. I bought Sweetleaf Lemon drop sweetener and found it was still too tart for me (2 cups of lime juice....10 Limes) So I added Stevia.
This was very expensive to make, It cost me about $18.00 before the sweeteners, which I didn't have. the recipe yielded me exactly one gallon. I am happy enough with the way it turned out. I am already drinking it but will look forward to my personal changes. Thank you so much for putting this recipe together. I figure it cost about $2.25 per 16 oz. vs $2.50 for the Starbucks. Even though its a wash on price, IF you already have the sweeteners. IF you remove the Matcha Tea Powder you bring the cost down by $5.00. Some things to factor are sugar 70 calories, 14g. per 16 oz. or Stevia, convenience of a package mix or this recipe, which once I get the personal tastes down, I think will be far more tasty than the Starbucks Package. Hope this was helpful information.
Enjoy!
Michelle Ford-Copley
I really want to try this but is there a sub for the Matcha I could use? I can't do any green tea as it causes my stomach REALLY bad issues.
Brenda
You could skip it and use a regular tea if green bothers you. It won't be green but otherwise will still taste good.
Katie
You may have just saved my sanity. CLRs are my go-to drink at Starbucks but I'm on keto now so can't have the carbs/sugar. This will be perfect with a couple pumps of sugar-free Torani raspberry syrup!
Thank you!
Brenda
Yeah glad to hear!
Katie
I made this over the weekend. I started off doubling the amount of cukes/mint/water to make a larger batch but only ended up with 1 1/2 cups of lime juice (grossly underestimated the number of limes I'd need to get 2 cups!). After letting the water infuse for about 36 hours I ended up with about 3 cups of cucumber-mint water. Since I didn't get quite enough to double it, I just added all of infused water to 4 cups of the matcha water, only about 3/4 cup of lime juice (to my personal preference--less tart--a full 2 cups would have made it way too limey for me) and I used SF Torani raspberry syrup and a couple of squirts of liquid stevia to match the flavor I'm used to and it is liquid PERFECTION. The color is a little different, but who cares what it looks like?!
Brenda
Awesome! So glad you liked it and thanks for coming back to share your changes!
Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella)
Chill and relax are two words I say and hear way too often. So good to slow down and enjoy, isn't it? And this beverage looks so refreshing -- perfect for sipping with friends!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
Our chillin out time is watching a movie and having pizza night all together! I wouldn't mind adding this drink to that!
Cookin Canuck
Love those glasses and that pitcher! Now you have me thinking that I need a porch swing - and I would definitely be sipping on this while swinging away.
Melissa from Hungry Food Love
There's something so refreshing about the tart, sweet, cool taste of lime... it really is the best when I am thirsty. So cool to see a copycat recipe of the Starbucks one. Thanks!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
That pitcher is gorgeous! Totally adding that to my "wish list!" Also, this is the perfect refreshing drink for these hot end of summer days!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
Gorgeous pitcher! I never order drinks, either. I'd rather have my sugar in the form of dessert, thank you. 😉
Barb
Hi....Can you use the Persian cukes instead if the English ones? Does this drink gave a real mint flavor or is it mild? Thanks in advance for your help.
Brenda
I'm sure you could. NOt very minty, you can always just add less mint then taste and adjust.
heather | girlichef
That is a gorgeous pitcher - and I am all about the porch swing! This sounds so refreshing, perfect chill-out beverage.
Martha @ A Family Feast
I love that pitcher! And I love this drink too!
Stephanie
This sounds really refreshing! Can't wait to try it!
Ginny McMeans
Great copycat recipe and I love the use of Matcha and it being sugar-free.
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
I love Starbucks drinks but I hate all the sugar! This is awesome! I can't wait to try it when it gets hot this week.