Watermelon Agua Fresca (Fresh Watermelon Drink)
Why this recipe works
- Clean, refreshing flavour: Watermelon’s high water content keeps the drink light, while lime adds enough acidity to sharpen the natural sweetness.
- Ready in minutes: Everything is blended, strained and served without cooking, making it a fast drink for warm days or casual entertaining.
- Easy to adjust: The sweetness can be changed depending on the ripeness of the watermelon, and lemon can be used for a softer citrus note.
Get the most out of this recipe
Ingredient notes
- Choose ripe watermelon: The drink relies on the fruit’s natural sweetness, so use watermelon that tastes fragrant, juicy and fully ripe before blending.
- Sweeten gradually: If the watermelon is very sweet, start with less sugar and blend again after tasting so the sweetness stays clean rather than heavy.
- Adjust the citrus: Lime gives the sharpest, freshest finish; lemon works well if you prefer a slightly softer citrus flavour.
Texture tips
- Strain for a lighter finish: Press the blended mixture gently through the sieve rather than forcing all the pulp through, which keeps the drink smooth and clear-tasting.
- Loosen if needed: If the agua fresca tastes too concentrated after straining, blend or stir in a little extra cold water until it feels light and drinkable.
Make-ahead tips
- Prepare in advance: Blend and strain the drink ahead, then store it in a sealed jug in the fridge for up to two days.
- Add ice at the end: Keep the ice separate until serving so the drink stays bright and does not become watery.
- Stir before pouring: Agua fresca can separate as it sits, so stir it well before serving over fresh ice.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut the watermelon into chunks and remove any obvious seeds. Add the watermelon to a blender with the water, squeeze in the lime juice, and add the caster sugar.
- Blend until completely smooth, about 30 to 60 seconds. Taste and blend again briefly if needed to fully dissolve the sugar.
- Set a sieve over a bowl and strain the mixture, pressing gently to extract the juice. Discard the pulp.
- Divide the ice cubes between 4 glasses and pour over the chilled agua fresca. Serve straight away.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For the cleanest flavour, chill the watermelon and water before blending so you can serve immediately without diluting too much with extra ice.
- If your watermelon is very sweet, start with half the caster sugar, blend, then add more to taste.
- If serving to young children, strain carefully to remove any remaining seeds.
Substitutions
- Replace Lime with Lemon for a slightly softer citrus flavour.
- Replace Caster sugar with Agave syrup, adding it gradually and blending to taste.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Store the strained agua fresca in a sealed jug in the fridge and stir before serving, as it can separate. Add Ice cubes only when serving so the drink stays bright and not watery.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 4 glasses
- Total time: 10min (10min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Latin American
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