Agua Fresca Will Keep You Hydrated This Summer: Here’s How to Make the Alcohol-Free Beverage

Eager to amp up your hydration this summer? Look no further than agua fresca. Translating to “fresh water” from Spanish, agua fresca is a Mexican beverage that infuses water with fruit and other fresh ingredients. It’s super-refreshing, excellent over ice, and makes for a delicious way to increase your daily water intake. While the infusion process removes fiber from the produce—this is what makes the drink super-sippable—you’re still left with vitamins, minerals, and plenty of excellent flavor and bright color. The beverage is naturally non-alcoholic, which also makes it a great happy hour option for non-drinkers.

Ready to make your own agua fresca? Here’s how:

All you need is a blender, fresh fruit, and water to make your own agua fresca! Start with fruit that’s at peak freshness, or even a little overripe—if it’s too mushy to eat, it’s perfect to blend! Water-dense fruits, like melons, work well, but berries, stone fruit, and tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple work well too. Peel and cut the fruit into chunks, and then add it to a blender with equal parts water. In other words, one cup fruit + one cup water. Some people like to add sugar to their agua fresca, but if your fruit is in-season and sweet, there’s no need.

Blend your fruit on high for 1-2 minutes, until it is liquefied. Then, strain over a large bowl using a sieve or cheesecloth to separate out the fruit pulp. Discard the pulp (or save for another project—I freeze mine in small molds for doggie-friendly sorbet). Cover and put liquid in the fridge for at least an hour and up to three days. Serve over ice and enjoy!

You can try mixing fruits (just two should do it, this isn’t a smoothie), squirt in some citrus, or add fresh herbs for more unique flavors. Be mindful of mixing fruits that pair well together in color too—a red and green fruit combined may look muddy, while yellow fruits and green fruits can have a beautiful electric color.

Stuck in the fridge too long? Freeze your agua fresca in silicone ice molds to use in seltzer water, cocktails, and more.

Need some inspiration for your own agua fresca? Try one of these delicious flavor combinations!

1. Watermelon Mint Agua Fresca

Fresh watermelon paired with fresh mint is always a good combo. Swap in basil if you want extra herbaceousness in this agua fresca.

Few things are more refreshing on a hot summer day than a slice of chilled watermelon. Except, perhaps, if you blend it, chill it, and sweeten it with a mint-infused syrup. Served over ice with a healthy dose of perky lime juice, this “fresh water” will have you feeling like you just got watered like a plant. You can also make it with honeydew or cantaloupe. Adjust the sweetness to your liking depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Guaranteed to sooth heat-tingling tongues, serve this cooler alongside spicy salsas, tacos, or other chile-smothered dishes.