Watermelon Agua Fresca (Agua de Sandía)

Watermelon Agua Fresca, or Agua de Sandía, is a refreshing Mexican drink made with ripe watermelon and just a few simple ingredients.

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Two glasses of refreshing pink Watermelon Agua Fresca with ice and black-and-white striped straws, set on a wooden surface with watermelon slices and a matching pitcher in the background.

Watermelon Agua Fresca 🍉, or Agua de Sandía, is one of the easiest and most refreshing Mexican drinks you can make at home. Made with juicy watermelon, water, and a little sugar, it tastes like summer in every sip.

If you have a ripe watermelon sitting on your counter, you’re only a few minutes away from a cold pitcher of agua fresca. Serve it over ice with carne asada tacos, grilled meats, or your favorite Mexican dishes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️

Only 3 ingredients. All you need is watermelon, water, and sugar.
Quick and easy. Blend, strain, mix, and chill. That’s it!
Perfect for summer. It’s light, fruity, and incredibly refreshing on a hot day.
Easy to customize. Adjust the sugar and water depending on how sweet your watermelon is.
Perfect for a crowd. Make a big pitcher for cookouts, taco nights, and summer gatherings.

-Maggie

A metal bowl filled with cubed watermelon, a clear glass of liquid, and a red measuring cup of white sugar sit on a light wooden surface.

Ingredients

Ripe Watermelon
Water
Sugar

Most aguas frescas are made with three simple ingredients: ripe fruit, water, and sugar.

You can also add fresh lime juice or mint if you like. Both are delicious additions, but they’re completely optional.

You might see “Agua de Sabor” or “Flavored Water” on the menu in Mexico. This simply means flavored water, and you can ask which flavors are available.

Note: “Agua Fresca” literally translates to “fresh water.”

A metal bowl filled with cubed watermelon sits on a wooden surface. Beside the bowl, there are two triangular watermelon slices with green rinds and visible seeds.

How to Choose a Ripe Watermelon

Look for the yellow spot. This is the spot where the watermelon was resting on the ground. If it is yellow, it is ripe. If it is white, it still needs time to ripen.

Also look for webbing. Brown, web-like markings on the watermelon can be a good sign of pollination and are often associated with a sweeter melon.

If the tail is still on the watermelon, it should be dry. If it is still green, that means it is not fully ripe.

A collage of four pictures showing the process of how to blend and strain the watermelon mixture.

👩🏼‍🍳 Instructions

Add the watermelon to a blender and blend until smooth.
Strain the blended watermelon through a fine-mesh strainer if you prefer a smoother agua fresca.
Pour the strained watermelon mixture into a large pitcher.
Add 6 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Stir well and taste.
Add more sugar if needed.
If the agua fresca is too sweet, add more water to adjust.
Pour over ice and enjoy!

A bottle of Trader Joe’s organic liquid stevia sits next to a red measuring cup filled with granulated white sugar on a wooden surface.

How To Make It Sugar-Free

If your watermelon is ripe and naturally sweet, you may not need any additional sugar. To make this refreshing drink sugar-free, you can also use Stevia instead of white sugar. Any sugar substitute would work too. Sweetener equivalent: 1 teaspoon Stevia for 1 tablespoon sugar.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Frequently Asked Questions

What is Agua de Sandía?

Agua de Sandía is the Spanish name for watermelon agua fresca. It is a traditional Mexican fruit drink made by blending fresh watermelon with water and sweetening it to taste.

Do I have to strain watermelon agua fresca?

No. Whether you strain it is completely up to you and your blender. If your blender leaves the watermelon very smooth, you can skip straining. For a lighter, smoother drink, strain the blended watermelon through a fine-mesh strainer.

How much sugar should I add?

Start with 1 tablespoon of sugar and taste the agua fresca before adding more. Watermelons vary in sweetness, so you may need more sugar—or none at all.
If the agua fresca is too sweet, simply add more water.

Can I freeze watermelon agua fresca?

Yes. Store it in a freezer-safe container, leaving some room for expansion, and freeze for up to 5 months for the best quality.
You can also pour the agua fresca into popsicle molds for a fun frozen treat.

Storing Instructions

Store any leftovers in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Watermelon agua fresca glasses next to watermelon slices and black and white straws.

🍹 More Agua Fresca Recipes

There’s nothing quite like a cold glass of Agua de Sandía on a warm day. It’s simple to make, easy to customize, and a delicious way to use a ripe watermelon.

Make a pitcher, pour it over ice, and enjoy!

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