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. On a blistering summer day in Austin, they’re my favorite way to beat the heat.
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. Where I live in Austin, Texas, aguas frescas are on menus everywhere. My son Ollie and I order them almost every week from a stand at the farmers market, and I’ve tried countless types of aguas frescas at taco trucks and restaurants around town.
But for the best bang for my buck, I make this agua fresca recipe at home! It works well with a wide variety of fruits like watermelon, pineapple, and more, and it’s super fun to make with kids in the summer. Keep reading to learn how to make it!
Best Fruits for Aguas Frescas
A fun thing about this agua fresca recipe? You can make it with almost any fruit! Here are some of my favorite agua fresca flavors:
- Watermelon
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Honeydew
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberry
- Cucumber (I don’t peel it, but you could 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: I often make this recipe with thawed frozen fruit! Frozen pineapple, mango, and strawberries all work great here.
When it comes to melon (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, cucumber), I recommend sticking 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. I most often use agave nectar as my sweetener, but granulated sugar works too (and it’s more traditional). No lime on hand? Feel free to use lemon juice instead.
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 the pulp, foam, and seeds that might be left after blending the agua fresca, giving it a delicious light and 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 left after blending. And no matter what blender you’re using, if you simply don’t mind pulp or you’d like the extra fiber, feel free to skip straining!
Serve in a glass filled with ice, garnished with more fruit and mint leaves, if you like!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Store
These homemade aguas frescas are best enjoyed fresh, right after blending. But if you have leftovers or you’d like to make a large batch to keep on hand, they’ll keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
They will separate as they sit in the refrigerator, so make sure to stir before serving!
Agua fresca flavors pictured above from left to right: watermelon, pineapple, cucumber, and mango
More Refreshing Summer Drinks
If you love this agua fresca recipe, try one of these refreshing summer beverages next:
- Watermelon Juice
- Strawberry Lemonade
- White Sangria
- Mojito
- Or any of these 20 Easy Summer Cocktails!
Aguas Frescas Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped fresh fruit, such as watermelon, cantaloupe or other melon, mango, pineapple, strawberries or even cucumber
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar or sugar, plus more to taste (I often add another teaspoon depending on the fruit)
- Ice, for serving
- Fresh fruit, for garnish, optional
- Fresh mint leaves, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a blender, place the fruit, water, lime juice, and 2 teaspoons agave. Blend until smooth, then taste, adding more agave if desired.
- Set a fine mesh strainer over a large jar or medium bowl and pour the agua fresca through it to remove the fruit pulp.
- Pour into a glass with ice and garnish with fruit and mint leaves, if desired.
