Watermelon Agua Fresca

Agua frescas are a fantastic way to keep hydrated and get extra vitamins and minerals into your body. This watermelon agua fresca or agua de sandia is a delicious treat the whole family will love!

Learn how to make a refreshing watermelon agua fresca, with a twist!

Learn how to make watermelon agua fresca also known as agua de sandia.
Watermelon Agua Fresca

What Are Aguas Frescas

Agua fresca literally translates to fresh water. Meaning like refreshing or cooling water. Some people may also translate them as “coolers”. This would be a Mexican watermelon cooler.

Typically it consists of blending seasonal fruits with water and a sweetener. Sometimes edible fruits, nuts, grains and seeds are also used. As well as a combination of fruits or any of the previously mentioned items.

Ingredients for making watermelon agua fresca

How to Make Traditional Agua Fresca Flavors

Traditionally these non-alcoholic drinks are made with fruits, dried edible flowers, rice, nuts, and seeds.

When fruits are used they are blended with a bit of water, sometimes strained to remove pulp, then mixed with more water. Traditionally sugar is also added.

In the case of edible flowers, specifically hibiscus or jamaica, they are simmered in hot water to make a tea. The tea is then strained and mixed with sugar and additional water.

Rice agua fresca, or horchata, is made by soaking the rice in water until soft or overnight. Cinnamon and sometimes nuts can be added when blending the rice. Sometimes sugar or condensed milk may be added for sweetness.

The process for barley or cebada agua fresca is the similar to horchata.

Seeds like chia make a popular agua fresca when combined with limes, water and a sweetener.

All types of these delicious drinks are served ice cold and with ice cubes. Of course living up to the name of being refreshing or cooling specially on a hot summer day.

How to make Mexican watermelon agua fresca.

How to Make Agua de Sandia

Agua frescas are the most delicious non-alcoholic drinks because they’re so easy to make.

In the case of agua de sandia or watermelon agua fresca, the part that will take the longest is the cutting up of the fruit.

Once the watermelon is ready to use it’s just a matter of blending.

First you start with a preferably seedless watermelon and cut it into small pieces. Place them in a blender — depending on the size of the blender cup, this may need to be done in batches.

Then I like to add a little bit of lime juice ice boost the flavor and also help keep the water fresher longer. But not everyone uses the lime juice and it’s ok to omit it.

Sugar-Free Agua Fresca or A Lightly Sweetened

I like to use very little sugar, if any at all. The reason being that I don’t feel the need to add more sweetness to a sweet fruit. If I don’t use lime juice, then in fact I won’t use any sweetener. Or if the fruit is extra sweet even with lime juice I’ll omit the sugar.

So if using sugar or a sweetener, it is then added to the blender ingredients.

I would also suggest to stick to muscovado sugar because it not only adds a great flavor, but it’s also vegan!

Salt to Help Bring Out The Flavor

Something I like to do with my agua frescas is to add a pinch of sea salt. Yep, salt!

Salt has long been used to enhance flavor in food. That’s exactly what it does to the watermelon and lime juice in my agua fresca recipe.

How to serve agua fresca

Blending and Straining the Agua

Once all of the ingredients are in the blender, it’s then processed until all the fruit has broken down and sugar melted.

Should Agua Fresca be Strained?

Many people do strain all agua fresca varieties.

When it comes to fruit agua frescas, I personally don’t like to strain them. My blender does a pretty good job at breaking down the contents. Plus discarding the pulp is wasting natural plant fiber and vitamins and minerals.

But straining is completely up to you.

A pitcher of agua de sandia

How to Serve Agua Fresca

All types of agua frescas are best served very cold and with plenty of ice cubes.

The cold temperature accentuates the natural flavors. Not to mention really hitting the spot on a hot day or when you’re super thirsty.

Have fun and add slices of the fruit or some lime slices to make the glass a bit prettier.

Mexican Watermelon Drink

Amigo go ahead and try out my super easy, refreshing and delicious agua de sandia recipe.

How to make Watermelon Agua Fresca (vegan)

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Nancy Lopez-McHugh & MexicanMadeMeatless.com
You must try this Mexican refreshing watermelon agua fresca, with a twist! Agua frescas are a fantastic way to keep hydrated and get extra vitamins and minerals into your body. Try this vegan recipe.
4.91 from 21 votes
Save Recipe Pin Recipe Leave a Review
Prep Time 15 mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6 servings
Calories 83 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs. of seedless watermelon pieces the weight is just the fruit
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice optional but gives a yummy twist
  • 1/4 cup muscovado sugar (add up to 1/2 cup sugar if desired, or agave to taste)
  • pinch sea salt optional for extra flavor
  • 4 cups cold water
  • plenty of ice cubes

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the watermelon pieces and weigh without the peel. Place in the blender then pour in the lime juice, add the sugar and blend until the watermelon is broken down. Add the pinch of salt, if using, and blend for another minutes.
  • Pour into a large pitcher with ice cubes. Pour in the water and give the agua a very good stir. Taste and if necessary adjust either the sugar or water. Some people like to strain the mix into the pitcher, feel free to do so if desired. You can also add more water to make it thinner if you’d like.
  • Serve in glass with plenty of ice cubes and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Taste your watermelon and add sugar according to the sweetness of your watermelon. Or if you’d like you can also omit the sugar all together. 

Nutrition

Serving: 6servingsCalories: 83kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 193mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 865IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and tag me on social media @MexicanMadeMeatless or tag #mexicamademeatless!

The Agua de Sandia will really only keep fresh for one day, it loses it taste and a bit of the color the next day.

This recipe can be tweaked and adjusted as you like. By adjusting the sugar amount and even the water amount depending on how juicy the watermelon is.

I hope you try this agua de sandia very soon! As always if you try my recipe please make sure to tag me on social media. You’ll find me on IG, FB & Pinterest under @MexicanMadeMeatless

Try Some of My Other Ice-cold Drink Recipes

Similar Posts

31 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I can wait to make this! I love anything made with watermelon and this is such a refreshing way to enjoy it. It also helps on to relieve the heat of these hots days we’re having. Gotta have that pinch of salt with watermelon.

  2. 5 stars
    we make with the kids during the hot summer days, we even freeze it to make them popsicle, fun and delicious and refreshing

  3. 5 stars
    My friend told me about this recipe and I had to try it! I love watermelon, but never made it as a juice before. Tastes like summer in a glass!

  4. 5 stars
    I always prefer homemade juice for my kids, and always try to keep it healthy and tasty. This is one of the best, thanks!

  5. 5 stars
    Watermelon agua fresca is so perfect for this time of year as the heat rises. This recipe was great sitting right next to the pool.

  6. 5 stars
    This looks incredibly refreshing, and something the whole family can enjoy! I will definitely be trying this recipe this summer. A great poolside beverage!

  7. 5 stars
    I love ordering agua frescas from my local taquería but I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a watermelon agua fresca as good as this recipe. Next time, I’m going to accidentally drop a shot of tequila blanco in it.

  8. 5 stars
    Thanks for sharing this Mexican watermelon cooler recipe. Perfect for quenching thirst this summer. I felt this cooler is perfect to keep hydrated. Also its a good recipe to get extra vitamins and minerals.

  9. 5 stars
    Had a giant watermelon to use up but wanted something different than just eating it. This drink was so delicious and I didn’t add sugar no need.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating