Warm weather and outdoor dining combined with the arrival of watermelon season make this the ideal time for watermelon agua fresca (it means fresh water in Spanish). This simple drink is both seasonal and oh-so-refreshing for a hot summer day. It’s pretty pink color also looks festive on any table.
Watermelon season varies based on where you live but ranges from June through September. Here in California, we’re lucky to have four full months of locally grown watermelon. You can often find imported watermelon throughout the year but I always think fresh and local is best.
Health Benefits of Watermelon
Watermelon isn’t just delicious it’s also nutritious. Watermelon contains loads of nourishing vitamins A, B6, and C. It’s also a great source of potassium and the antioxidant powerhouse lycopene.
Because watermelon is a naturally sweet fruit, this drink often needs very little additional sweetener. The sweetness of an individual watermelon varies, so it’s best to do a taste test of your drink before adding all the water and sugar. Use most, but not all, sample and then add more water or sweetener if desired.
Agua de Sandia
Known as agua de sandia in Spanish, watermelon agua fresca has roots in Mexico but is popular worldwide. To give this drink some additional Latin flair, I often sweetened it with agave nectar. You could also use organic cane sugar, honey, or stevia.
Agua Fresca Options
Watermelon Agua Fresca is the perfect drink for a warm day, suitable for any time of day and all family members. To serve as an adult beverage, you can add some rum or tequila.
I like to garnish my agua fresca with lime wedges and mint, which gives it a bit more style and color. You can also add some lime juice to the drink itself if you want to give it a little flavor contrast.
Watermelon Agua Fresca Recipe
Equipment
- blender
Ingredients
- 6 cups watermelon cubed and seeded
- 3 1/2 cups cold water
- 2 tablespoons sweetener
- ice cubed or crushed
- lime wedges
- mint leaves
Instructions
- Chop the watermelon into medium-sized pieces, carefully removing seeds. Refrigerate until cold.
- In a blender, blend the watermelon and water until smooth.
- Pour into a large pitcher through a strainer to remove pulp.
- Add sweetener and mix well.
- Optionally, add more water or sweetener to achieve desired consistency and taste.
- Refrigerate again until cold.
- Serve over ice (cubed or crushed) and garnish with lime wedges and mint.
12 comments
This was so nice and refreshing. The family loved it. Not too sweet either!
Thanks, Annie. I’m glad your family enjoyed the watermelon agua fresca.
This brings me back to my time in Mexico! My mama made us agua de (insert any fruit here). We had agua de limon, de melon, and de sandia. It’s so easy and refreshing.
Watermelon agua fresca is our favorite, but we also love it with other fruits as well. Very versatile!
Stunning! Plus watermelon is so refreshing.
Delicious! I love watermelon.
This is such a refreshing summer drink! I can’t wait until our watermelons are ready to be picked so we can make it!
I’ve made this before too and it’s the PERFECT refreshing summer drink the lime and mint really take it over the top!!
[…] food blogger, Patrice from one of my groups has a Watermelon Agua Fresca […]
Although I am not a big fan of watermelon as sliced fruit, I like the flavor of it in beverages like this. It sounds so refreshing, and if I had a really sweet watermelon, I might even try it without the sweetener.
[…] Looking for another delicious drink from south of the border? Try this watermelon agua fresca! […]
Yum! Watermelon and lime are such a perfect combo!