Learn how to make fresh water! These refreshing drinks are a simple mixture of water, fruit, sweetener, and lime. They are perfect for hot summer days!
This fresh water recipe is the best way to cool off on a hot day! Made with 4 fresh ingredients (your choice of fruit, water, sweetener, and lime), these colorful drinks are lightly sweet, bright, and refreshing. On a scorching summer day in Austin, they are my favorite way to beat the heat.
What is fresh water?
Agua fresco is a cold drink made by mixing water and sugar with fruits, grains, seeds or flowers such as hibiscus. In Spanish, the name means “fresh water” or “sweet water.”
Aguas frescoes originated in Mexico and are popular throughout Central America and also in parts of the United States. Where I live in Austin, Texas, agua frescoes are on menus everywhere. My son Ollie and I order them almost every week at a farmers market stand, and I’ve tried countless types of agua frescos at taco stands and restaurants around town.
But to get the most bang for my buck, I’m making this fresh water recipe at home! It works well with a wide variety of fruits like watermelon, pineapple, and more, and is so fun to make with kids in the summer. Keep reading to learn how to do it!
The best fruits for fresh waters
Anything fun about this agua fresco recipe? You can make it with almost any fruit! These are some of my favorite Agua Fresca flavors:
- Watermelon
- mango
- Pineapple
- Honeydew
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberry
- Cucumber (I don’t peel it, but you can if you prefer!)
Sweet, juicy fruits without seeds or with a minimum of small seeds work best. Avoid acidic and seedy fruits like blackberries, raspberries, and pomegranates, which won’t add enough natural sweetness to this recipe.
Advice: I often make this recipe with thawed frozen fruit! Frozen pineapple, mango, and strawberries work great here.
When it comes to cantaloupe (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, cucumber), I recommend sticking with fresh for the best texture and flavor.
How to make fresh water
Once you’ve selected your favorite fruit, this recipe is easy to make in a blender!
Start by combining 1 cup of chopped fruit, 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, and 2 teaspoons of sweetener in a blender. Most of the time I use agave nectar as a sweetener, but granulated sugar works too (and is more traditional). Don’t have a file on hand? Feel free to use lemon juice instead.
Blend until smooth, then taste and adjust. adding more sweetener as desired.
Then, strain the fresh water. to remove the pulp and seeds. Place a fine mesh strainer over a large jar or medium bowl and pour the mixture.
Advice: Straining removes the pulp, foam and seeds that may remain after blending the fresh water, giving it a delicious light and refreshing texture. Although it is not strictly necessary. 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 just don’t mind the pulp or would like more fiber, feel free to skip the straining!
Serve in a glass filled with ice, Garnish with more fruit and mint leaves, if desired!
Find the full recipe with measurements below.
How to store
These homemade fresh waters are best enjoyed fresh, immediately after blending. But if you have leftovers or want to make a large batch to have on hand, they will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
They will separate as they sit in the refrigerator, so be sure to stir before serving!
Fresh water flavors shown above from left to right: watermelon, pineapple, cucumber and mango.
Most refreshing summer drinks
If you love this agua fresco recipe, try one of these refreshing summer drinks below:
Aguas Frescas Recipe
serves 1
Learn how to make fresh water! These refreshing drinks are easy to make with water, fresh fruit, lime juice, and a little sweetener. They are one of my favorite ways to cool off on a hot summer day!
- 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, and more to taste (I often add another teaspoon depending on the fruit)
- Ice, to serve
- fresh fruit, to decorate, optional
- fresh mint leaves, to decorate, optional
Prevent your screen from going dark
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In a blender, place the fruit, water, lime juice and 2 teaspoons of agave. Blend until smooth, then taste and add more agave if desired.
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Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large jar or medium bowl and pour the fresh water through it to remove the pulp from the fruit.
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Pour into a glass with ice and garnish with fruit and mint leaves, if desired.
Nutritional values calculated for 1 fresh watermelon water
