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Watermelon Agua Fresca – A Refreshing Summer Drink

Agua fresca is a light and refreshing fruit drink perfect to quench the thirst during summer. These are flavored naturally using fresh fruits. We love this watermelon-flavored one, but it can be made with any other juicy melon that you have. It is easy to make and a delicious treat savored by the young and the old. VEGAN DAIRY FREE

Watermelon Agua Fresca - A refreshing summer drink made with fruit juice

Sip a glass of Agua Fresca on a hot day and you will immediately feel refreshed. No wonder it is such a popular drink all over Central America. It is essentially a chilled drink made with fruit juice and optional flavorings. Abundant ripe watermelons of the season make Watermelon Agua Fresca – a refreshing start to this year’s #cookoutweek !

What is Agua Fresca

Agua Fresca is a refreshing summer drink made with fresh fruits and sometimes veggies and seeds. You can find these drinks of all kinds of flavors in street-side stalls in Central America and here in the US, many authentic Mexican eateries serve it as well. It is a non-alcoholic drink and can be made easily at home.

Mug of light green drink with a jar of the same drink behind it.
Golden Melon Agua Fresca

Why We Love It

This is one of the summer drinks that we love. Though we make it often with watermelon, other melons like honeydew, golden melon, and cantaloupe are good flavorings as well.

It is a nonalcoholic drink and is kid-friendly as well. So when there is a backyard bbq this is a great dring to have on hand. I have been told that a bit of Tequila or Rum or Triple Sec works wonders in this.

The most popular one among kids is Watermelon Agua Fresca – maybe because of the color. It is the easiest one to make. Melons, especially watermelon is easy to blend and is easily available in all the supermarkets.

Watermelon Agua Fresca - A refreshing summer drink made with fruit juice

 Making Agua Fresca

The recipe for Agua Fresca is very simple! Blend the fruit with fresh water!

If you are using a blender, as I did here, the juices can get full of pulp. Depending on your preference you could choose to strain it or not. The recipe here asks for straining the juice, but that is not always the case. Even when I filter, I do not use a fine-mesh strainer. I use a medium to large mesh so that larger chunks of fibers, that you could feel as you drink are removed. Unfiltered juice will have some solids separate and float to the top when left standing for some time. When that happens just stir it back in.

If you are concerned about nutrition or blood sugar then do not filter. In which case do not add any extra sugar either. I find the natural sugars of the fruits combined with the citrus sweet and refreshing enough most of the time.

Watermelon Agua Fresca - A refreshing summer drink made with fruit juice

Variations

Here are a few other fruits that are great to make agua fresca

  • Pineapple
  • Guava
  • Strawberries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Dragon Fruit
  • Papaya
  • Kiwi

Use a juicer or strain any fruit that has a lot of seeds like guava.

Golden Melon Agua Fresca in mugs.

Go ahead make a few mugs of these for your next summer get together.

A jug of Watermelon Agua Fresca pouring into a tall glass with garnishes of lemon and mint in teh background

Watermelon Agua Fresca

By Syama
A refreshing cool drink made with fruits. This lightened version of watermelon juice is refreshing but low in calories. A hint of citrus and mint complements the natural sweetness of the watermelon. Easy to make and serve, it is a great drink to enjoy on any summer day ! 
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Course Drinks
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 5 C Ripe Watermelon Peeled and diced. Notes
  • 2 C Chilled water
  • 1 Tbsp Fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
  • 1 – 2 Tbsp Raw Sugar As needed

To Serve

  • Crushed Ice
  • 1 Lemon
  • Few Mint leaves

Instructions
 

  • Place the water melon slices in a blender jar and blend at high till smooth. You may have to do this in batches depending on your blender. Strain the juice into large pitcher or bowl. 
  • If the watermelon is not sweet enough add 1 – 2 tbsp of sugar to 1 C water and stir to mix.  Add the water  and fresh lemon  juice to the pitcher and mix.  Taste and  add more  sugar only if  necessary . Stir and chill in the fridge for 1 hour or till needed .
  • Slice the lemon into thin rounds. Fill a glass with crushed ice , place a slice of lemon on top and add 1 -2 bruised mint leaves. Top off   with the  chilled agua fresca and serve.

Notes

  • Use any juicy melon.  You may have to add more chilled water to  thin it to your preference
  • Usually I start with watermelon that is already chilled. In that  case it is ready to serve  right away. 
  • The summertime watermelons are sweet that you don’t have to add extra sugar.
  • Do not skip the lemon juice.

Important: Nutrition Values are estimates. Actuals vary based on ingredients and serving size.

Tried this recipe?Mention @Oventales or tag #Oventales on Instagram

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Recipe Rating




Robotance

Tuesday 7th of August 2018

Watermelons are the best for summers. They are those delicious angels who help us to go through the harsh summers. I love the name Agua Fresca. Beautiful creativity! You have transformed a simple watermelon juice into something more brilliant. Thanks for sharing

Syama

Friday 10th of August 2018

Thank you for the kind words !

Christie

Sunday 1st of July 2018

I'm a total watermelon addict! This is totally going on the menu.

Farrah

Monday 25th of June 2018

I haven't made agua fresca for the longest time, but this looks awesome! <3 Perfect for summer!

Wendy

Monday 25th of June 2018

A perfect summer refresher to enjoy poolside.