Agua De Sandia

One of the more popular of the aguas frescas, Agua de Sandia, is a refreshingly light and sweet drink made with only 3 ingredients. This recipe for watermelon agua fresca is easy to prepare and has no added sugar.

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This was the favored agua fresca in my house when I was growing up. Watermelon was the flavor my mom made the most often. The kind that we eagerly asked for repeatedly. And the one that we guzzled down, always leaving us wanting just one more glass.

Now as an adult, I still can’t get enough of this amazing beverage. As a mom, I also make this for my kids quite often and they absolutely love it!

The best part about it is that we don’t add any sugar to our recipe for agua de sandia. It truly is all about the sweetness of the blended fruit that creates a light, sweet, refreshing drink.

In this post, I am providing all the details so that you too can make this easy and refreshingly delicious watermelon agua fresca without any added sugar.

What is an Agua Fresca?

An agua fresca is made up of cool, fresh water blended with fruit, flowers, grains or seeds. This sweet, non-alcoholic juice is believed to have first been created by the Aztecs from muddled fruit. Through time, these beverages became popular throughout Mexico and nowadays are made in all sorts of flavors and varieties.

In the U.S., you will also find big containers of watermelon, melon, horchata and other kinds of these tasty drinks in Mexican restaurants and taquerias.

The great thing is that with just a blender and fruit, you can easily make your own aguas at home without a problem.

What is Agua De Sandia?

Literally translating to watermelon water, this version blends deliciously sweet watermelon with water to create one of the more popular aguas frescas. Watermelon agua fresca is especially great to make from May through September when this fruit is in season.

Why You’ll Love This Watermelon Agua Fresca Recipe

• Extremely Easy to Prepare: It as easy as washing and cutting your fruit, then blending until smooth.
• Minimal Ingredients: This recipe uses just three ingredients, and that’s including water and ice.
• Refreshing: A big, cool glass will quench your thirst and offer you a nice break from just plain water.
• Healthy: Watermelon is full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It is hydrating and contains anti-inflammatory properties.
• No Sugar Needed: Pick a ripe watermelon and there is absolutely no need to add any sugar, making this an even healthier choice, especially compared to all the sugary store-bought juices.

Click here to learn more about the health benefits of watermelon.

The Ingredients

• Watermelon: Either a seedless watermelon or one with seeds will work. Just follow the steps below to ensure you have a ripe watermelon.
• Water: The key to this recipe is to not add too much water. Watermelon is already made up of so much water that adding too much more will dilute the final product and you won’t get that delicious flavor.
• Ice: Similarly we only use a small amount of ice so the flavor is not diluted.
• Sweetener (optional): If you use a small amount of water and ice plus a ripe watermelon, there is no need for sweetener. However, as I have outlined below, there are instances when sweetener may be needed.

How to Pick a Ripe Watermelon

A ripe watermelon is key as it will yield the sweetest, most flavorful results. Here are some tips on how to pick the right watermelon:

• Choose one that has a creamy, yellow spot (called a field spot). This indicates the watermelon was resting on the ground longer and therefore will be ripe.
• Pick up the watermelon and choose one that is heavier for its size. This means it will be sweeter because it will be juicier.
• Look at the stem area and be sure it is not green, but instead looks dry. If it is green, that means the watermelon was picked too early.
• Pick a watermelon that has webbing or brown marks. These marks are caused by bees during pollination. The more scars, the sweeter the fruit will be.

How to Cut a Watermelon

The top thing to remember is to have a sharp knife that will easily cut through the rind. For more specifics, watch this video. Start watching at 2:10 to learn exactly how to cut the watermelon into cubes for this recipe.

Should I Add Sugar?

Follow the tips on how to choose a watermelon so you can pick a perfectly ripe and sweet one. The fruit adds all the sweetness necessary so no added sugar is needed.

What if My Watermelon is not Sweet Enough?

If by chance you get a watermelon that is just not sweet enough for this recipe, then you can add sweetener. You can use white sugar, however, I prefer to use unrefined sugars which are a little less processed and retain more minerals.

I recommend using monk fruit sweetener, coconut sugar, agave nectar, date syrup, or honey. Just keep in mind that date syrup and honey will alter the final flavor just a bit.

What if My Watermelon is Overripe and Mealy?

Fret not because these watermelons actually are great in agua fresca. These are the watermelons that usually ended up as agua when I was growing up. They might not be the best for eating, but when blended, the mealy consistency disappears and the sweetness shines through.

What if My Watermelon Has Seeds?

If you buy a watermelon with seeds, just pick out the seeds before blending. I know this can be a bit of a hassle though, so you can definitely leave the seeds in.

Some of the seeds will become pulverized when blending, which will make your agua fresca even more nutritious since the seeds are packed with lots of vitamins and minerals. Then, after blending, strain the liquid with a mesh sieve or cheesecloth to get rid of any extra seeds.

How to Make Agua De Sandia

Prep the Watermelon

• Wash and cut the watermelon into large cubes. You will need 6 generous cups of watermelon.

Blend

• Add 2 cups of water and the watermelon to the blender.
• Blend for about one minute until smooth.

Strain if Needed

• If you’re using a high-powered blender, like a Vitamix, you won’t need to strain the juice. However, other blenders might leave a fibrous pulp behind or some of the seeds, so you’ll want to use a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to strain it.

Chill and Serve

• Pour the drink into a pitcher or bottle. Add 1 cup of ice and stir. Do not add too much ice as this will dilute the flavor and sweeteness.
• Place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour until it’s nice and cold.
• If you want to serve it right away, you can also serve the drink over ice. Don’t add ice to the whole pitcher though as this will dilute the juice too much. Instead, add ice to each glass when you serve it and drink immediately.

Other Serving Suggestions

• Serve in a pitcher and clear glasses so the beautiful color can be on full display.
• Garnish each glass with a piece of watermelon.
• You can also mix in pieces of a watermelon into the pitcher for another garnish idea.

Storage

Store in an air-tight bottle or other container for up to 3 days. The pulp will settle at the bottom so give the bottle a quick shake before serving.

Special Tips and Variations

• Freeze and blend the watermelon cubes with water to create a frosty version.
• Taste before adding sweetener so you don’t add too much. Start with one tablespoon, blend and taste. Then, add more if needed.
• Refrigerate the watermelon before blending. This will help your agua cool down faster at the end, lessening the time in the refrigerator or the need for ice.
• Rim your glass with lime juice or chamoy and Tajin chile powder for a delicious, spicy addition.
• You can also blend with lime juice and/or garnish with mint leaves for another variation.

I hope you enjoy!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW IF YOU MAKE THIS OR TAG ME ON INSTAGRAM @EVERYDAYLATINA.

More Agua Fresca Recipes

• Pineapple Agua Fresca
• Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca
• Creamy Strawberry Agua Fresca (Dairy Free)
• Sparkling Watermelon Agua Fresca