Serves 4. Make ahead.

  • 4 cups water
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh purple basil leaves
  • 6 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 cups ice
  • 4 purple basil sprigs

Combine water and lemon juice in a large bowl. Place basil and sugar in a mortar; pound with pestle until a paste forms. Add sugar mixture to juice mixture; stir until sugar dissolves. Strain mixture through a sieve over a bowl; discard solids. Place 1 cup ice in each of the 4 glasses. Pour about 1 cup lemonade into each glass; garnish each serving with 1 basil sprig. Spice it up with a red chile and sugar rim.

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