Agua Fresca is a refreshing drink made from fruit, water
In LA, when the weather is warm during spring and summer, agua frescas are served at farmers’ markets, street fairs and flea markets. It’s a great way to cool down and sip something that’s refreshing and full of flavor. They’re always served in large glass barrel like jars with ladles.
How to Make Agua Fresca
Agua fresca, Spanish for “cool water” or “freshwater,” it’s a mix of fruit, flowers or herbs, sugar, and water creating a refreshing and tasteful drink for a warm day!
It’s made by blending together chunks of fruit with sugar and water until its liquid. You can strain it through a sieve to remove the pulp or you can leave it! We left the pulp in our recipes below.
The best part about making this drink is that it can be made with virtually any fruit, so it’s fun to think of seasonal flavor combinations. They’re great for any celebration, especially a Cinco de Mayo party!
Also check out these summer cocktail recipes too!
- Roughly chop the fruit and add the ingredients (except the water) into the blender. My blender could only take half of the ingredients at a time, so I split it up.
- Pour the mixture into the containers, then add the water and ice. Each recipe makes 6 quarts.
- If you want a smoother drink, strain the blended fruit through a sieve before adding it to the barrel with water and ice.
These are great for parties and entertaining because they’re colorful, taste delicious and you can be creative when brainstorming unique flavor combos.
They’re traditionally served in these and you use a ladle to pour them into cups. You can also buy them here too.
We also serve this drink with a plate of fruit so guests can add in other berries for even more taste and color.
4 Delicious Agua Fresca Recipes and Flavor Combinations
This drink can be made with different types of fruit. For fun, you can create your own flavor combinations.
Juicy melons are always a great base, then add in some berries and even herbs! Here are a few of our favorites! We created these fantastic combinations and they are all so good! What’s great about making these is that you can really alter the recipe to what you like. Add more fruit or less sugar depending on the flavor you’re going for.
Mango & Pineapple Agua Fresca Recipe
This recipe is made with fresh pineapple and mangos. It’s sweetened with sugar and then diluted with water to make it the perfect agua fresca.
Peach & Lavender Agua Fresca Recipe
Made with juicy peaches and fresh lavender, this is truly a beautiful flavor combination makes a wonderful Agua Fresca. It’s great for fall when peaches are at their best. You can also use dried lavender to make this recipe.
Watermelon, Cucumber & Lime Agua Fresca Recipe
Watermelon Agua Fresca is a classic flavor that you will see at many outdoor events. It’s made with fresh watermelon, delicious cucumbers and freshly squeezed lime juice. It’s our favorite recipe for a hot summer day.
Guava & Coconut Agua Fresca Recipe
Made with canned guava and coconut, this is one of our favorite flavor combinations. It taste very tropical and authentic. It’s very easy to make too.
Tips for Making Agua Fresca
Remove any rinds and skin on fruit before chopping.
Use agave, stevia or sugar to sweeten the drink.
If you want a smooth drink use a sieve to strain the fruit after blending.
Sometimes there is too much fruit for a standard blender. If that’s the case, we blend half and half.
Agua Fresca Bar for a Party!
This is a great drink to serve at a party! Make a few different, large batch recipes and serve it in a classic Aguas Fresca containers.
Place cups and ladles in each container on the bar. Have a platter of fresh fruit and berries out to garnish each refreshing cup of Agua Fresca.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s popular in Mexico and throughout Central America. It’s also very popular in Los Angeles and areas in Texas too.
Agua Fresca originated in Mexico and is popular in Central America. It’s popular in California as well.
This drink is made with fruit, water, sugar and ice to keep it cool. The base of the drink is water which is agua in Spanish. It’s a cool, refreshing drink and fresca means cool in Spanish. That is where the name agua fresca came from.
More Recipes You’ll Love!
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4 Delicious Agua Fresca Recipes
Ingredients
Mango & Pineapple Agua Fresca Recipe
- 4 mangoes, skin removed, cut into chunks. Save 1 mango for cut into chunks to garnish.
- 2 pineapples , skin removed, cut into chunks. Save 1/4 for chunks for garnishing.
- 1 cup sugar , or your preferred sweetener
- 9 cups water
Peach & Lavender Agua Fresca Recipe
- 12 peaches, skin removed, sliced
- 1/2 cup lavender, fresh or dried
- 1 cup sugar
- 16 cups water
Watermelon, Cucumber & Lime Agua Fresca Recipe
- 2 cucumbers, skin removed
- 1 watermelon (save 1/4 for chunks and garnish), rind removed, cut into chunks. Save 1/4 for chunks to garnish
- 1/2 cup lime juice, fresh squeezed
- 1 cup sugar
- 8 cups water
Guava & Coconut Agua Fresca Recipe
- 42 oz guava, canned
- 54 oz coconut milk
- 16 cups water
Instructions
- Remove any skin or rinds, then roughly chop the fruit. If you're making the guava coconut you won't need to worry about this part.
- Add the ingredients (except the water) into the blender, this means fruit and sugar. My blender could only take half of the ingredients at a time, so I split it up.
- Pour the blended mixture into the large barrel container, then add the water and ice. If you want a smooth agua fresca, use a sieve to strain the mixture into the barrels.
- Add any ganrishes in, chucks, sliced fruit, berries and give it a good stir with the ice and water.
- Each recipe makes 6 quarts
Amanda says
These look great! Where did you find the jugs with the wood handles? They look much nicer than the traditional ones.
Eden says
I know, those are great! They were from World Market and now they’re sold out! I will search and see if I can find something similar.
Ashley says
I can’t wait to make the guava and coconut agua fresca! For the canned guavas, did you use guava paste or guavas in syrup?? Thank you!
Eden says
Hi Ashley! We used guava paste, so good!!
ChristinaMarie says
These look delicious! I can’t wait to try them. If making for a party, how far in advance can you make them? Or, how long do they keep when in the refrigerator?
Eden says
Thank you! They are best served immediately but will last 2 days in the fridge. They will need to stirred and I wouldn’t add ice until you’re ready to serve. Hope you enjoy!
Bernice Romero says
Love these! Where did you purchase the jars/vitroleros?
Eden says
Thank you! I bought them at World Market but many years ago. You can buy similar ones here https://rstyle.me/+_uhFhJ-33dAcrYgIOX63sw
Denise says
Can’t wait to try these agua fresca recipes!!
Eden says
Thanks Denise! Excited for some warmer weather over here!