Aguas Frescas Recipes

Agua Fresca also called agua de fruta is an easy-to-make fruit juice that’s an excellent option if you’re looking for non-alcoholic fruity mocktails. If you’re a fan of Mexican food, chances are you’ve seen these fruity drinks at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Now you can make this tasty drink right in your own kitchen.

Includes the recipes for Jamaica, Horchata, and Tamarindo.

Aguas Frescas can be made with different fruits. Juicy summer fruits are best when making agua de frutas. You can also make a few non-fruit varieties, such as Horchata, Jamaica, and Tamarindo. These versions are made with other flavorful ingredients like rice, dried hibiscus flowers, or tamarind pods.

These refreshing drinks can be enjoyed on a hot day and is often sold by street vendors in Mexico and Central America.

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Recipe Ingredients for Aguas de Frutas

• 4 cups of freshly chopped fruit
• 3 cups of water
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of sweetener. You can use cane sugar, maple syrup, agave syrup, or even simple syrup.
• a little lime juice

How To Make Aqua Fresca

1. Combine fruit, water, and sweetener in a blender.
2. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth.
3. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve.
4. Adjust the sweetness if needed.
5. Add a fresh squeeze of lime juice.
6. Serve chilled with ice.

Agua Fresca Recipe Variations

This non-alcoholic drink can be made with many different types of fruits and even a few other natural ingredients. Almost any juicy fruit will work. A few of my favorites are:

• Strawberry
• Watermelon
• Cantelope
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Cucumber
• Aguas de Jamaica (a tea made with hibiscus leaves and then sweetened)
• Aguas de Horchata (made with rice water and cinnamon, condensed milk, and evaporated milk)
• Aguas de Tamarindo (made with tamarind pods)

Dried hibiscus leaves and tamarind pods can be found in your local Mexican grocery store. If you don’t have a local store close, both of these ingredients can also be ordered online. (links in the recipe card)

Serving and Storing Tips

Serve homemade agua fresca on a warm summer day in a large pitcher full of ice. You can serve in individual glasses with ice and garnish with a mint sprig if you feel festive. Remember that the ice will dilute the fruit mixture, so the initial fruit puree is relatively concentrated.

Store in the fridge for up to a week. I like to store fresh juices in my Weck juice jars because they have removable lids. The lids prevent the juice from absorbing flavors that might be in the fridge.

Freeze. Freeze the concentrated fruit mixture and then pull it out of the freezer and thaw. Add ice, and it’s summer all year long. Souper Cubes freezer trays are the perfect way to freeze anything like this in portion sizes!

What To Serve With Agua Fresca

This refreshing drink is delicious all by itself. But it’s even better when paired with your favorite Mexican recipes.

• Fish Tacos with Taco Slaw
• Mexican Rice
• Guacamole and Salsa served with Tortilla Chips
• Carne Asada Tacos

More Easy Summer Drink Recipes To Try

• Siesta Cocktail
• Lemon Drop Martini
• Pineapple Martini
• French Martini
• Homemade Limoncello OR Arancello