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!
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.
- 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 agua fresca, strain the blended fruit through a sieve before adding it to the barrel with water and ice.
I love them 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. I also like to serve with a plate of fruit so guests can add in other berries for even more taste and color!
Where did Agua Fresca originate?
Agua Fresca originated in Mexico and is popular in Central America. It’s popular in California as well.
4 Delicious Agua Fresca Recipes and Flavor Combinations
Agua fresca 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!
- Peach & Lavender Agua Fresca Recipe
- Mango & Pineapple Agua Fresca Recipe
- Watermelon, Cucumber & Lime Agua Fresca Recipe
- Guava & Coconut Agua Fresca Recipe
Agua Fresca Bar for a Party!
Agua Fresca Container
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.
Where is agua fresca popular?
It’s popular in Mexico and throughout Central America. It’s also very popular in Los Angeles and areas in Texas too.
More Drink Recipes You’ll Love!
How to Make a Toasted Coconut Cocktail
Easy Traditional White Sangria
Please leave a review and a comment below if you make on of our agua fresca recipes!
Ingredients
Mango & Pineapple Agua Fresca Recipe
- 3 mangoes
- 2 pineapples (save 1/4 for chunks)
- 1 mango for chunks
- 1 cup sugar (or your preferred sweetener)
- 9 cups water
Peach & Lavender Agua Fresca Recipe
- 12 peaches
- 1/2 cup lavender (fresh or dried)
- 1 cup sugar
- 16 cups water
Watermelon, Cucumber & Lime Agua Fresca Recipe
- 2 cucumbers
- 1 watermelon (save 1/4 for chunks and garnish)
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- 1 cup sugar
- 8 cups water
Guava & Coconut Agua Fresca Recipe
- 2 21 oz cans guava
- 4 13.5 oz cans coconut milk
- 16 cups water
Instructions
- 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.
Lauren Barnard says
Where are the wooden ladles in the jars from?
Eden says
Hi Lauren! I bought those at a grocery store called Vallarta. If you have one near you they are only about $1.50 per one!! Such a steal!!
Tammie says
These drinks look DIVINE!!!! I can’t wait to try them
Emily Whitehouse says
is there any way to convert thos recipe to single servings? Or at least to a smaller batch? I’d love to make these but I don’t want to make 5-6 quarts just for myself, and it would probably be a lot for a small group of ppl as well.
Steph says
Just divide it down (:
Gabriela says
Where can I find the water jars ?
Christopher Cane says
Guava juice or paste for this recipe?
Guava & Coconut Agua Fresca Recipe – makes 6 quarts
2 21oz cans of guava <—
4 13.5oz cans of coconut milk
16 cups water
Eden says
We used guava paste 🙂
April says
M’mmm….love me some agua fresca! Easy to follow recipes, and even though it’s not summer right now I’m making a batch this weekend to sip on because they’re so yummy!
Toni says
I love these!! Fun drinks everyone at my house enjoyed!
Anna says
This is my favorite drink for the parties! It’s always a hit!
Alisha says
Now that’s a cool combo of flavors – well done
Melissa says
5 STARS looks beautiful and taste delicious!
Lisalia says
Oh yummy! I love all your recipes and cannot wait to make this one. Love all the varieties and they look so pretty!
Rachael Yerkes says
These are all so perfect for summer time! So delicious! Perfect for summer bbqs and parties!
Eden says
Thank you Rachel!!
heather says
These are perfect for summer! My favorite is the lavender and peach! So refreshing
Katie says
These all look so yummy! I can’t wait to create these!
Toni says
I love these flavors!! Really amazing!
Stephanie says
I love aqua fresca’s! These look beautiful and tasty amazing!!
Rachael Yerkes says
This would be perfect for a bridal shower or summer party. Absolutely stunning.
Rachael Yerkes says
I think my favorite is the guava and coconut! sooo refreshing!
Emily says
So many flavors, so little time! This is the perfect party drink!
Eden says
Thanks Emily!!
Aimee Shugarman says
I made the cucumber version and it turned out so good. Very refreshing!!
Eden says
Thank you Aimee!!