Agua Fresca
64 Comments
Updated Oct 30, 2020
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
Agua fresca is an easy, refreshing fruit drink. And while it’s made from just fruit, water, lime juice, and a little sweetener, this combination will surely quench your thirst. Blend up a large jug of this for your next outdoor party or to enjoy in your backyard on a warm summer day.
Agua Fresca Recipe Video
Before we dive into the recipe and tips below, let me show you how you how I quickly blend up this recipe. Give it a watch below!
What Is Agua Fresca?
While it may sound like an exotic Mexican cocktail, agua frescas are non-alcoholic drinks made from fresh fruits, crisp veggies, or seeds. They’re commonly found in Mexico and Central America among street vendors. But bodegas, restaurants, and juice bars serve them as well, just as they serve another Mexican favorite, horchata.
Luckily, agua fresca is easy enough to make right at home. All you need is chopped fruit, water, sugar, and a blender – that’s it. Which leads into my next point as to why I love homemade aguas frescas. They’re made with all natural ingredients, they make the most of peak in-season fruits, and they’re much healthier than most store-bought fruit juices. So let’s get blending my friends.
Best Types Of Fruits To Use
While watermelon is one of the most popular kinds of agua frescas, there’s plenty of other options. It’s best to stick with naturally sweet fruits such as honeydew, or ones that are extremely refreshing such as cucumber. Some of my favorites include:
- Watermelon
- Honeydew
- Pineapple
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Guava
- Papaya
- Cucumber
If I had to choose just one favorite though, it would be pineapple. So delicious! Also, note that other berries such as blackberries or blueberries aren’t great options as they’re too seedy or pulpy.
How To Make Agua Fresca
This is what you’ll need.
- 4 cups freshly chopped fruit
- 3 cups water
- 1-2 tablespoon sugar (I’m using maple syrup)
- 1 lime, juiced
Once you’ve got all your ingredients, here’s how you’ll blend them.
- Add the fruit, 3 cups of water, and sweetener to the blender. Puree until it’s completely smooth.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a large pitcher. This isn’t required, but it does help to remove some sediment from fruits such as pineapple and cantaloupe.
- Taste test to see if you’d like to add any more sweetness.
- Serve immediately over ice, or refrigerate it for up to 72 hours.
How Long Will This Last In The Fridge?
Agua frescas are best served immediately over ice. But if you want to save leftovers or make this ahead of time, they can be chilled in the refrigerator up to 72 hours. Just make sure to give it a good stir before serving as the liquid will separate over time.
More Refreshing Drinks
If you’re in the mood for an actual cocktail though, I have a few other refreshing drinks for you to try.
Agua Fresca Recipe (Several Flavors!)
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped fruit
- 3 cups water
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup, or any sweetener of your choice
- 1 lime, juiced
Instructions
- Add the fruit, water, lime juice, and sweetener to a blender. Then puree until it's completely smooth.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a large pitcher. Taste test to see if you need to add anymore sweetness.
- Serve immediately over ice, or place in the refrigerator to chill.
Lisa's Tips
- Watermelon doesn't usually need to be strained, but if you'd like to remove some of the froth and pulp from other fruits it's best to strain.
- Some fruits are naturally sweeter than others, so I always recommend starting with less sweetener and adding more as desired.
- Want to get creative? Make fruit blends or add herbs (fresh mint is great) or spices (fresh ginger is awesome with pineapple).
- I love to store the agua fresca in these large juice jars.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Can you make an agua fresca without blending?
Hi Brielle – my version requires blending.
What do you think of using kiwi?
I haven’t tried, but I don’t see why not!
Added honey and oranges. Came out great.
Wonderful!
I made this with watermelon as I had a lot of leftovers. It was so simple but so good. I just used 1 tablespoon of honey and that was sweet enough for my husband and me. I also made your watermelon smoothie yesterday and it was delicious plus we used up all the leftover watermelon. Thank You for sharing.
The perfect way to make use of leftover watermelon! Glad you enjoyed this, Vicky :)
Freeze for super clean ice lollies for the little ones and of course for me
Haven’t tried this yet, but I am not sure what to do with the lime. It says you need a squeezed lime but i am not sure what to do with it.
You add the lime juice to the blender in the first step (reference recipe card towards the bottom).
Okay, thanks so much!
My comment…YUMMMMMMM
So, I live in a city that it predominately Spanish/Latino/Mexican and I go to shop called Los Valles Produce and it’s a Fruteria and Mexican restaurant. With Spanish speaking employees and everything.
I’m not sure where you learned how to make Agua Frescas specifically like that?
But this Mexican business has cut up fruit in their very big, large jugs and fill it with filter purified water and sugar and lots of ice and swirl it around and keep an eye on it. And we can keep the ice and chopped up fruit in our cups.
I’m not saying anything negative about the way you make your Agua Frescas but I’ve never seen it like that.
It kind of just looks like a fruit smoothie or just fruit juice?
In my town, they let the water and fruit settle and I’m presuming the fruit’s properties come out of the fruit itself so the purified water can taste like the fruit and it’s really delicious! And you can eat the fruit afterwards and crunch on the ice when your done with your drink. :)
Hi Krystal – Sometimes agua frescas are served in large jugs that are blended juice, but they also add freshly chopped fruit with it. So, I think they can be served either way, depending on who’s serving it and where :)
I was just in Mexico City and all of the juice bars in the city blend them like they do in this recipe. I also worked with a Mexican family who would make this everyday with whatever fruit we had a surplus of.
