Mexican strawberry agua fresca, or agua de fresa, is the perfect companion for sunny afternoons, picnics or any occasion that calls for a cool, refreshing drink. Learn how to make it with our easy recipe.
Agua fresca means fresh water or cool water, and describes a number of different popular drinks that families enjoy in Mexico both for meals prepared at home as well as on a hot day when they are out and about in the street where you can buy them from street vendors and paleterías.
There are hundreds of delicious flavors, and this is just one.
Strawberries are one of my all-time favorite fruits. I have mentioned before that when I was a teenager, I used to have a strawberry smoothie every morning for breakfast.
It helped that I grew up in Guanajuato, one of the three States in Mexico that cultivate this amazing berry where getting fresh strawberries required just a visit to the local market or mercado where we could buy them by the kilogram or even by the basket.
And when I say by the basket, I’m talking about big ones between 5-10 kg each! I remember my mom freezing them or making preserves, desserts, and, of course, preparing this delicious agua fresca often to take advantage of every single berry.
Strawberry Benefits
Strawberries aren’t just delicious; they also offer a multitude of benefits for your overall well-being. Bursting with essential nutrients, fiber, and an abundance of potent antioxidants called polyphenols.
According to WebMD, they rank among the top 20 fruits in terms of antioxidant capacity and as a source of manganese and potassium. Just a portion of 8 strawberries offers more vitamin C than an orange and just about 45 calories. Aren't they wonderful?
I few years ago, I was invited to visit a strawberry farm here in California and I learned so much more about them I had to share it all in this post. Now I like them even more!
Sweeteners
With our simple recipe, you just need strawberries, cold water and a sweetener. But let me elaborate a little bit about that.
As with any agua fresca, the level of sweetness depends on your taste and the sweetness of the fruit. Strawberries are naturally sweet, but when mixed with water, the sweetness gets diluted a bit, so adding a sweetener helps to balance the flavors.
This recipe calls for granulated sugar, but you can also use brown sugar, honey, simple syrup, agave nectar, or a sugar-free option of your choice, or nothing at all if you prefer it that way. The point is you do you!
Water or Milk?
Strawberry agua fresca is such a fun drink that you can find it in different variations. Just in this blog, I have a variation called strawberry horchata, but there are a lot more.
Our recipe is made with just water, but you could add a squeeze of fresh lime juice or a few mint leaves to brighten it up. Another very popular version is a creamy strawberry agua fresca, or agua de fresa con leche made with sweetened condensed milk or regular milk. Very yummy!
No matter how you prepare it, with its vibrant hue and refreshing taste, this agua fresca de fresh will surely become a favorite for your entire family.
Storage
It lasts 2-3 days in the fridge, but I'm sure you will drink it in less time than that.
More Fresh Fruit Drinks
If you are a fan of aguas frescas, try our watermelon agua fresca, guava agua fresca or kiwi agua fresca. Now, let's make it.
Mexican Strawberry Agua Fresca
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh strawberries
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup granulated sugar or another sweetener of your choice*
- 6 cups of water, divided
- Mint to garnish
- Ice
Utensils
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups
- Blender
- Fine mesh strainer (optional)
- Large pitcher
- Glasses
* The amount of sugar depends on your taste. I suggest starting with 1/4 cup and add more if needed.
Process
Clean the strawberries, remove the stems, and transfer them to a blender.
Add the sugar and two cups of water and blend until smooth.
Tip: Blending the sugar with the strawberries is the easiest way to dissolve it.
Pour the strawberry mixture into a large pitcher. I usually don't strain it, but if you would like to remove all the seeds for a velvety, fruity drink, use a fine mesh strainer.
Pour in the remaining 4 cups of water, stir, and adjust for sweetness.
Finally, place it in the fridge until ready to serve, or enjoy it immediately by pouring it over ice.
Tip: Don't add ice to the pitcher; it will water down the agua fresca. Instead, add ice cubes to the glasses before serving.
What to Serve with this Tasty Drink
This agua fresca is the perfect way to accompany many Mexican dishes like tri-tip tacos, green tamales, or Chiles en Nogada and a great addition to a quesadilla bar.
It's also a great alternative to sodas or juices for your parties and family reunions.
Print the Recipe
Mexican Strawberry Agua Fresca
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh strawberries
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup granulated sugar or another sweetener of your choice*
- 6 cups of water divided
- Mint to garnish
- Ice
Utensilios
- * Measuring cups
- Fine mesh strainer (optional)
- Large pitcher
Instructions
- Clean the strawberries, remove the stems, and transfer them to a blender.
- Add the sugar and two cups of water and blend until smooth.
- Tip: Blending the sugar with the strawberries is the easiest way to dissolve it.
- Pour the strawberry mixture into a large pitcher. I usually don’t strain it, but if you would like to remove all the seeds for a velvety, fruity drink, use a fine mesh strainer.
- Pour in the remaining 4 cups of water, stir, and adjust for sweetness.
- Finally, place in the fridge until ready to serve, or enjoy immediately by pouring it over ice.
Nutrition
Notes
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