Cucumber Watermelon Agua Fresca

This cucumber watermelon agua fresca is the perfect summer drink! It combines the juicy sweetness of classic watermelon agua fresca with the cool refreshment of cucumber agua fresca. Made with only 4 ingredients and no added sugar, it's a hydrating and delicious twist on classic Mexican flavors. 

As long as I can remember, summer always tasted better with a cool, tall glass of agua fresca. I grew up on the classic flavors, like horchata, agua de melon and pineapple.

Lately, I have noticed many different flavor combinations in the various Mexican neverias around the city. This inspired me to experiment with flavor pairings at home, and the mix of watermelon and cucumber is such a good one!

It marries two of my favorite aguas frescas, agua de sandia and agua de pepino, for a refreshingly light and hydrating drink. It's a perfect twist on the classics, and I can't wait for you to try it.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How to Pick The Best Watermelon
• How to Make Watermelon Cucumber Agua Fresca
• Tips and Variations
• FAQ
• Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Delicious and Refreshing: The combination of the sweetness of the watermelon and the crisp, coolness of the cucumber create an incredibly flavorful and hydrating drink.
• Minimal Ingredients: Simple and quick to make with only a few ingredients that are easy to find and that you may already have on hand this summer.
• Healthy and Nutritious: Packed with vitamins and antioxidants from both watermelon and cucumber, this agua fresca is a refreshing way to nourish your body. Plus, it's a great alternative to sugary drinks and artificial flavors.

Check out this other refreshing agua fresca featuring watermelon, Watermelon Strawberry Agua Fresca.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Watermelon: Either a seedless watermelon or one with seeds will work. Just follow the steps below to ensure you have a ripe watermelon.
• Cucumber: Regular, slicing cucumbers, English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers can be used in this recipe.
• Lime: Lime juice adds a slight tartness that compliments the other fruit flavors beautifully.
• Water: I like to use filtered, cold water for a smoother taste. Cold water keeps you from having to add too much ice in the end and it will also help your drink cool down faster in the refrigerator.
• Ice: A touch of ice helps to cool down the agua faster without diluting the flavor.
• Sweetener (optional): Depending on the ripeness and sweetness of the watermelon, you may or may not need to add sweetener. You can use regular sugar, simple syrup, or a natural sweetener like honey, coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Pick The Best Watermelon

For the most delicious and refreshing agua fresca, a perfectly ripe watermelon is key. Here's how to choose the best one:

• Look for the field spot: A creamy yellow spot on the watermelon's side, called the field spot, means it had plenty of time to ripen on the vine, and therefore will be sweeter.
• Feel the Weight: Pick up the watermelon and choose one that is heavier for its size. This means it will be sweeter because it will be juicier.
• Check the Stem: 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.
• Look for Marks: 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.

Recommended for this Recipe

1. Prep Cucumber: Peel the cucumber, then slice it lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds, then cut the cucumber into medium-sized pieces.

2. Prep the Watermelon: Wash and cut the watermelon into large cubes. 

3. Blend: Add water, watermelon, cucumber, lime juice and ice to the blender. Blend until smooth.

4. Sweetener (Optional): Taste the blended mixture. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add the sweetener of your choice and blend again to incorporate.

5. Strain if Needed: For a completely smooth consistency, strain the blended mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove any pulp. If you're using a high-powered blender, like a Vitamix, you may not need to strain the juice.

6. Chill and Serve: Pour into a pitcher or bottle and refrigerate until cold (about 1 hour). For immediate serving, pour over ice in individual glasses. Tip: Avoid adding ice directly to the pitcher to prevent diluting the agua fresca in the pitcher.

7. Optional Rim: Dip your glasses in chamoy, then Tajin chile powder for a delicious sweet, tangy, and spicy rim.

Other Serving Suggestions

• Garnish each glass with a piece of watermelon or a slice of cucumber.
• Mix in small pieces of a watermelon and cucumber into the pitcher for another garnish idea.

How to Store

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 shake before serving.

Tips and Variations

• Refrigerate the watermelon and cucumber before blending. This will help your agua cool down faster at the end, lessening the time in the refrigerator or the need for ice.
• Taste before adding sweetener so you don't add too much. Start with one tablespoon, blend and taste. Then, add more if needed.

FAQ

I hope you enjoy! If you try this recipe, please leave me a comment with a star rating below. Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest to stay in touch, and don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter.

Recipe