Watermelon Mojito Mocktail

Think of this Watermelon Mojito Mocktail as a sparkling watermelon agua fresca. Made with fresh, blended watermelon and a hint of mint and lime, this incredibly refreshing and bubbly drink is easy to make and perfect for the summer and hot weather.

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Glass with watermelon mojito mocktail and garnished with piece of watermelon

During the summer, we buy a watermelon pretty much every week. It is one of my absolute favorite fruits! As much as I like to take a big bite out of this delicious melon, I also love using it to make deliciously cooling drinks.

I usually turn to the ever-amazing agua de sandia. However, a few years ago my husband, Matt, and I began adding our own twist to the classic recipe. The result was a delicious sparkling watermelon juice, something between a mojito and an agua fresca. It is perfectly sweetened, incredibly refreshing, and delightfully fizzy.

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
The Ingredients
How to Choose a Watermelon
How to Make Watermelon Mocktail Recipe
Tips and Variations
FAQ
Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Easy to Make: With minimal, simple ingredients and a few quick steps, you can easily whip up this refreshing mocktail.
Light and Effervescent: This cooling watermelon mint mocktail is a great combination of sweet, minty, zesty, and bubbly.
Natural Ingredients: This recipe uses natural ingredients, like watermelon and mint, so you can enjoy a refreshing drink without artificial flavors or excessive sugars.
Healthy: Watermelon is full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It is hydrating and contains anti-inflammatory properties. Mint and lime offer many health benefits as well, such as supporting digestive health and are also rich in antioxidants.
- Click here to learn more about watermelon's health benefits.
Great for Kids and Special Diets: This non-alcoholic watermelon drink is great for kids and is also vegan and gluten-free.

The Ingredients

Bowl with pieces of watermelon, a bottle of Topo Chico, measuring cup with water, a lime, mint leaves and a small bowl with agave syrup

Watermelon: I reccomend a ripe, seedless watermelon. Follow the steps below to ensure you have a ripe watermelon for the best result.
Water: Only a small amount of water is needed to create the watermelon juice for the base. 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.
Agave (optional): Depending on how ripe and sweet your watermelon is, you may only need a small of amount of sweetener or none at all. If needed, I prefer to add agave syrup for its subtle flavor of agave and how well it dissolves into the drink.
Mint Leaves: I like to use hierbabuena, specifically spearmint, because of its sweet and slightly peppery flavor.
Lime: Lime juice adds a zesty, tangy flavor that complements the overall taste of the drink.
Sparkling Water: We like to use Topo Chico, which is a sparkling mineral water from Mexico that has a great flavor and is extra fizzy. It is readily available now in many grocery stores and online. However, other original-flavored sparkling waters will work too.
Ice

See recipe card for quantities.

Substitutions

A watermelon with seeds can also be used but you definitely want to strain once blended.

Agave syrup can be substituted with a sweetener of your choice. I recommend using a simple syrup or another liquid sweetener as they will dissolve more easily. Keep in mind sweeteners like honey or maple syrup will impart their own flavor to the final drink.

Peppermint leaves can also be used instead of spearmint.

Lemons can be used instead but they do add more acidity as compared to limes.

Club soda or a watermelon-flavored sparkling water are great options too.

How to Choose a Watermelon

The key to the most flavorful watermelon mocktail lies in choosing the right watermelon. You want a watermelon that is perfectly sweet, ripe, and juicy. Here are tips to help choose the right one:

Choose a watermelon that is heavier for its size. This usually means it will be sweeter because it will be juicier.
Look for a creamy, yellow spot (referred to as a field spot) which indicates the watermelon was resting on the ground longer and therefore will be ripe.
Look at the area where the stem was. Be sure this area is not green, which means the watermelon was picked too early. Rather this area should look dry which indicates the fruit is ripe.
Choose one that has webbing or brown scars. These marks are caused by bees during pollination and the more webbing the sweeter the fruit will be.

Now with this in mind, if you end up with a less than perfect watermelon, do not fret! These not-so-great watermelons actually work quite well for drinks and aguas frescas. When the fruit is combined with sweetener, water, ice and other ingredients, the flavor is transformed. So next time you get a watermelon that is not the best, do not throw it away, but use it to make this fabulous drink.

How to Make Watermelon Mocktail Recipe

Strainer on top of a pitcher, straining watermelon juice

1. Make Watermelon Juice

Cut up watermelon.
Add the watermelon and water to a blender and blend until smooth.
Taste and add sweetener, if needed.
Blend again.

2. Strain

Use a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to strain the juice for a smoother consistency.
- If you're using a high-powered blender, like a Vitamix, you don't necessarily need to strain the juice. However, if you use another type of blender, or a watermelon with seeds, then straining will help get rid of any fibrous pulp or seeds left behind.

3. Muddle Mint

Add mint leaves to a tall glass and muddle with the back of a spoon.
Add ice.

Pouring watermelon agua fresca into a glass

Pouring sparkling water into a glass with ice and watermelon juice

4. Assemble Drink

Squeeze lime into the glass and add watermelon juice.
Mix to combine.
Top off with sparkling water.

How to Serve

Serve the mocktails immediately to enjoy them at their freshest and coldest.

You can garnish with lime wedges, watermelon slices, or mint sprigs for an extra touch.

I recommend serving them in beautiful clear glasses to showcase the vibrant colors.

You could also make a large batch by adjusting the quantities of the ingredients and mixing in a large pitcher.

How to Store

You can store the watermelon juice separately in an air-tight bottle or other container for up to 3 days.

If you made a large batch of the mocktail with sparkling water and ice in a pitcher, it's best to serve it immediately. If stored, the carbonation will decrease, so it's best to consume within the same day it is prepared.

Tips and Variations

I like to keep my bottle of Topo Chico to top off my drink and keep it nice and bubbly as I'm sipping on it.
When muddling the mint leaves, gently press down without over-bruising them.
Make sure the watermelon and sparkling water are chilled for the most refreshing result.
Rim your glass with lime juice or chamoy and Tajin chile powder for a delicious, spicy addition.
Make this into a cocktail by adding rum, like a traditional mojito, or even some tequila.

FAQ

Can I use frozen watermelon for this mocktail?

Yes, you can freeze and blend the watermelon cubes with water to create a frozen mocktail.

Is it necessary to strain the watermelon juice?

Straining the watermelon juice is optional, but it can help remove any pulp or seeds. If you use a high-powered blender there may not be a need to strain since it'll do a pretty good job of creating a smooth texture.

What is the difference between a mojito mocktail and a cocktail?

A mojito mocktail uses fresh mint and lime, just like in a mojito cocktail, but without the alcohol.

More Refreshing Drink Recipes

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.

Two glasses with sparkling watermelon agua fresca and garnished with piece of watermelon

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