An Agua Fresca is the perfect balance of lightly sweetened fresh fruit, water and lime juice. Make any of the 5 flavors of this refreshing mocktail in just 5 minutes.

A strawberry agua fresca and a pineapple agua fresca in tall glasses.

What is agua fresca?

Agua fresca is the Spanish term for “fresh water,” and it’s a light, refreshing drink enjoyed in Mexico and Central America.

In its simplest form, it’s a combination of fruit and water, but sometimes will also contain flowers, seeds or grains.

It’s a delightful way to stay cool at a summer gathering or when you’re sitting poolside.

Agua fresca drinks in various shapes of glasses on a light surface.

Make them like a pro at home

I’ve done all the work of testing homemade agua frescas every which way, so that you don’t have to.

After many, MANY rounds of testing and tasting (seriously, my fridge was full of jars of agua frescas for weeks on end), I’ve figured out the perfect balance of fruit to sweetener to lime juice to water for each flavor.

And best of all, I’ve figure out that it’s totally possible to make all five flavors in 20 minutes total! Or, make just one flavor with your favorite fruit in less than 5 minutes.

Why You’ll Love this Agua Fresca Recipe

  • Made with fresh ingredients, agua frescas are free from preservatives and artificial flavors.
  • With just a few ingredients and a blender, you can whip up a batch in less than five minutes.
  • I have five flavors for you to choose from! Make one for you, or all of them for a crowd!
Cut fruit and cucumber on a sheet pan with a bottle of water and a bowl of sugar.

Agua Fresca Ingredients

  • fresh fruit – the flavor component of our agua frescas!
  • water – used to dilute the fruit puree to create a light and refreshing drink.
  • sweetener – I like to sweeten my agua frescas just a little bit with a touch of granulated sugar. You could also use honey, agave syrup or omit the sweetener entirely if you prefer.
  • lime juice – adds a tart contrast to the sweetness of the fruit.
  • ice – serve your agua frescas over ice to make them the most refreshing.
Roughly chopped cucumber, mango, watermelon, pineapple and strawberries on a wooden cutting board.

Agua Fresca Flavors

The flavor possibilities for agua fresca are many, but my favorite choices are the following five, and I give directions for all of these in the recipe card below.

  • cucumber
  • pineapple
  • mango
  • strawberry
  • watermelon
A three photo series showing the ingredients for a watermelon drink being added to a blender pitcher.

How to make Agua Fresca

Before and after photos showing a watermelon agua fresca being blended.

1. WATERMELON AGUA FRESCA. Combine 3 cups roughly chopped watermelon, 2 cups water, the juice of 1 lime, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a blender and blend until well combined.

Before and after photos showing a cucumber agua fresca being blended.

2. CUCUMBER AGUA FRESCA. Combine 3/4 of a roughly chopped English cucumber, 3 cups water, the juice of 1 lime, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a blender and blend until well combined.

Before and after photos showing a pineapple agua fresca being blended.

3. PINEAPPLE AGUA FRESCA. Combine 2-1/2 cups roughly chopped pineapple, 2-1/4 cups water, the juice of 1 lime, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a blender and blend until well combined.

Before and after photos showing a mango agua fresca being blended.

4. MANGO AGUA FRESCA. Combine 1 cup roughly chopped mango, 3 cups water, the juice of 1 lime, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a blender and blend until well combined.

Before and after photos showing a strawberry agua fresca being blended.

5. STRAWBERRY AGUA FRESCA. Combine 3 cups roughly chopped strawberries, 2 cups water, the juice of 1 lime, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a blender and blend until well combined.

Several different flavors of agua frescas in various shapes of glasses.

Agua Fresca Recipe Home Chef Tips

  • The ratio of fruit to water varies slightly depending on how watery or fibrous the fruit is to begin with, so pay close attention to the exact ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.
  • The more watery a fruit already is (like watermelon), the less extra water you’ll need to add. The more fibrous a fruit is (like mango), the more water you’ll need to add to get the right consistency.
  • If you use a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix, you shouldn’t need to strain the drink, as the blender will completely puree any pulp and seeds. If your blender isn’t as high powered, taste the drink and decide whether or not you want to strain it before serving.
A cuucmber agua fresca in a tal bottle and a mango agua fresca in a shorter bottle.

Agua Fresca Drink storage

Agua frescas are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator. Store the drink in an airtight container, and give it a good stir or shake before serving again, as natural separation of the fruit and water will occur.

How long do agua frescas last in the fridge?

When properly stored, agua frescas will last up to 3 days in the fridge.

Several flavors of fruity drinks in various shapes of glasses on a light surface.
Several different flavors of agua frescas in various shapes of glasses.

Agua Frescas Recipe

Yield: Each flavor makes about 4 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

An Agua Fresca is the perfect balance of lightly sweetened fresh fruit, water and lime juice. Make any of the 5 flavors of this refreshing mocktail in just 5 minutes.

Ingredients

For Strawberry Agua Fresca:

  • 3 cups roughly chopped strawberries
  • 2 cups water
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

For Cucumber Agua Fresca;

  • 3/4 English cucumber, cut into large chunks
  • 3 cups water
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

For Watermelon Agua Fresca:

  • 3 cups roughly chopped watermelon
  • 2 cups water
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

For Pineapple Agua Fresca:

  • 2-1/2 cups roughly chopped pineapple
  • 2-1/4 cups water
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

For Mango Agua Fresca;

  • 1 cup roughly chopped mango (about 2 mangoes)
  • 3 cups water
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions

  1. For each flavor, combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Serve over ice immediately, or transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate up to 3 days.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 55Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 3gSugar: 10gProtein: 1g

Nutrition estimate is for strawberry flavor. This website provides estimated nutrition information as a courtesy only. Nutrition information does not include any optional ingredients or toppings. You should calculate the nutrition information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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