Once the Florida heat settles in, a cold pitcher of watermelon agua fresca is hard to beat. It’s made with fresh watermelon, water, lime juice, and just enough sugar to bring out the flavor of the fruit. It’s light, refreshing, and the perfect summer drink.

Watermelon agua fresca with a straw and lime wheel.

You may also know it as agua de sandía, which is the Spanish name for this Mexican watermelon drink. Agua fresca means “fresh water,” and it’s a popular drink throughout Mexico and Central America. There are all kinds of flavors, but watermelon is probably my favorite.

This easy watermelon agua fresca is a great addition to cookouts, picnics, boat days, or a weekend at the lake house. Chill it before you leave, keep the ice separate, and pour it over ice when you’re ready for a glass.

Start with a Sweet Watermelon

Watermelon is the main flavor, so starting with a good one matters. A little sugar can help a melon that isn’t quite sweet enough, but it can’t completely replace the fresh watermelon flavor.

Ingredients used in a watermelon agua fresca.

Look for a small, seedless watermelon that feels heavy for its size and has a creamy yellow field spot on the rind. You’ll need about 8 cups of cubed or scooped watermelon, which is roughly what you should get from a small 7- to 8-pound seedless watermelon once the rind is removed.

Go ahead and taste a piece before you start blending. That will give you a pretty good idea of how much sugar you’ll need, and it may save you from adding more than the drink actually needs.

How to Make Watermelon Agua Fresca

Watermelon, sugar, lime juice, and water in a blender.

Add the cubed watermelon to a large blender with 2 cups of water, the lime juice, and a little sugar. Blend until everything is completely smooth.

Now give it a taste. Add more water if you want the drink a little lighter, or stir in more sugar if it’s not quite sweet enough.

Agua fresca poured through a mesh strainer.

Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher. You can strain it a second time for a smoother texture, or skip the strainer altogether if a little pulp doesn’t bother you.

Watermelon agua fresca poured over ice in a pitcher.

Chill the pitcher in the refrigerator until the agua fresca is nice and cold. Serve it over ice with lime wedges or small watermelon slices.

Get the Sweetness and Texture Right

Watermelons can taste completely different, even when they come from the same grocery store in the same week. Start with less sugar and add more after blending. I’d rather stir in another spoonful than end up with a whole pitcher that tastes like syrup.

The same goes for the water. A really juicy watermelon may only need 2 cups, while a firmer one may need a little more. Add it gradually so you don’t accidentally dilute the watermelon flavor.

One trip through a fine-mesh strainer is usually enough to catch most of the pulp. Strain it again if you like a smoother drink, or leave some of the pulp in. There’s no wrong way to do it. It’s just a matter of texture.

And don’t worry if the drink separates while it sits. Watermelon naturally settles toward the bottom, so just give the pitcher a good stir before you pour another glass.

I also leave the ice out of the pitcher. It melts quickly in summer weather and slowly waters down the flavor. Chill the agua fresca first, then add ice to each glass right before serving.

Made for Coolers and Hot Days

This is such an easy drink to take along for a picnic, cookout, boat day, or afternoon at the lake. The thing is, you need to put it in the cooler already chilled instead of expecting the ice to get it cold.

Pour the chilled agua fresca into a large jar or another container with a tight lid, then tuck it into a cold cooler. Keeping the drink sealed also prevents melted cooler ice from sneaking in and diluting it. It also keeps the drink from spilling.

For the brightest color and freshest watermelon flavor, make it no more than a day or two ahead. Keep it covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to pack it up or pour the first glass.

Three glasses of watermelon agua fresca.

Easy Ways to Change the Flavor

A little mint or basil works well with the watermelon, but start with just a few leaves. Basil can give it a heavy, herby flavor if you add too much.

You can also add a little more lime juice if you want a stronger citrus flavor. Taste as you go, though. Adding too much lime juice makes this drink taste more like a watermelon limeade instead of an agua fresca.

For a thicker, slushier drink, blend it with ice and serve it right away. Just remember that the flavor will become lighter as the ice melts.

And if the agua fresca needs more sweetness after it’s cold, a little bit of homemade simple syrup will blend in more easily than granulated sugar.

What to Serve with It

Watermelon agua fresca is a favorite to serve at cookouts and picnics. Serve it with BBQ bacon cheeseburgers, grilled corn on the cob, or a big bowl of fresh fruit salad.

If you still have watermelon left after making the drink, a summer watermelon salad is another good way to use it. For another alcohol-free summer drink, try the easy virgin mojitos.