I used to walk straight past honeydews in the supermarket. They always looked like something you buy for a fruit platter and then forget about. Then I juiced one out of boredom one Sunday, and it turned out to be the most refreshing drink I’d made in months.
This honeydew, cucumber and lime juice is pale green, cold and gently sweet. It’s the one I reach for when my stomach feels a bit off, or when I’ve had one hot day too many and I want something cold that doesn’t sit heavy. It’s not trying to be a superfood shot. It’s a light, hydrating glass of something that tastes like summer, with no added sugar.
Why these ingredients work
Honeydew is mostly water, which is exactly why it works here. It’s naturally sweet, so the juice needs no added sugar, and it’s one of the gentlest fruits on a sensitive stomach, low in acid and easy to break down. Cucumber adds more water and a little potassium, lime gives the glass its edge so it doesn’t taste flat, and mint, if you use it, cools the whole thing down. It’s not a medicine. It’s a drink that happens to be good for you.
FAQ
Is honeydew juice good for your stomach?
For most people, yes. Honeydew is low in acid and high in water, so it’s easier on the gut than orange or grapefruit juice. If you’re bloated or your stomach is off, this is a gentle option, though if you have IBS, melon can be hit and miss, so start with a small glass.
How many calories are in a glass?
About 95 calories per glass, with 19g of sugar, all of it from the melon and cucumber. There’s no added sugar in this recipe, and each glass gives you roughly 45mg of vitamin C and 700mg of potassium.
Can you make honeydew juice without a juicer?
Yes. Blend the peeled, chopped fruit with the lime, strain it through a nut milk bag or a fine sieve, and you’re done. The blender version is slightly thicker and keeps more of the pulp, which is no bad thing.
More juices that are easy on the stomach: see the full DIGESTION collection.
Honeydew Melon Cucumber Lime Juice
Equipment
- 1 Juicer for the juicer method
- 1 High-speed blender for the blender method
- 1 Nut milk bag for straining the blender version
- 1 Airtight glass bottles to keep it fresh for up to a day
- 1 Budget cold press juicer a great value alternative
- 1 Budget blender a great value alternative
Ingredients
For the juice
- 1/2 honeydew melon, peeled, deseeded and roughly chopped about 450g of flesh
- 1/2 cucumber, roughly chopped
- 1 lime, peeled the peel is bitter, so take it all off
- 5 fresh mint leaves optional, lovely in the blender version
Instructions
Juicer method
- Cut the honeydew in half and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Peel it, chop the flesh into chunks that fit your juicer chute, then do the same with the cucumber.
- Peel the lime and halve it. The white pith turns bitter in the glass, so take it all off before it goes anywhere near the juicer.
- Feed the melon and cucumber through the juicer, alternating between the two so the soft melon doesn't clog the chute. Finish with the lime.
- Stir the juice, pour it over ice if you like it properly cold, and drink it within the hour. The flavour fades fast once it's been juiced.
Blender method
- Peel and chop the honeydew and cucumber, peel the lime, and drop everything into the blender with the mint leaves if you're using them.
- Blend on high for 45 to 60 seconds until completely smooth, with no lumps left at all.
- Pour the mixture through a nut milk bag or a fine sieve and press down to squeeze out every last drop.
- Serve straight away over ice, or pour into an airtight bottle and keep it in the fridge for up to a day. Give it a shake before drinking.