Wash the lemons thoroughly to remove any wax or residue.

Cut the lemons in half and juice them using a juicer to extract fresh lemon juice.

Combine the lemon juice and sugar in a mixing bowl and stir until the sugar begins to dissolve.

Pour the lemon juice and sugar mixture into a cooking pot and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar fully dissolves, about 5 minutes.

Add the water to the pot and stir to combine.

Stir in the lemon zest to enhance the flavor.

Remove the pot from heat and let the mixture cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to a serving dish or pitcher, add fresh mint leaves if desired, and serve over ice.