Watermelon Agua Fresca is like summer in a glass, with lime, watermelon, and it’s lightly sweetened. The whole family can enjoy this healthy drink, or you can make it into a spiked cocktail for just the adults!
I originally published this recipe in the summer of 2014 when I Guest Posted for An Affair from the Heart with this refreshing and delicious drink. When Michaela asked me to guest post for her blog, I was really excited. I knew I had to do a Mexican influenced recipe for her because we both share a love of Mexican food!
We also share a love of cocktails. So, what could be better than a refreshing homemade Agua Fresca made with fresh watermelon, lightly sweetened, enhanced with bright lime and served icy cold! Well, maybe a kid-friendly version, and a spiked agua fresca version! Perfect, a little Mexican influence, a little spiked!
Please do hop over to her blog and tell her I said hi! She has fantastic recipes.
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What is Aqua Fresca?
Agua fresca translates to ‘fresh water’ or ‘cool water’, and is a light typically non-alcoholic beverage that’s popular in Mexico and Central America.
Aguas frescas are sold by street vendors, and near me, I can always find them at the farmer’s market.
I like making them at home with this easy recipe.
It’s made with fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, flowers, or herbs that are blended with sugar, a bit of lime juice, and water.
Since the ingredients are really simple, you’ll want the freshest juiciest sweetest fruit you can find for the most flavorful drink.
You can make an agua fresca with just about any of your favorite fruits. Pineapple, watermelon, strawberry, cantaloupe, or honeydew are probably the most popular fruits to use. You could also use a blend of fruits, maybe to use up some leftover fruit in your fridge.
You can also consider adding fresh ginger or mint to your drinks.
You might be asking how that’s any different than fruit juice.
Fruit juice is typically made by squeezing the liquid from the fruit, and is rarely diluted with water.
For an agua fresca, the fruit is blended into water, making a lighter very refreshing summer drink.
Are agua frescas good for you?
With fresh fruit and herbs, an agua fresca is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
It’s a great way to stay hydrated in the hot summer and fall months.
And, it’s a way better choice than soda because it’s low in sugar with no artificial colors or flavors.
If you want a healthier drink, you can omit the sweetener, but at just a tablespoon for the whole recipe it isn’t that much. And, I like that you can use any liquid sweetener of your choice.
Taste the fruit before you finish the drink. If it’s super sweet you may want to consider reducing sweetener, if it’s a little tart you can increase slightly.
Strained or unstrained
They can be served filtered or strained so there’s no pulp, but I like them unstrained so you get lots of fiber from the fruit, making them even healthier than fruit juice.
Can I make this for a party?
This is a great drink for a party, whether you make the alcohol agua fresca or the mocktail version.
You can easily blend up a large pitcher of this for your next outdoor party or just to enjoy in your backyard on a warm summer day.
Simply double or triple the recipe for a nice big jug full.
Also, my recipe is a more concentrated fruit flavor, and not as watery as some agua frescas. I like the extra fruit in the drink, but it is personal preference, for sure.
You can adjust the amount of water as you wish.
And you can add in another cup or two of water to stretch the recipe (and that makes it more budget friendly for a party!)
Storage
Agua frescas are best served immediately over ice.
But if you want to make this ahead of time or if you have leftovers, chill it in the fridge up to 2 to 3 days.
Give it a good stir before serving as it will separate as it sits in the fridge.
Watermelon for sore throat
While I was doing some research about agua frescas, I found lots of information that watermelon may help a sore throat.
Since one of my most popular recipes is the Cinnamon Sore Throat Tea, this information really interested me, so I thought I’d share it.
Well, we all know that watermelon is filled with fluids at more than 90% water, so that will help keep you hydrated which will help your throat.
But it’s also packed with delicious vitamins like C and A, and contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps with the prevention of illness, reducing respiratory inflammation and helps prevents infection.
So maybe sipping this summer drink will help keep you from getting sick.
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Watermelon Agua Fresca Recipe
Watermelon Agua Fresca
Ingredients
- 4 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 2-inch pieces (about 3 pounds)
- ½ cup cold water
- Juice of 1 freshly squeezed lime
- 1 tablespoon liquid sweetener of your choice, such as simple syrup, golden syrup, or honey
- Ice cubes, optional
- Watermelon or lime slices for garnish, optional
For the SPIKED Version:
- 2 ½ ounces White Rum
- 1 ½ ounces Triple Sec
Instructions
- Cut the watermelon flesh from the rind, and place in a pitcher of a blender.
- Puree all ingredients on high until smooth and frothy.
- Pour Agua Fresca into ice-filled glasses and garnish with watermelon or lime slices.
For the SPIKED Version:
- After Agua Fresca has been blended, transfer to a pitcher and stir in rum and Triple Sec.
- Serve over ice garnished with watermelon and lime slices.
Notes
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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Now, this is awesome!
I love Watermelon… and I love trying new recipes including watermelon. This one was delicious!
This looks amazing!! Thank you!
Yum. That sounds perfect.
I make this by freezing part of the watermelon and using club soda instead of water and ice cubes. Makes a nice slushy drink. Donna
This is super refreshing! I made a huge batch and took it to the pool and everyone was so jealous!