Homemade Agua Fresca is easy to make and absolutely delicious! When you learn the basics of how to make agua fresca, you can create dozens of different flavor combinations. It’s one of the best drinks you can know how to make!
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How to Make Agua Fresca
Plain water just doesn’t cut it sometimes on warm summer days. That’s when I make agua fresca. It is quite possibly the most refreshing drink that you can have on a hot day. Loaded with ripe fruit and sweetened with honey, it’s a tasty drink that will hydrate you well!
This Mexican drink can be customized however you want. You can use your favorite fruits and make flavors that you enjoy! It really is the perfect drink for anyone. Pair it with a big ol bowl of chips and guacamole and you’ll thank me later!
Once I learned how to make agua fresca, I couldn’t stop. I’ve got recipes for so many different flavors of this refreshing beverage! It’s too good not to experiment with sweet flavor combinations.
Beat the heat on a hot summer day with this simple recipe! Agua frescas are fabulous non-alcoholic beverages that you can serve to guests who are avoiding alcohol. Plus, it’s a healthier option than many fruit smoothies and fruit drinks since there’s no added sugar.
More non-alcoholic drink recipes: Virgin Margarita • Italian Soda • Shirley Temple
Why you’ll love this recipe
Learning the basic recipe to make agua fresca will come in handy. There’s so many reasons to love this easy summer drink:
- You can use tons of different fruit and any combination of flavors. That means you can find a flavor combo in this fruit drink that works for even the pickiest person!
- There are loads of health benefits in all different types of fruit and they can often be even more hydrating the plain water. If you need to stay hydrated on a warm day, this tasty drink will do the trick.
- It doesn’t take long to make agua frescas. So you can get back to your pool party or cook-out instead of standing in the kitchen forever to make a batch of beverages.
What is Agua Fresca?
Agua fresca is a favorite beverage across Mexican and other Latin American countries. You can find it in their convenieces stores, juices bars, restaurants and even find street vendors selling this fruity beverage. that is a bit of a cross between flavored water and fruit juice. This fruit drink is made from a blend of water, fresh fruit, lime juice and a natural sweetener like honey.
This non-alcoholic beverage is known to be super refreshing and very hydrating! They are created by blending fruits, grains, flowers or seeds with a mixture of sweetener and water.
Agua fresca recipes provide a versatile blank slate for to create dozens of different flavor combinations, allowing you to experiment with a wide array of herbs and fruits and find your favorite flavors.
And don’t forget about agua de horchata, another beloved member of the aguas frescas family that is made with rice. Traditionally crafted from rice, it’s a delightful addition to this lineup of thirst-quenching drinks.
Tools & equipment
To make the best agua fresca, you will need a few different kitchen tools. Have a sharp knife on hand to cut the fruit and make sure you’ve got a good cutting board too.
You will also need a blender and a fine mesh strainer. A citrus juicer is optional, but will help in juicing the lime that is needed for agua fresca. Make sure that you’ve got a few measuring cups and measuring spoons on hand too.
As for glassware, you can use anything from wine glasses and highball glasses to mason jars and glass tumblers. If you are making a large batch for guests and prefer for them to serve themselves, make sure you also have a large pitcher.
Ingredients
All of these fresh ingredients are what makes agua fresca a success! Here’s what you need to have on hand:
- fresh fruit: The more fresh the fruit, the better the flavor! Make sure what you grab is ripe and sweet.
- cold water: Make sure the water is cold to keep this beverage super chilly and refreshing. Depending on your personal preference, you may want to use more or less water.
- honey: You can use honey, or a variety of other sweeter options. Agave necatar, maple syrup, and regular sugar are great choices. However, you can also use a homemade simple syrup or something fruity like strawberry simple syrup. To create a drink with no added sugar, use something like sugar-free simple syrup, or even leave out sweetener altogether. If your fruit is at peak ripeness, you may not need any extra sweetness!
- fresh lime juice: Fresh lime juice will produce the best flavor, but you can also use lime concentrate if needed. Just keep in mind it will be more tart than fresh. The amount of lime juice from your lime will vary on size, so make sure you’re using just the right amount for your agua fresca.
