Spring is coming on strong, and with the warmer weather comes the need for a drink that’s sweet and refreshing. If you’ve been on the internet lately, you might have seen videos of those colorful jars of liquid that look delicious as all get out. That’s a Mexican drink called agua fresca, and it’s just as tasty as it looks.
If you’re interested in mixing yourself a little drink to sip on this spring, here’s everything you need to know about making your own agua fresca.
What Is Agua Fresca?
Agua fresca is Spanish for “fresh/cool water.” Although the name implies something exotic, its ingredients are incredibly simple–mostly just water, fruit, and sugar. But even though it’s simple to make, nothing is boring about the taste of this refreshing drink. The best way to describe the taste is between concentrated juice and flavored water. Whether you enjoy it on its own or with a lavish meal, agua fresca is the perfect addition to any occasion.
What’s In Agua Fresca?
Agua fresca can be made in many different ways, but the basic recipe is mostly the same. The best part of agua fresca is experimenting with different fruits and sweeteners to find the perfect mix. Here is the base recipe that you can play around with:
- 4 cups chopped fruit
- 3 cups filtered water
- 1-2 tablespoons of sweetener
- (Optional) 2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice
What You’ll Need
- Filtered water. Because most of the drink is made from water, the taste of your agua fresca will depend largely on the quality of water you use. Skip the tap–go for a bottle of something filtered like Fiji or Essentia. Or, visit Amazon to get your own water filter to use any time you like.
- Fresh fruit. The flavor of your agua fresca will vary based on the fruit you use. Try to stick to natural, organic fruit with minimal seeds. This is because you will have to separate these small bits with a sieve at the end of the process, and the less you have to filter out, the better. Fruits such as watermelon, canteloupe, pineapple, strawberries, and guava all have a natural sweetness to them and each has a very distinct taste.
- Sweetener. To bring out the natural sweetness of the fruit a little bit more, you’ll need to add some sweetener to the mix. You can go with standard white sugar, or switch things up with honey or coconut sugar to amplify the taste. If you use solid sugar instead of a liquid sweetener, make sure to stir the drink long enough for the sugar to fully dissolve.
- A blender. The blender you use will go a long way to fully breaking down the fruit and creating a puree you can easily strain. Amazon has plenty of high-quality blenders as well as a few cheaper options that will give you the biggest bang for your buck.
- A sieve. Agua fresca is supposed to be completely liquid, without the fiber and pulp you find in smoothies or orange juice. You can grab a fine mesh strainer on Amazon to separate any seeds or fiber from the sweet liquid. Once you’ve finished blending your ingredients, pour the mixture through a sieve until you’re left with the tasty, colorful liquid that remains.
You can serve agua fresca over ice, with or without a lemon/lime garnish. If you want your agua fresca to be authentically Mexican, then ice the drink in a pitcher and serve it in a glass from there. Enjoy!
