Fresh Water from Mexico

Agua fresca literally means ‘fresh water’ or ‘cold water’. We could certainly use some of that during this second heatwave. Meet Mexico’s most refreshing drink.

The great thing about agua fresca is that it’s more than water with flavoring and different from a smoothie. One time you make it with fruit, the next it’s a kind of tea.

Typically Mexican

The types of agua fresca that are popular in Mexico range from sweet fruit to sour fruit, from tea to seeds and grains. So it’s a broader concept than fruit water, but always refreshing. Note: if you’re in Mexico and order ‘fresco’, you’ll get a soft drink.

Agua fresca with fruit

Guava, cantaloupe and mango are common fruit flavors for agua fresca. Not all Mexican fruit varieties are easy to find in the Netherlands, such as guava. For that, you’ll need to visit a specialty greengrocer or fruit shop that sells EAT ME products. They distribute guava in the Netherlands at these outlets. But of course, lots of fruit is readily available in the Netherlands, so why not make a delicious agua fresca with melon. Or with passion fruit (agua de maracuja).

Agua fresca with hibiscus

This is almost a kind of tea, but cold and sweet. Hibiscus also has medicinal properties, so drink up.

Agua fresca with chia seeds

Yes, really, a superfood in your water. In Mexico, drinking chia seeds is perfectly normal. Mixed with lime juice and a sweetener (honey or granulated sugar, for example), you have an original Mexican drink: chia fresca.

Agua fresca with grains

Horchata, which we previously wrote about, including how you can make it yourself (you really should, it’s delicious), is a cold drink made from rice and tiger nuts. Besides horchata, there’s also a drink called cebada. It is made with a barley base. Deliciously cooling with ice in it.