Learn how to make aguas frescas! These refreshing drinks are a simple blend of water, fruit, sweetener, and lime. They’re perfect for hot summer days.
This agua fresca recipe is the best way to cool off on a hot day! Made with 4 fresh ingredients—your fruit of choice, water, sweetener, and lime—these colorful drinks are lightly sweet, bright, and refreshing.
What Is Agua Fresca?
Agua fresca is a cold drink made by blending water and sugar with fruit, grains, seeds, or flowers like hibiscus. In Spanish, the name means “cool water” or “fresh water.”
Aguas frescas originated in Mexico, and they’re popular throughout Central America and parts of the US as well. They’re commonly found at taco trucks, restaurants, and farmers market stands, and they’re just as easy to make at home with a wide variety of fruits like watermelon, pineapple, and more.
Best Fruits for Aguas Frescas
A fun thing about this agua fresca recipe? You can make it with almost any fruit! Here are some favorite agua fresca flavors:
- Watermelon
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Honeydew
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberry
- Cucumber (no need to peel it, but you can if you prefer)
Sweet, juicy fruits without seeds or with minimal small seeds work best. Avoid tart, seedy fruits like blackberries, raspberries, and pomegranates, which won’t add enough natural sweetness to this recipe.
Tip: This recipe works great with thawed frozen fruit. Frozen pineapple, mango, and strawberries all blend up beautifully. When it comes to melon (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, cucumber), stick with fresh for the best texture and flavor.
How to Make Agua Fresca
Once you’ve selected your favorite fruit, this recipe is easy to make in a blender.
Start by combining 1 cup chopped fruit, 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 2 teaspoons sweetener in a blender. Agave nectar works well as a sweetener, but granulated sugar is more traditional and works just as well. No lime on hand? Lemon juice is a fine substitute.
Blend until smooth, then taste and adjust, adding more sweetener as desired.
Then, strain the agua fresca to remove any pulp and seeds. Set a fine mesh strainer over a large jar or medium bowl and pour the mixture through.
Tip: Straining removes pulp, foam, and seeds left after blending, giving the drink a light, refreshing texture. It isn’t strictly necessary, though. If you’re using a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, you’ll likely have very little pulp remaining. And regardless of your blender, if you don’t mind pulp or want the extra fiber, feel free to skip this step.
Serve in a glass filled with ice, garnished with more fruit and mint leaves if you like.
How to Store
Homemade aguas frescas are best enjoyed fresh, right after blending, while the flavor and texture are at their brightest. If you have leftovers, store them in a sealed jar or pitcher in the refrigerator and give them a good stir before serving, as the mixture can settle over time.
