This Pineapple Agua Fresca is a sweet, cooling Mexican drink that is perfect for enjoying in the summertime! Make it with the recipe provided or keep reading for other ways to customize your Agua Fresca!
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Sweet summer days are just around the corner and this Pineapple Agua Fresca (and these Fresas con Crema!) is made for summer! Actually it’s great any time of year, but the taste–it tastes like summer. Like freshness, like pool days, like a light tropical breeze.
If that’s the kind of experience you are craving, this agua fresca is easy to make! The process to make it at first may have you thinking of a smoothie, but the pulp of the fruit is strained, leaving just a flavorful, smooth juice.
Unlike a Bahama Mama, this tropical drink doesn’t contain any alcohol, so it’s great for refreshment with no regrets! And while an agua fresca may not have healing properties like this Homemade Ginger Drink it has a very subtle, light texture and the fruit provides refreshing fruit flavors!
There are many variations of agua fresca, and while this recipe specifically is for a pineapple agua fresca, you can also follow some suggestions below to make other flavors as well. If you’re looking for the perfect refreshment to sip alongside a plate of Carne Asada or tacos de camaron, give it a try!
Recipe Origins
Agua Fresca is normally enjoyed in Mexico and many countries in Central America. It can be made with just about any kind of fruit.
The non-alcoholic drink is most popular among street vendors and can be found on many streets as a refreshing choice.
The words “Agua Fresca” directly translate to “Fresh waters”, meaning that they are refreshing and cool water-based drinks to enjoy in the heat.
What Ingredients are in Agua Fresca?
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
- Pineapple, cubed: I highly recommend fresh pineapple so you don’t get any added sugar from canning juices
- Sugar: You can adjust your level of sugar based on the ripeness of your pineapple! You could also leave it out.
- Water: You will need some for blending and some for mixing with your strained juice!
Recipe Variations
You don’t have to use pineapple for agua fresca. Feel free to use whatever sounds good to you, I can almost guarantee that you can make an Agua Fresca out of it! Some options include but are not limited to:
- Cucumbers
- Cantelope
- Mango
- Honeydew Melon
- Strawberry
- Kiwi
- Watermelon
- Lemon
- Horchata
- Hibiscus
- Guava
- Papaya
And so many more! You can keep the same general ratios, though if you’re using a waterier fruit (like watermelon), you may need to cut back on the amount of coconut water that you add to the recipe. Feel free to taste as you go to ensure the right amount of sugar for your preference.
Tools
- Blender
- Strainer or sieve
- Cheesecloth
How to Make Agua Fresca
Step One: Add the cubed pineapple, 1 cup water, and sugar to a blender and blend until smooth.
Step Two: Pour the mixture through a fine sieve or colander (you can line it with a cheesecloth if it’s not fine enough) to drain out the pulp.
Step Three: Pour your pineapple juice into a pitcher, along with the remaining water. Mix together along with ice. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- You can drink the pineapple agua fresca without straining, but this is less authentic and is more of a smoothie consistency than juice.
- Be patient with straining the pulp out of your juice. It may be helpful to leave it for up to 20 minutes to allow all the liquid to drip. That’s where the most flavor comes from! You can also stir the pulp while it is in the strainer to help the juice strain out.
- For cool and refreshing juice, let it sit in the refrigerator for up to an hour before serving.
- You can add lime juice for a tart addition if desired.
- For a Pineapple Coconut Agua Fresca, you can use coconut water instead of water.
Recipe FAQs
Your Pineapple Agua Fresca recipe uses fresh ingredients, so I would caution you not to keep it longer than 48 hours. If you make this recipe and have leftovers, make sure to store them in the fridge!
Horchata is a type of Agua Fresca made with rice and cinnamon. It also usually contains a bit of milk.
Picking out a perfectly ripe pineapple for this recipe can be hard. Make sure to find a pineapple that smells a bit sweet, has some give when you press it with your fingers, and has a yellow color (but not orange! If it’s orange, it’s usually overripe).
If you liked this recipe, you may also like these other recipes that I picked out just for you:
If you tried this Pineapple Agua Fresca Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Pineapple Agua Fresca
Equipment
- Blender
- Strainer or sieve
- Cheesecloth
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh pineapple, cubed (about 1 pineapple), the riper the pineapple the sweeter it will be
- 3-4 cups water
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar, more or less to taste
Instructions
- Add the cubed pineapple, 1 cup water, and sugar to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture through a fine sieve or colander (you can line it with a cheesecloth if it’s not fine enough) to drain out the pulp. Let it sit in the strainer for a bit to ensure that all the liquid strains out.
- Pour your pineapple juice into a pitcher, along with the remaining water. Mix together along with ice. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Pineapple, cubed: I highly recommend fresh pineapple so you don’t get any added sugar from canning juices.
- Sugar: You can adjust your level of sugar based on the ripeness of your pineapple!
- You can drink the pineapple agua fresca without straining, but this is less authentic and is more of a smoothie consistency than juice.
- Be patient with straining the pulp out of your juice. It may be helpful to leave it for up to 20 minutes to allow all the liquid to drip. That’s where the most flavor comes from! You can also stir the pulp while it is in the strainer to help the juice strain out.
- For cool and refreshing juice, let it sit in the refrigerator for up to an hour before serving.
- You can add lime juice for a tart addition if desired.
- For a Pineapple Coconut Agua Fresca, you can use coconut water instead of water.
Maggie says
What a yummy agua fresca recipe! Everyone loved it.
The Foreign Fork says
So glad you liked it Maggie! Thank you for the review 🙂