This Iced Lychee Dragonfruit drink is a slightly sweet and sparkling, refreshing drink that boasts a beautiful color gradient and will be a hit on your summer patio.
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Why you'll love this recipe
This simple recipe is a riff from Lychee Soda and adds a touch of dragon fruit for naturally sweet flavor and beautiful magenta color.
If you have some leftover lychee nectar from making Lychee Jelly or Lychee Oolong Soft Serve, this is a great recipe to use it in.
Ingredients you'll need
- lychee nectar: usually contains sweetener already; or you can use blended fresh or canned lychees and lychee syrup (to your taste)
- sparkling water: or carbonated water/soda
- freeze-dried dragon fruit: you can use fresh or frozen dragon fruit pieces as well (also known as pitaya)
Where to find?
You can find lychee nectar and dragon fruit in Asian grocery stores or large grocery stores with an International foods aisle.
Fresh dragon fruit has a thick outer skin/peel with spiky "scales."
Frozen dragon fruit usually comes without the skin and is cubed or in chunks.
You can find freeze-dried dragon fruit in specialty markets or health food stores.
How to make it
Add ice cubes to a serving glass.
Pour in lychee nectar.
Add in a few pieces of freeze-dried dragon fruit and top with sparkling water.
Garnish with a sprig of mint, stick in a straw and enjoy.
What to pair with
Serve the Iced Lychee Dragonfruit with Southeast Asian appetizers or snacks such as pork jerky, crispy spring rolls, or pork satay.
Other additions
Add chewy boba pearls or lychee jelly to the drink.
Have extra dragon fruit?
Add it to a Iced Lavender Oat Milk with Dragonfruit (Starbucks Dupe) or try it in Taro Pitaya Mochi Croissants.
Expert tips
To keep the color gradient from blending in too much, be sure to add enough ice cubes, and add the lychee nectar (which is heavier than the sparkling water) first.
A little bit of dragon fruit goes a long way -- the color can be very intense depending on how much fruit you add.
Other lychee drink recipes you may like
Did you make this recipe?
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Iced Lychee Dragonfruit
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- ice cubes
- ½ C lychee nectar
- a few pieces freeze-dried dragon fruit
- ½ C sparkling water
- sprig mint optional
Instructions
- Add ice cubes to a tall serving glass.
- Pour in lychee nectar.
- Add in a few pieces of freeze-dried dragon fruit and top with sparkling water.
- Garnish with a sprig of mint, stick in a straw and enjoy.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
David @ Spiced
What a gorgeous drink recipe! I could see this one being served on a hot summer afternoon. And the flavor is fantastic, too. I wonder if I can find freeze-dried dragon fruit around here. (I'm guessing Amazon probably sells it if not...)
Michelle
Thanks David, it is so refreshing on a hot day! I found freeze-dried dragon fruit at our local Costco, but Amazon may carry it too.
Raymund | angsarap.net
Your Iced Lychee Dragonfruit drink is like a vibrant sip of summer! I can almost taste the refreshing sweetness and feel the fizz of the sparkling water.
Michelle
Thanks Raymund! Indeed a great summer refresher!
Linsey
Beautiful color drink, with its delicious aromatic lychee flavor. This drink is perfect for the coming hot summer months.
Michelle
Thank you Linsey! Can't wait to enjoy more of it during the summer!
Dawn
How beautiful is this iced lychee dragonfruit drink?! I mean, seriously! I bet it's super refreshing too (and so much better than anything you can get in a store). I see this one in my future...perfect on a hot summer day. 🙂
Michelle
Thanks Dawn, it's got the perfect combination of sweet and refreshing! 🙂
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
What a beautiful drink with such a gorgeous color gradient...hmmm magenta, I guess? I haven't cooked with dragon fruit, but this recipe sounds exciting enough to give it a try!
Michelle
You'll have to give it a try, Ben! I think it will be up your alley 🙂