Agua Fresca

Published July 8, 2021

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Refreshing homemade Agua Fresca! Made with fresh melons or pineapple, lightly sweetened, enhanced with bright lime and served icy cold.

Photo: Four types of aqua fresca including watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and pineapple shown in glass mason jars.

What is Aqua Fresca?

Agua fresca (which translates to ‘fresh water’) is a non-alcholic drink that’s popular in Mexico and Central America. It can be made with fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, flowers (such as Hibiscus), and herbs.

It’s made of natural ingredients making it a better choice than something like soda (with artificial flavors, colors and lots of high fructose corn syrup).

This tasty drink can be served filtered or with the fruit pulp, though I recommend without unless you want it more like a smoothie.

What does it taste like?

Aqua fresca tastes like fruit juice but lighter. It has a nice little pop of sweetness and added vibrance from the citrus.

You’ll find it’s very quick and easy to make and it’s something everyone will enjoy, especially on a hot day!

Photo: Four kinds of fruit aqua fresca shown in glass jars with glass straws and fruit wedge garnish.

Aqua Fresca Recipe Ingredients Plus Variations

  • Fresh fruit: I recommend using fresh watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, or pineapple. Other options are grapes, mangoes, peaches, strawberries or cucumber.
  • Sugar: Honey or even real maple syrup are other great options. Another way to sweeten is with stevia but you’d only need about 1/2 tsp.
  • Lime juice: Only use fresh lime juice it makes a big difference. Lemon juice will work if that’s what you have.
  • Cold water and ice

Photo: Ingredients used to make aqua fresca. Includes watermelon, cantaloup, honeydew, pineapple, limes, and sugar.

Best Water to Fruit Ratio

The flavor intensity of agua fresca can vary quite significantly. It really can just come down to personal preference.

Some prefer it with a more concentrated fruit flavor while others enjoy it more watery.

I prefer the more intense fruit flavor so I’ve found I like about 1 1/2 cups water to 4 cups fruit (plus 2 cups ice which also waters it down a little more so).

You can adjust as you wish. If you are wanting to stretch the recipe you can just add another cup of water.

Photo: Aqua fresca ingredients in blender shown before and during blending.

How to Make Agua Fresca

  1. Add cubed fruit, water, sugar and lime juice to a blender.
  2. Cover with lid and blend until well pureed.
  3. Pour mixture through a sieve into a pitcher or bowl with a spout.
  4. Add ice to individual glasses. Pour strained mixture over ice and serve cold.

How to Make it Healthy

  • If you want a healthier aqua fresca then omit the sugar.
  • It won’t be quite as sweet but if you use fruit that’s sweet enough it will still taste delicious.

Photo: Watermelon aqua fresca being draing in a large bowl.

Helpful Tips

  • Use the best tasting fresh fruit. It will only taste as good as the fruit you put into it.
  • You can also use a blend of two fruits.
  • Use cold water and chilled fruit also if possible. It makes it even more refreshing and the ice doesn’t melt as quickly.
  • For a faster option with straining use the larger sieve and a bowl versus using a small sieve and pouring straight into a pitcher. You’ll get it strained out a lot faster and don’t have to constantly empty the sieve.
  • Taste the fruit before you begin. If it’s super sweet you may want to consider reducing sugar, if it’s a little tart you can increase slightly.

Storage

  • Agua Fresca should last 2 to 3 days in the fridge. Fresh juice that hasn’t been pasteurized doesn’t keep for very long periods of time unfortunately.

Watermelon Aqua Fresca

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Photo: Four types of aqua fresca including watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and pineapple shown in glass mason jars.
5 from 2 votes

Agua Fresca

A perfectly refreshing homemade drink! Made with fresh melons or pineapple, lightly sweetened, enhanced with bright lime and served icy cold.
Servings: 3
Prep10 minutes
Ready in: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 20 oz (about 4 cups) chopped small fruit recommend seedless watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew or pineapple
  • 1 1/2 cups cold water
  • 2 Tbsp sugar or honey, or to taste
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 2 cups ice

Instructions

  • Add cubed fruit, water, sugar and lime juice to a blender.
  • Cover with lid and blend until well pureed.
  • Pour mixture through a sieve into a pitcher or bowl with a spout (I found it less messy and quickest to work with a bowl and a large sieve vs a pitcher).
  • Add ice to individual glasses. Pour strained mixture over ice and serve cold

Notes

Nutrition estimate based on using watermelon.
Nutrition Facts
Agua Fresca
Amount Per Serving
Calories 89 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 16mg1%
Potassium 218mg6%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 20g22%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 1078IU22%
Vitamin C 17mg21%
Calcium 22mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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8 Comments

  • Duncan Edwards

    you cannot get it any better on a very hot day😛 #drinkup #healthy #nutricious

  • Lili R

    Hi! I am mexican and would like to add some coments.

    It is true that is a very tipical drink overhere, yet the most common thing is to “give flavor” to water more than make a strong drink. One important thing is to sweeten water and then blend the fruit in, sugar will taste more and then you will use less than if mixing everything at once.

    It should be not too sweet though, otherwise you will feel “full” just after a few glasses and some bites of your food (if accompanying at meal time).

    Most common are watermelon, cantaloupe (of you mix with guavas is delicious!), papaya, guava, pineapple, cucumber with lime, lime (super popular), mango.

    And Horchata, Jamaica y Tamarindo which have their own special process each.

    :)

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I forgot about guava, I would love that one! And yes I think giving flavor is more the idea just personally I prefer it a little less diluted :).

  • Debra A Lytle

    I made this with some very ripe pineapple I had for my grandchildren and they loved it! Served it with quesadillas and they thought it was quite a treat!

  • Melissa Adams

    Been making these for about 4 weeks now. Made: Honey Kiss melon and nectarine, cantaloupe, watermelon and pineapple. Freeze one everyday in a water bottle for my husband and he takes to work. Love making these. Thank you.

  • Sue McCormack

    would using a juicer eliminate the need to strain it?