Limonana: Refreshing Middle Eastern Mint Lemonade

Prepare the ingredients: Wash the lemons thoroughly and cut them into quarters, removing any large seeds. Pick the fresh mint leaves from their stems, reserving a few sprigs for garnish.

Blend the mixture: Place the quartered lemons, mint leaves, granulated sugar, and 2 cups of the cold water into a high-speed blender. Blend on high until the mixture is completely smooth and the lemon rinds are finely pulverized, about 1-2 minutes.

Strain for smoothness: Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large pitcher or bowl, pressing down on the solids with a spoon or spatula to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the pulp.

Dilute and flavor: Add the remaining 2 cups of cold water to the strained lemonade. Stir in the orange blossom water, if using, and the pinch of salt.

Chill and serve: Taste and adjust sweetness if desired, adding more sugar (dissolved in a little hot water first) or water as needed. Add the ice cubes directly to the pitcher or to individual glasses. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.