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Agua Fresca: A Cinco de Mayo Recipe

Agua Frescas are simple fruit drinks made with fruit blended with water, lime juice and sugar. They are simple, refreshing drinks perfect for summer entertaining!

strawberry, cantaloupe and cucumber agua fresca in glasses with pitchers

What is Agua Fresca?

If you can reach back into the archives of high school Spanish you’ll know that Agua Fresca translates to “fresh water” but this amazing drink is so much more than that!

Agua Fresca can be made with just about any fruit you can think of, combined with water, ice, and sugar or other sweetener.

Agua frescas are popular in Mexico and Central America as a healthy non-alcoholic drink

cantaloupe, limes, strawberries and cucumbers

Flavor Variations

While I’m only sharing three recipes below, remember that you can make these delicious fruit drinks with many different types of fruits like strawberries, pineapple, honeydew, and mango.

Watermelon Agua Fresca is another very popular option, for that variation just omit the extra water as the fruit itself has plenty!

I don’t recommend making this recipe with blueberries or blackberries, however. These fruits are too chunky when pureed and require straining the mixture through a fine mesh sieve and usually aren’t sweet enough as well.

Also, while pitted cherries taste delicious, the color turns muddy pretty quickly which makes the drink less appealing.

Base Agua Fresca Recipe

For each recipe below combine all of the ingredients in a blender (affiliate link) and puree until smooth and slushy and sugar is dissolved! The basic recipe is:

  • 4 cups water
  • 2 cups fresh fruit
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 2 cups ice
  • lime wedges & mint for garnish (optional)

You can serve agua frescas to a crowd and pour from a pitcher or you can serve individually garnished with mint springs and sliced fruit for an extra special presentation.

If you like agua fresca, you might also like to try my Strawberry Iced Tea, Peach Iced Tea, or Strawberry Lemonade recipes!

Agua Fresca Variations:

Cucumber Agua Fresca

cucumber agua fresca in glass
  • 2 cups thinly sliced seeded peeled cucumbers
  • 4 cups cold water
  • 2 cups crushed ice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice

Cantaloupe Agua Fresca

catnaloupe agua fresca in glass
  • 1 (3-pound) ripe cantaloupe or other small melon, diced
  • 4 cups cold water
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 cups crushed ice

Strawberry Agua Fresca

strawberry agua fresca in glass
  • 4 cups ripe strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 cups crushed ice
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
overhead view of many flavors of agua fresca in glasses on wood tray

I hope you give these recipes a try this weekend-or anytime this summer! They are so refreshing, my favorite is actually the cucumber, it reminds me of something they would serve at a spa!

If you try this recipe, please comment and rate it below!

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catnaloupe agua fresca in glass

Basic Agua Fresca

  • Author: Melissa
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Puree
  • Cuisine: mexican

Description

Agua Frescas are simple fruit drinks made with fruit blended with water, lime juice and sugar. They are simple, refreshing drinks perfect for summer entertaining!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 cups fresh fruit
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 2 cups ice
  • lime wedges & mint for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender (affiliate link) and puree until smooth and slushy and sugar is dissolved. Serve immediately.


Notes

Nutritional information is for Strawberry Agua Fresca, exact nutrition info will changed based on fruit used.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 72
  • Sugar: 16 g
  • Sodium: 10.4 mg
  • Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18.2 g
  • Protein: 0.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: Agua Fresca

This post was originally posted May 1, 2013, but has been updated April 2019 with better photography and answers to reader questions.

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33 Comments

  1. Hi there! I am co-hosting this week on Fit Frugal Family Link Party. Thanks for linking up!

    I also host a TGIF Link Party over at my place — A Peek Into Paradise… https://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/ Would love for you to link up, Opens on Fridays and stays open until Wednesday at midnight.

    Thanks again for visiting Fit Frugal Family Link party!

    Have a terrific week!

    Hugs, Cathy

  2. I love aqua frescas – my favs are cantaloupe & pineapple…they are highly underated, imho.
    Stopping by from I Should Be Mopping The Floor, have a great week!!

    1. I’ll have to try pineapple, I haven’t had that yet. I just got a watermelon to make some today!

  3. Watermelon has always been my favorite. Thanks for reminding me what a cool refreshing drink this is for summer!

    Michelle @ On A Wing And A Prayer

    1. I have a watermelon on my counter for the same purpose! If only it would feel more spring/summer-y outside I’d be set!!

  4. Oh my gosh, these look amazing! I’m definitely going to have to try them!

  5. The Strawberry Agua Fresca looks and sounds so refreshing and looks really appealing. Thanks so much for the recipes and I will be returning often to your blog.

  6. those all look so refreshing!! Came over from What Shakin… I blog at nap-timecreations.com… would love to have you stop by.

  7. these look gorgeous!!! i am having some family over for a birthday and just may have to make these! I am trying to break a diet pepsi addiction and maybe these would do it! I am hosting today at https://www.frugalfitfamily.com – swing by and share if you can!

  8. Yum! I’ve been craving tons of fruit this pregnancy. I have to try these. Cantaloupe sounds delish!

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