Sweet, tart, or even frozen, when it comes to the lemonade at fast food joints, you've
got options…
but only one can win our taste test.
Chick-fil-A's diet lemonade is made fresh daily, and only uses three ingredients, just
like the regular version.
But instead of sugar added to the lemons and water, it's sweetened with Splenda zero-calorie
sweetener.
While the tartness levels of the diet are the same compared to the regular, the diet
has a bit more syrupy, overstated sweetness.
That sweetness costs this drink some flavor points, as the tartness becomes overloaded
by the sugary flavor after a while.
Splenda is made with sucralose, which is 600 times sweeter than ordinary cane sugar, so
it's no surprise that this diet lemonade tastes different.
The Wendy's classic lemonade is crisp and refreshing, and definitely the tangiest lemonade
on our list.
It lacks the freshness of the regular Chick-fil-A lemonade, probably because it isn't made from
scratch.
But in Wendy's defense, it is advertised as "all-natural" and not "freshly-squeezed."
The flavored lemonades at Wendy's are far tastier than the classic version, which tastes
similar to canned Country Time lemonade.
That's not to say that the flavor is bad, just that it can't quite compete with the
in-house varieties.
Chick-fil-A's regular lemonade is a great classic if you like things tart.
Compared to the diet version, the regular isn't as overwhelming after just a few sips.
It's reminiscent of the traditional lemonade that you can get at a state fair during the
summer, where it's made from scratch right in front of you.
It even has bits of lemon pulp like most classic homemade lemonades.
Chick-fil-A does make its lemonade from scratch daily, and the chain claims that 60,000 lemon
trees contribute to the 6.5 million gallons of lemonade they make every year.
Chick-fil-A's signature frosted lemonade is a frozen, blended drink made by combining
lemonade with Icedream, the chain's lower-butterfat version of ice cream.
The resulting beverage is a thick, smooth, dessert-like lemonade that's sort of like
a milkshake.
The regular frosted lemonade is very sweet, but not overbearing.
This is an excellent summertime drink.
Chick-fil-A sometimes has flavored versions of the frosted lemonade available, and some
berry tartness would definitely help round out this drink's sweetness.
The half-and-half lemonade is unexpectedly the most enjoyable non-frosted lemonade at
Chick-fil-A.
The sharp tartness of the regular meets the intense sweetness of the diet, making for
a perfect balance.
By opting for half-and-half lemonade, you're cutting about 15.5 grams of sugar out of a
small, about 27.5 grams out of a medium, and 37 grams out of a large.
With this lemonade tasting the best out of all the Chick-fil-A options while keeping
sugar levels low, the half-and-half is a clear winner.
"You're a winner, baby."
The strawberry lemonade at Wendy's is another classic.
It's not as sweet or as interesting as the blueberry pomegranate variety, but it is sweeter
than the pineapple mango, which is ideal for anyone with moderate sugar tolerances.
It does an excellent job of balancing sweetness and tang, with the strawberry softening the
tartness of the lemon.
According to Wendy's, real strawberries are utilized in the recipe , though that doesn't
translate to any actual strawberry pieces in the drink.
Nevertheless, it still tastes fresh and not too sweet.
Still, it doesn't leave quite as memorable an impression as it possibly could have.
With the non-frosted Chick-fil-A lemonades, the diet is noticeably sweeter than the regular.
But when it comes to the frosted varieties, the diet is barely sweeter than the regular.
The addition of the vanilla-flavored Icedream probably narrows the sweetness margin between
the two.
The regular and diet frosted lemonades are identical in tartness and texture, so the
diet version is a great choice if you want to keep your sugar intake low.
Unfortunately, frosted half-and-half lemonade doesn't appear to be a regular menu item,
though employees may be able to make it if it's not too busy and you ask nicely.
But as for the typical frosted menu options, we'd recommend the diet.
We would recommend Wendy's pineapple mango lemonade even if you don't normally like lemonade,
as the typical flavor components are much more muted here.
The lemon isn't all that tart, and the added fruit flavors don't create an overbearing
sweetness.
Mango is a flavor that's commonly overshadowed by more intense tastes like pineapple and
lemon.
But surprisingly enough, it's not swallowed up by the other flavors in this case.
"Mango.
Mango."
This drink is less sweet than the blueberry pomegranate and it has fewer calories, though
a large still checks in at 420 calories.
A large also loads you up with 109 grams of carbs and 104 grams of sugar, so we would
recommend a small or a medium.
If you've ever wanted to poke a tiny straw into a Fruit Gusher and slurp up the insides,
then Wendy's blueberry pomegranate lemonade is your perfect opportunity to do so.
It offers the absolute perfect level of sweetness, and the tart lemon pairs wonderfully with
the blueberry.
Pomegranate isn't a super strong flavor, but it is prominent enough to notice.
The lemon taste is more subdued, so this is a smart option if you normally find unflavored
lemonade overwhelming.
While it's not made from scratch, Wendy's does a pretty good job of making a fresh-tasting
lemonade, complete with lemon pulp and what appear to be smashed blueberry bits.
Be ready for what could very well be your new favorite drink of the summer!
Raising Cane's may not have much interest in being a jack of all trades, but it has
certainly mastered a few things: chicken strips, dipping sauce, and lemonade.
Cane's lemonade is made from scratch daily, with water, lemons, and sugar as the only
ingredients.
It delivers a flawless harmony between the tangy bite of freshly-squeezed lemons and
the sweetness of cane sugar.
An added benefit to Raising Cane's lemonade is that it's lower in calories than its competitors.
A regular has 180 calories while a medium Chick-fil-A lemonade has 220.
Both chains have some worthwhile options, but Raising Cane's has a better overall taste
and a more palatable level of sweetness.
"Two more lemonades!"