Agua de Tamarindo (Tamarind Drink)
Why this recipe works
- Bright and refreshing: Tamarind brings a naturally tangy, fruity sharpness that makes the drink especially cooling when served over ice.
- Well-balanced acidity: Sugar softens the tart tamarind, while lime adds freshness and a small pinch of salt rounds out the flavour.
- Fast to prepare: A short simmer loosens the tamarind pulp quickly, and the rest of the drink comes together by straining, sweetening and chilling.
Get the most out of this recipe
Ingredient notes
- Tamarind pulp matters: Use tamarind pulp rather than a heavily sweetened concentrate if you want a cleaner, more natural sweet-sour flavour.
- Adjust the sweetness: Tamarind varies in tartness, so taste after mixing and add extra sweetener gradually if needed.
- Use lime to sharpen: Add more lime juice only after the drink is diluted, as the acidity is easier to judge once the tamarind is fully mixed with water.
Make-ahead tips
- Make it in advance: The strained drink can be made ahead and kept chilled in a sealed jug until ready to serve.
- Keep ice separate: Add ice only when serving so the drink stays bright and full-flavoured rather than diluted.
- Serve well chilled: A proper chill gives agua de tamarindo its most refreshing texture and cleanest finish.
Common mistakes
- Not pressing the pulp enough: Press the warm tamarind firmly through the sieve to extract as much flavour as possible before discarding the solids.
- Using too much salt: The salt should round out the tartness, not taste savoury, so keep it subtle and adjust only if needed.
- Serving it too soon: Serve the drink cold rather than just mixed; chilling helps the sweet, sour and salty notes settle into balance.
Serving ideas
- Add a citrus finish: Serve with a lime wedge for anyone who prefers a sharper, brighter drink.
- Serve over plenty of ice: Tall glasses work well, leaving enough room for ice while keeping the drink light and refreshing.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Put 500 ml of the water in a saucepan with the tamarind pulp. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring and pressing the pulp against the side of the pan to help it dissolve.
- Tip the tamarind mixture into a sieve set over a mixing bowl. Press firmly with a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible, then discard the solids.
- Stir the caster sugar and fine sea salt into the warm tamarind liquid until fully dissolved. Add the remaining 1,000 ml water and squeeze in the juice from the limes, then taste and adjust with a little more lime juice if you like it sharper.
- Chill until cold, about 5 minutes in the freezer or 30 minutes in the fridge. Serve over ice cubes in glasses.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For the cleanest flavour, press the tamarind through the sieve while it is still warm, then chill the drink before serving.
- If serving later, keep the drink and ice separate so it does not become diluted.
- If you are serving vulnerable people, use clean, food-safe ice and chilled water to reduce risk from contamination.
Substitutions
- Replace caster sugar with agave syrup, adding it to taste after straining as it dissolves easily in cool liquid.
- Replace lime with lemon for a slightly softer citrus finish.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Store the strained drink in a sealed jug in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir before serving, then pour over fresh ice cubes.
Ratings & reviews
Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.
Tried this recipe?
Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.
Stay inspired
Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.
Recipe overview
- Servings: 6 glasses
- Total time: 25min (15min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Mexican
Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.
Add to meal plannerEquipment you'll need
Got ingredients left?
Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.
Find recipes with these ingredients →
Sorrel Drink (Caribbean Hibiscus Drink)
Chilled hibiscus drink steeped with ginger, cloves and cinnamon
Turkish-Style Mint Lemonade
Mint lemonade blended with fresh mint, lemon juice and sugar
Pineapple Agua Fresca (Fresh Pineapple Drink)
Pineapple agua fresca strained smooth and served over ice
Passion Fruit Juice (Fresh Tropical Juice)
Strained passion fruit juice with lime, caster sugar and ice
Watermelon Agua Fresca (Fresh Watermelon Drink)
Watermelon agua fresca blended with lime and chilled over ice
Citron Pressé (Fresh Lemonade with Sugar Syrup)
Fresh lemon juice drink mixed with sugar syrup and cold water
Weinschorle (White Wine Spritzer with Sparkling Water)
White wine mixed with sparkling water and served chilled
Vietnamese Iced Tea
Strong black tea sweetened and served over ice
Pineapple Ginger Juice
Pineapple juice blended with ginger and lime
Pineapple Agua Fresca (Fresh Pineapple Drink)
Pineapple agua fresca strained smooth and served over ice
Ginger Pineapple Punch (Spiced Fruit Punch)
Pineapple punch with ginger and lime, served over ice
Sorrel Drink (Caribbean Hibiscus Drink)
Chilled hibiscus drink steeped with ginger, cloves and cinnamon
Tamarind Agua Fresca (Sweet-Sour Tamarind Drink)
Sweet-sour tamarind agua fresca served chilled over ice
Thai-Style Tamarind Iced Tea
Tamarind iced tea with black tea and lime
Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea) with Lime
Chilled hibiscus tea drink sweetened and finished with lime
Thai Lime Soda (Nam Manao Soda)
Fizzy Thai lime soda served over ice
Salted Lime Soda
Fizzy lime drink with sugar, salt and ice
Caipirinha (Brazilian Lime Cocktail)
Caipirinha with muddled lime, caster sugar, cachaça and ice
You might also like
Tacos de Pescado Estilo Baja (Battered Fish Tacos)
Crispy battered fish tacos with lime crema
Fondant au Chocolat (Warm Chocolate Lava Cake)
Warm chocolate cakes with a molten centre
Steak au Poivre with Cognac Cream Sauce
Peppercorn-crusted steak with a cognac and cream pan sauce
Crema di Semolino con Frutta (Semolina Porridge with Fresh Fruit)
Creamy semolina porridge with butter and mixed berries
Finnish Sausage and Potato Casserole (Makkaralaatikko)
Baked Finnish potato and sausage casserole set with egg
Flautas de Papa con Crema (Crispy Potato Flautas)
Crispy potato flautas topped with crema, lettuce and cheese
Make this recipe easier next time
AdvertisementThese tools help you get better results with less effort.
KitchenAid Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- Non-slip base
- Stainless steel
- Not microwave safe
T-fal Specialty Nonstick Handy Pot with Glass Lid 3 Quart
- Easy food release
- Dishwasher safe
- Not induction compatible
OXO Good Grips Stainless Mixing Bowl Set
- Non-slip base
- Comfort grip
- Higher price
WMF Mini Saucepan 16 cm with Lid
- High-quality stainless steel
- Even heat distribution
- Higher price point
Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?
Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.
Add JustRecipes to GoogleEvery recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.