- optional ingredients:
- ice cubes or crushed ice
- fresh mint, fresh basil, fresh herbs, lime slices for garnish
Flavor combinations for Agua Fresca
Ready for the best fruit drink flavors ever? There are so many delicious flavors you can create with different fruits. Here’s some of my most favorite combinations for this simple recipe:
Mango: The bright flavor of mango paired with the tart bite of lime is just *chef’s kiss*, delish!!
Strawberry: Arguably one of the most popular flavors, this easy strawberry agua fresca recipe reminds me a bit of a strawberry margarita. Sometimes you don’t even need a sweetener with the sweetness of ripe strawberries!
Pineapple: When I drink this pineapple version, I can almost picture myself relaxing on a beach in Cancun. It’s that good!
Peach: When peaches are ripe, this flavor combo takes the cake. I love the sugary sweet flavor of a ripe peach and it’s so much better when blended up in agua fresca.
Watermelon: At the height of a hot summer’s day, this is the flavor combination I reach for. So refreshing and hydrating.
Cucumber: While this may seem like an odd combo, trust me when I tell you it is downright delicious. It’s so light and perfect for a day by the pool-side.
Cantaloupe: Cantaloupe is so juicy and sweet when it’s ripe, making it the perfect fresh fruit to blend into a great drink.
How to Make Agua Fresca
With all natural ingredients and a super simple recipe, you can make this delicious drink in no time. Here’s how to make it:
In a blender, combine the strawberries, water, honey and lime juice.
Blend it all up until very smooth.
Strain the strawberry purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher or bowl. This will remove any solids or sediments from the fruit.
Chill for 1-2 hours in a large pitcher or other food-safe, airtight container. If you want to drink it immediately, pour it into glasses over ice.
Tips & tricks
Check out these simple tips to make the perfect drink every time:
- If you are using berries, make sure to hull them and remove their stems. If you’re short on time, you can always buy pre-cut berries from the produce department at your local grocery store.
- For fruits that are more watery, like watermelon, you may need to cut back the amount of water used to about 1 ½ cups.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of water with any of the flavor combinations that you create. If you like it more fruity, use less water!
- Agua fresca is best when it is ice cold. Use cold water and add ice to the beverage to make it extra extra cold and refreshing.
What to serve with Agua Fresca
There are so many delicious snacks that you can serve with these refreshing drinks. Shishito peppers with garlic aioli is always a hit, and chips and salsa never gets turned down. Sometimes I’ll serve a huge skillet of queso fundido too! Even if it’s hot outside, queso with agua frescas is just so yum.
A big plate of gooey nachos can be served as an appetizer, or a dinner with this tasty drink. I love to make a batch of this beverage on taco night too — or whenever we make fajitas! It’s always this fruity Mexican drink or a big pitcher of strawberry margaritas.
FAQ
It is not necessary to strain fruit. If you don’t mind pulp, feel free to skip that step. But if you’d rather a more smooth drink then make sure you strain it well!
Absolutely! Make this easy summer drink up to two days ahead of time. Store it in the fridge in mason jars or an airtight container and be sure to give a good shake before serving.
To turn this non-alcoholic drink into a cocktail, add some tequila, rum or vodka.
While fresh fruit provides the best flavor, you can use frozen fruit in its place. However, be sure to thaw the fruit completely before blending. Blended frozen fruit will create a smoothie instead of this tasty Mexican drink.
More Mexican recipes
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Agua Fresca
ingredients
- 2 cups chopped fresh fruit
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice about ½ lime
- ice cubes or crushed ice for serving, optional
- fresh mint or basil for garnish
- lime slice for garnish
instructions
- In a blender, combine the chopped fruit, water, hone, and lime juice. Blend until very smooth.
- Strain the fruit mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher or bowl. This will remove any solids or sediments from the fruit.
- Chill before serving. If you simply can’t wait, you can serve it immediately over ice.
notes
- If you are using berries, make sure to hull them and remove their stems. If you’re short on time, you can always buy pre-cut berries from the produce department at your local grocery store.
- For fruits that are more watery, like watermelon, you may need to cut back the amount of water used to about 1 ½ cups.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of water with any of the flavor combinations that you create. If you like it more fruity, use less water!
- Agua fresca is best when it is ice cold. Use cold water and add ice to the beverage to make it extra cold and refreshing.
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