Watermelon Agua Fresca

There’s nothing more thirst quenching than a tall glass of Watermelon Agua Fresca on a scorching hot day. This bright and cheerful combination of seasonal watermelon, water, fresh lime juice, and a touch of sweetener is the perfect summer refresher. Make it from scratch in under ten minutes.

If you’ve never been to Mexico, you are missing out on a whole world of flavour. Fortunately, I love cooking and sharing Mexican recipes like Chicken Tinga Tostadas and Grilled Fish Tacos with Pineapple Salsa. And, if you’re looking for Margaritas, I have EIGHT margarita recipes on the blog!

Watermelon Agua Fresca

I love any flavour of agua fresca but this watermelon agua fresca really hits the spot on a hot day. Sure, you could just eat a slice of watermelon, but drinking it is so much more refreshing. You get all the hydration benefits of watermelon plus a cool drink.

This watermelon agua fresca recipe makes 1 gallon, or 16 cups and is ready in under 10 minutes. Most of that time depends on how quickly you can cut up a watermelon! Whenever I buy a melon, I always get the largest one I can find, so we can enjoy a few slice and use the rest for agua fresca.

PS. It’s very easy to turn agua fresca into a cocktail! Try using vodka, white rum, or turn it into a watermelon margarita with a little tequila and orange liqueur.

What is Agua Fresca?

Agua fresca means ‘fresh water’ in Spanish. In general, they are non-alcoholic, non-carbonated drinks made by blending one (or more) fresh fruits, flowers, cereals, or seeds with water and sugar. The hydrating beverages are commonly sold by street vendors in Latin American countries and in the southwest US.

When we visited Mexico, some of my favourite flavours were hibiscus, passion fruit, pineapple, and especially cantaloupe. You can easily substitute any melon or fruit in this recipe to make your favourite agua fresca flavour!

Creamy Mexican horchata de arroz is another level of agua fresca on its own and I highly recommend making it for friends and family for your next taco night.

Ingredients for Watermelon Agua Fresca

There are only 5 ingredients (including water) in this simple agua fresca recipe. You will need a high powered blender, a strainer if you prefer a smoother drink, and a pitcher for serving.

• Seedless Watermelon
• Water
• Limes
• Sugar
• Ice

Use only fresh lime juice and granulated sugar in this recipe. If you feel like the sugar won’t dissolve, you can make 1:1 simple syrup (1 cup sugar to 1 cup water) and simply stir it in after it has cooled.

To serve, you will need fresh ice and garnishes of your choice. I suggest a sprig of mint, lime wheels, or tiny watermelon slices for each glass. Feel free to rim the glasses with sugar, chamoy, Tajin or leave them bare.

How to Choose the Perfect Watermelon

Did you know that watermelon contains up to 92% water? It’s also low in calories (46 per cup) and has plenty of antioxidants, fibre, and contains vitamin C.

This thirst-quenching fruit is the king of the melon family and one of the most popular summer time fruits at picnics and barbecues. Here are a few tips to consider when choosing a watermelon:

1. For the best flavour, buy watermelon when its in season.
2. Feel the weight. Lift the watermelon and compare it to others. If it is heavy for its size that means it is juicy and full.
3. Inspect the stem end. It should be dry and brown or yellow indicating the melon was picked at peak ripeness.
4. Look for a field spot. Ripe melons will have a creamy yellow to almost orange area on one side of the melon. This is where the melon was resting on the ground. A darker colour means it rested there longer.
5. Knock on it. If it sounds hollow and deep, then it is good. Do not choose it if it has a higher hollow sound.
6. Choose dull watermelons with a distinctive deep dark green and light yellow colour pattern. Shiny melons or those with a light colour pattern have not had time to ripen.
7. Check the overall shape and rind condition. Rounder melons tend to be tastier, but not always. Make sure there are no cracks or bruises. Grey or tan coloured irregularities with a web-like pattern are the exception. These pollination scars were formed when the blossom was pollinated, and a high number of scars means the bees did their job well!

How to Make Watermelon Agua Fresca

Once you make this refreshing drink, you’ll want to experiment with other flavours. I highly suggest using other melons, like cantaloupe and honeydew melon, or other fruits. Start with pineapple, try strawberries, or passion fruit, then try guava, papaya, cucumber, tamarind, and hibiscus. If you have seasonal fruit, the possible flavour combinations are almost endless.

To make watermelon agua fresca, add watermelon cubes, water, lime juice, and half of the sugar to a blender pitcher. Depending on the size of the blender, you may need to do this in batches.

Blend ingredients on high until smooth. If blending in batches, remove half and add more watermelon cubes. Blend again. When all the watermelon is blended, add it to a large pitcher and give it a good stir. Taste and add more sugar if you prefer it sweeter.

To serve, pour into a sugar-rimmed (Chamoy or Tajin) glass over ice cubes. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs, slices of lime, and thin wedges of watermelon. Enjoy!

Leftovers and Storage

Agua fresca is best served fresh, but it can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days. Always stir agua fresca before serving as fruit pulp will settle as it sits.

Any leftovers can be stored into an airtight container and frozen for up to 6 months.

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill, the sole recipe developer, photographer, and writer at Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

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