I know raspberry might not be the best fruit to use with this recipe, but I had some that was on the verge of becoming over ripe so I thought I’d give it a chance. It turned out fantastic! I had to strain it a couple times to make sure all the seeds were out. I also added some mint and basil from my garden and it taste like nothing I’ve ever had before. Really fantastic! Thanks so much for this great recipe. I’ll be making it all the time with different fruits. We’re going to a concert tonight, outdoors, and I’m making watermelon aqua Fresca for the group. They’re in for such a treat!
Hi Jeanne – Happy to hear this turned out great with raspberries!
Thank you for a simple recipe for one of my favorite foods. I still have to try it. will comment again when I do. The hacks are exactly the help I need – all of them.
Great ideas!!
I don’t think this is whole 30 approved because of the sweetener…right?
Hi Allison – good catch! I’ll remove it from that category. :)
I made pineapple it was delicious-also made watermelon next is cantaloupe.
@downshiftology
I did not know this before, thank you for the enlightenment! This is an amazing substitute for store-bought refreshments which is also much healthier and cheaper! Now I’m slightly obsessed with pineapple&melon mix agua fresca. :)
So glad you enjoyed these aguas frescas! They’re so simple to make at home and a much healthier alternative :)
Just finished my watermelon agua fresca and bought frozen strawberries for tomorrow’s new batch! This is perfect for those hot summer days in Manila! I think this is gonna be a staple at home <3 perfect for days when you crave for sweet drinks!
Hi Michiko – Glad you loved the watermelon version! Definitely perfect for the warm summer days ahead.
I made pineapple but made the mistake of using frozen fruit so I had to use more water it was good.
I now know fresh ripe fruit is much better for it,
Sooo REFRESHING!! I made cantaloupe and pineapple. The pineapple one is hands down my favorite! LOVE it! Thanks Lisa 😋
Hi Camelia- Amazing! The pineapple one definitely screams summertime in a cup :)
Amazingly easy, impressive, and so delicious. I made watermelon this time and next time I will combine honeydew and cantaloupe melons. I sweetened with 1-1/2 tablespoons of raw coconut sugar. This recipe is a keeper.
The perfect refreshment for a warm day! Glad you enjoyed the watermelon version. Can’t wait to see how your other flavors turn out later :)
I love these recipes, usually make frozen pineapple and coconut water but skip the sweetener. I can’t wait until my watermelon 🍉 grow, so I can this recipe. Thanks for some new ideas!
Pineapple and coconut water is a delicious combination :) And yes! Watermelon season is coming upon us.
So i did it 😊 I just made watermelon
Pineapple is next for sure!
Hi Kristi – Happy to hear you loved the watermelon agua fresca! Can’t wait to see how your pineapple one turns out :)
So excited to try this recipe! I have been trying to drink less milk so I don’t have to take trips to the store as often. I’ve switched to mostly water and I’ve gotten so sick of plain water. This will be a great way to mix it up! This is perfect timing Lisa, just what I needed!
Hi Katie- This will be a great way to switch up your beverage routine. Plus get your daily fruit intake!
I have found watermelon and super ripe pineapple don’t require much water added to the blender to create juice. I would add water slowly as the fruit blends.
Hi Hillary – Great tip, especially for watermelon!
Looks great- do you think I can use frozen fruit if thawed before using in this recipe?
Hi Nadine – If you only have frozen fruit on hand, that works!
Hi Lysa,
Thanks for this good idea and beautiful Colors. I just made the one with pineapple and it does taste delicious!
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed the pineapple fresca :)
Love this !!!!! I’ve done it so far with mango, and with watermelon! It’s amazing!!! Especially after working in my garden in Florida where it’s very hot! When I went to Peru this was a VERY POPULAR drink, made with practically any fruit! With all these spring/summer fruits in season, could you make fruit leather? A healthier option to fruit roll ups, Preferably by using an oven.
You’re amazing!!! And every recipe I try gets better and better!!!!!
Hi Sierra – Amazing! I’ll have to try it with mango sometimes as I love mango. And hmm, I will definitely keep a fruit leather roll up idea for the future :)
Is the video here? I clicked on all of the pictures and didn’t find it
Hi Lori – Make sure to turn your ad blocker off if you have that on. Then refresh the page and the video should pop up :)
These look so refreshing! Can’t wait to try!
Hi Stephanie – You’re going to love these!
I used 3 cups honeydew and 1 cup seeded cucumber but otherwise followed your recipe. Delicious!! Thank you for the inspiration.
That sounds like a great combination Cheryl! I’ll have to try that one myself next time. :)
This is a really easy and healthy recipe for making fresh fruit drinks, and it’s delicious.
I’m just wondering though, why the need to add sweetener to a beverage that’s made of fruit?
To my taste, fruit is already sweet enough, and one could say that added sugar is unnecessary and should be avoided when possible, for optimum health.
I’m glad you loved it Alexis! And the sweetener can definitely be modified based on the ingredients your using and personal preference. :)
I never realize that agua fresca is very similar to most fruit juice in Indonesia. That said, it’s been ages since I had these. I’m going to turn my cantaloupe into delicious agua fresca. :)
Cantaloupe was definitely a delicious choice :)
This looks so nice and refreshing, perfect for summer!
Hi Biana – Perfect for any summer occasions :)
We have a local taco shop that serves agua fresca, and I cannot get enough! Excited to make my own, just in time for summer!
Making it yourself is even better :)
What refreshing flavours! These sound perfect for the warmer days.
Most definitely will be an essential for summer days ahead!
These were so easy to make and tasted delicious.
So glad you loved these juices :)