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Pretty, pink, and refreshingly sweet, Watermelon Agua Fresca makes drinking water feel like a party! The watermelon version is perfect during the summer months when watermelon is in peak season. Low in calories and high in flavor, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation with every sip!
The trick to making the perfect agua fresca is to infuse the water with fruit essence without turning it into a smoothie or slushie.
This can be done by blending the watermelon in two batches, ensuring there is enough blender power to get the perfect consistency.
Table of Contents
What is Agua Fresca?
Agua fresca, meaning fresh water, is a non-alcoholic beverage made by blending together fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds with sugar and water.
It is a drink most popular in Mexico, but today we are making it in our kitchen as a healthy substitute for those sugary sodas and juices.
What are other Agua Fresca flavors?
The possibilities are endless, but some of the most popular flavors are cucumber, lemon, lime, pineapple, and tamarind.
Try adding a few fresh herbs such as mint or basil to really amp up the flavor!
Do I have to strain the Agua Fresca?
Straining is not necessary, but it is recommended if you prefer it to be ultra-smooth. Simply strain it through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher and pour over ice for a thirst-quenching beverage.
Can I make it alcoholic?
Yes, of course! The most traditional would be a good quality tequila (“fermented agave cactus” as my buddy Dave says), as this beverage originates from Mexico. But your favorite alcohol is always the best!
More refreshing drinks
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Fruit Recipes
Granita
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Fuzzy Navel
Mexican Recipes
Agua de Horchata (Rice Water)
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Watermelon Agua Fresca
Ingredients
- 8 cups seedless watermelon cut into chunks
- 1 cup cold water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (see note 1)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice or more to taste
- 6 small watermelon wedges for garnish, optional
- 6 lime wedges or wheels, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a blender, combine 4 cups watermelon, ½ cup water, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 tablespoon lime juice and blend until smooth. Pour into a large pitcher.
- Repeat with remaining 4 cups watermelon, ½ cup water, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer if desired (see note 2). Chill until serving time.
- To serve, pour over ice-filled glasses and garnish with watermelon wedges and lime wedges, if desired.
Notes
- Sugar: Customize the sweetness level by adding sugar to taste. You can also sweeten hibiscus tea with agave nectar or honey, if desired.
- Straining: is not necessary, but it is recommended if you prefer it to be ultra-smooth. Simply strain it through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher. Straining will reduce the yield to about 6 cups of Watermelon Agua Fresca.
- Yield: My Agua de Jamaica recipe makes 8 cups, enough for 8 refreshing 8-ounce servings.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
This is so amazing!! I made it without the sugar, tasted it and liked it alot, but felt it needed a bit more lime. It’s chilling now and I can’t wait to have it! Reminds me of the agua fresca I had at an authentic hispanic market!!! Thank you!
Hi Wendy, we all have different tastes and I’m happy you were able to make yours the way you liked! Enjoy ๐ – Meggan
Is adding sugar necessary seeing how watermelon is sweet on its own? Seems like we’re taking something healthy and turning it into something that’s not?
Hi Mary, adding the 2 tablespoons sugar is NOT necessary. I put in note 1, you should customize the sweetness to taste, maybe I need to expand on that. Sometimes it’s hard to control the sweetness of the watermelon that you buy, so if you buy one that isn’t as sweet as you’d like, you could add sugar. But you don’t need to, or you could add the amount you want. Or leave it out and serve it on the side, let people add it to taste. This recipe is based on how they make it in Mexico, and there, they tend to enjoy extremely sweet beverages. I honestly blame it on Coca-Cola, coke is cheaper than water in Mexico. It’s a shame. Thank you for your comment! -Meggan
Great! I have watermelon and limes on hand and I am going to make this recipe ASAP. Thanks for this recipe Meggan.
Hope you enjoy Georgie! – Meggan
I just made the Pink Lemonade Vodka Slushy. And it was really easy to make and tasted Great! I used Squirt soda and it really gave it a nice little zip without tasting to sweet! So I am looking for more recipe’s like that…
Hi Jill, I’m glad you loved the Pink Lemonade Vodka Slush! I hope you enjoyed this recipe, too! – Meggan