Watermelon Agua Fresca: the Perfect Summer Drink
Are you in need of a refreshing drink to cool down with this summer? You’ve got to try this fruity, sparkling Watermelon Agua Fresca.
Agua fresca, or “fresh water,” is a popular drink in Mexico and throughout Central America. They’re made by combining water with sugar and fruits to create a sweet and tasty beverage.
My version uses cooling watermelon and honey to keep it free from refined sugars. When mixed with sparkling water, the result is a fizzy beverage you’ll want to drink all summer long.
Agua Fresca Ingredients
This classic agua fresca uses only five ingredients, and two are water: regular water and sparking water. The most natural form of sparkling water is sparkling mineral water, which not only naturally contains minerals, but also can be naturally carbonated.
Watermelon, of course, is the star ingredient of watermelon agua fresca. Watermelon benefits are greater than you’d think. One of its top benefits is its high water content. In fact, it is estimated to be composed of about 91 percent water, which can help the body to detox and get rid of excess water and fluids, relieving uncomfortable bloating and swelling.
Next is raw honey, a much better choice than sugar that’s typically deployed in agua fresca recipes. One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories, yet it has a healthy glycemic load around 10 for one tablespoon, which is a little less than a banana. Raw honey contains 22 amino acids, 27 minerals and 5,000 enzymes.
Lastly, you’ll be adding lime juice, a perfect compliment to the flavors and also loaded with antioxidants.
Overall, these ingredients make for a delicious mocktail but relatively low calorie. One cup of watermelon is only 46 calories, and each serving of this agua fresca is only 27 calories. In addition, the sparking water helps you feel full.
How to Make Watermelon Agua Fresca
Start by blending the watermelon, raw honey and fresh lime juice in a blender until the watermelon is smooth. Mix in the sparking water before pouring.
Garnish the drink with lime slices or mint leaves before serving.
Make a big batch of this Watermelon Agua Fresca to keep in the refrigerator for hot nights or for serving at barbecues. Serve within three days after making.
Agua Fresca Tips
- Ideally, you’re using ripe, sweet watermelon. If not, you may need to add a little more honey.
- Try other fruits besides watermelon. Cantelope, strawberries or pineapple, for example.
- Desire the drink to be more tart? Add more lime juice.
- Want to turn this watermelon aqua fresca mocktail into a cocktail? You can use vodka or tequila, as both marry well. Add three-quarters of an ounce up to one-and-a-half ounces to one serving and stir.
Other Healthy Mocktails
- Strawberry lemonade
- Ginger shots (mix with some sparking water)
- Switchel
- Mango lime drink
Other Delicious Watermelon Recipes
- Watermelon salad
- Watermelon feta salad
- Mint watermelon salad
- Watermelon pizza
- Hydrating watermelon smoothie
Watermelon Agua Fresca
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Agua fresca, or “fresh water,” is a popular drink in Mexico and throughout Central America. Usually it’s a combo of sugar and fruits. Here we go healthier … but just as delicious!
Ingredients
- 4 cups watermelon, cut into pieces
- ½ cup water
- ½ tablespoon raw honey
- ½ tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ½ cup sparkling water (mineral is best)
- optional garnishes: lime slices and mint leaves
Instructions
- Blend watermelon, water, honey and lime juice in a blender.
- Stir in sparkling water just prior to serving.
- Garnish with lime slices and mint leaves if desired.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Mexican
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34 Comments
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I am allergic to all citrus fruits. How important is the lime juice? Is there a substitute that would provide the same benefits?
Super healthy delicious drink in a few minutes. My grandson’s favourite fruit is water melon. His other favourite drink is lemon & honey drink.
This brings both his favourite drinks together complementing each other
Thanks so much
👏👍
Need more oxalate recipes please.
I always heard that is bad for your heslth drinking water after eat watermelon how can we mix water with watermelon when we make fresh water drink?
Just wondering if you mean sparkling water or mineral water? Are these healthy drinks? Or should we avoid fizzy drinks completely?
Thanku
Karen
I know this is not the point of the article, but I am thinking this might make a healthier version of margarita . Use agave sweetener and a shot of tequila. Yum!
I have cancer and am being careful about added sugar and fruits high in sugar My Traditional Chinese medicine Doctor surprised me when he said that I should avoid watermelon, I always thought it had very little sugar but it is apparently very high in sugar and can even lead to diabetes, he said, so I would not sweeten this with honey and (San?) Pellegrino is flavoured/ sweetened so I would choose unsweetened Pellegrino/ carbonated water if you are concerned about added sugars.
I grew up drinking agua fresca made with various fruits….so refreshing on a hot day! May I make a suggestion? Since this is a Mexican (Central American) recipe, why not add a Mexican mineral water like Topo Chico, rather than Italian Pellegrino? Makes it a bit more authentic. Keep those great recipes coming!
Watermelon can be so sweet, you really don’t need the honey. I make mine without it and it’s just as delicious.
Sounds great
When I was at the Optimum Health Clinic (OH ) in San Diego, we were told to cut a piece off of the rind and eat the white part of it, along with the red juicy watermelon as nature provides a natural sugar stabilizer in the white rind. Also, I don’t think this may be a recipe for those of us with Hashimotos.
Those a delectable-sounding recipes. Thanks for sharing those taste treats, Doctor Axe.
P.S. I like your collagen product, and find it easy to incorporate into various foods. Thanks.
I know watermelon good for prostate but to much sugar for cancer and not good for kidneys his counts to low, am I right we work outside a lot would love it, but heard berries only fruit lower in sugar, we are farmers but gave it up a year ago. What’s your thought
Is the watermelon mush suitable for freezing?
I can’t order broth protein as in the uk ☹️
Amanda, you can make your own in a crock pot.
Google the recipe. It is easy and delicious!
What about using stevia extract for sweetener?
Delicious! My husband and I enjoy watermelon water almost everyday! A dear Hispanic lady has her food truck near us, so we enjoy fresh waters like cantaloupe, mango, strawberry, peach, and papaya! We live in the tomato capital of TN, I’m waiting on tomato agua fresca!
Hi Cynthia — Make your own, silly!
So you have to be from Grainger! Correct? On of my favorite places. We’re Roane County not far away.😁
Can I also used tonic water and maple syrup.
Most tonic waters are sweetened so be careful. It’s to offset the bitter taste of the quinine, not what is usually compatible with watermelon. But if you like it, find one that isn’t sweetened or has a safe, natural sweetener. The honey is a better choice and be more compatible with the watermelon in taste.
Hi Dr axe the collagen protein what animal product is on it. I only eat sea food, no land animal. Do you have that kind of protein without land animal. Blessings
My daughter is on a high fat, low carb and basically no sugar diet, prescribed by her dr. She should only have fruit as a garnish, but, would love this watermelon drink. What is the sugar and carb content of this?
As much as you put in , you can find carb factors on line. ;)
I will try it
Pellegrino is the brand of water. It’s seltzer, so if you like carbonated drinks, this works fine.
I need recipes that have no cows milk, eggs or egg whites. Something that a 3 yr. old would eat.
What is Pellegrino
fizzy water (:
Mineral water
It’s a sparkling (ie carbonated) mineral water, brand name Pellatrino.
Sparkling water
I thought tannins were healthy like in wines