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Watermelon Mint Agua Fresca (No Sugar)

Watermelon Agua Fresca with mint and no sugar using only 5 ingredients. This “agua de sandia” recipe is a healthy, non-alcoholic Mexican watermelon drink that’s refreshing, 80 calories per serving with only 1 gram of fat. Takes minutes to prepare. The perfect watermelon water to enjoy by the pool on a hot summer day!

2 glasses of red drink sitting on a marble table garnished with watermelon wedges

Do you feel it? Summer is a comin’ and it’s about time to unpack that grill and dust off those barbecue recipes (like my Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger and my Carrot Dogs 4-Ways!) And, depending upon what part of the country you’re in, it’s also time for hotter weather that makes staying hydrated extremely important.

Never, fear, though, as I have something to wet your whistle that’s thirst-quenching, healthy and delicious, a triple winner doozy of a drink: my watermelon agua fresca with fresh mint and lime juice made with NO SUGAR, just the natural sweetness of agave nectar!

🍹 What is Agua Fresca?

Agua frescas, or translated to “fresh waters“, are a tradition in Mexico and are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. They are typically a combination of fruits, cereals, flowers or seeds blended with water and sugar to make a light, refreshing non-alcoholic beverage. Of course, if you prefer something with a little kick to it, try my Blue Kamikaze Shot or authentic Tinto de Verano.

🍉 Ingredients For Watermelon Agua Fresca

labeled ingredient list for watermelon water
  • Agave nectar – use in place of refined sugar to make agua fresca recipe healthier.
  • Fresh mint – choose mint leaves that are dark green and vibrant for best results. If you don’t care for mint, you may omit this ingredient all together or minimize how many leaves you use in the recipe.
  • Watermelon – I use seedless which still has some small white seeds. These do not need to be removed, as they blend easily in the blender during the process of preparing the drink.
  • Fresh lime juice – if you don’t have fresh, you may substitute with bottled lime juice or use lemon instead.
  • Sea salt – sea salt enhances the natural flavors of the drink. If you’re on a low sodium or salt-free diet, please omit.
person pouring agave nectar in glass of watermelon agua fresca

🔪 How to Make Watermelon Agua Fresca

Step 1: Add all ingredients to a blender.

Step 2: Blend on high speed for 2-3 minutes, until mint is no longer visible.

To garnish: Pour some sea salt on a small plate. Take a lime wedge and rub it around the rim of your glass. Dip the rim in the salt, moving it back and forth until you get the desired amount of salt on the rim. Add ice. Pour watermelon water over ice. Garnish with fresh mint, a squirt of lime and a watermelon wedge.

Steps 1 and 2 for making watermelon agua fresca

🍍 Substitutions

  • Sweetener – you may use any other sweetener if you don’t have agave nectar, such as Florida Crystals, Sugar in the Raw, or plain white sugar (although this is far less healthy)
  • Mint – omit if you don’t care for mint and substitute with other herbs, such as rosemary or thyme.
  • Lime juice – if you don’t have fresh lime, you can use bottled. Alternatively, you can use lemon instead of lime if you have that on hand.
  • Watermelon – if seedless watermelon is unavailable in your area, just get a watermelon with seeds and strain the juice before pouring it into a glass or container.
  • Sea salt – you can absolutely use regular salt in this recipe, or, you can omit it completely if you’re following a low sodium, or no added salt diet.
a hand pouring red liquid from a glass bottle into a glass with a salted rim

🍓 Variations

You can find many an agua fresca flavor in Mexico and varying your recipe with what you have on hand works in most cases. Here are some of Mexico’s most popular flavors:

  • Cantaloupe
  • Guava
  • Papaya
  • Mango
  • Pineapple
  • Passion fruit
  • Cucumber
  • Chia Seed
picture of full circle agave nectar next to two glasses of watermelon mint agua fresca

💭 FAQs

What is watermelon Agua Fresca made of?

Agua Fresca is a traditional Mexican drink, usually made with a combination of fruits and/or vegetables mixed with sugar and water to make a light, refreshing non-alcoholic beverage. My recipe is a simple, healthier version that replaces refined, processed sugar with organic, natural agave nectar, instead. To wrap it up, my watermelon agua fresca is made using only 5 ingredients: watermelon, agave, fresh mint and lime, and a pinch of sea salt. Plus a little filtered water!

Is watermelon Agua Fresca good for you?

That certainly depends upon what you put in it. Adding refined sugar is not the healthiest food choice, but replacing it with a substitute, like agave nectar, makes it healthier. Also keep in mind it only has 80 calories and 1 gram of fat per serving and is high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants making it a healthier choice than high sugar beverages.

Are Agua Fresca’s alcoholic?

Only if you add alcohol (which you definitely can!) Traditionally, they are non-alcoholic.

Is horchata and Agua Fresca the same thing?

Horchata is a classic example of an Agua Fresca, made with rice, canela (Mexican cinnamon), sugar and water.

Should I strain my Agua Fresca?

Many people do, and you can if you want to. I do not for several reasons. Straining robs this healthy beverage of its natural plant fibers along with precious vitamins and minerals that are found in abundance in the pulp.

Do I need to add salt?

No, if you’re on a sodium-free or restricted diet, you can omit the salt completely. However, you may add salt to enhance flavor, which is traditionally what salt is used for. You can also limit salt in the recipe by avoiding salt on the rims of the glasses.

close up of agua fresca with watermelon and mint

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

  • Before adding the watermelon to a blender, chop it in half, then scoop out large sections with a spoon to dice into smaller chunks. As you’re doing this, you’ll likely see an abundance of water inside your watermelon half. Don’t waste this fresh watermelon water; alternatively, add it to the blender for a more flavorful beverage
  • For best results, serve this Mexican watermelon drink chilled, either from the refrigerator, or over ice.
  • If drink is too sweet, add a bit more lime juice.
  • Watermelon Agua Fresca naturally separates when it sits for a while, either on the dinner table or in the refrigerator. Be sure to stir thoroughly before serving.

🍔 What Goes Good With This Recipe?

Have you tried this? Why not leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and sign up for my newsletter!

Watermelon Aqua Fresca With Mint (No Sugar)

This easy Watermelon Mint Agua Fresca is naturally delicious with no sugar added, nutritious, low-calorie and super refreshing on hot summer days.
5 from 63 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican, Mexican Inspired
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 80kcal
Author: Deborah

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 5 cups fresh watermelon seedless
  • 1 cup filtered water
  • 10 fresh mint leaves
  • 2 limes juice expressed
  • 1 tbsp agave nectar or another sweetener of your choice
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt optional; enhances flavor

Garnishes

  • fresh lime slices
  • mint leaves
  • slices of watermelon
  • sea salt for the rim

Instructions

For the Melon Water

  • Add all ingredients to blender.
    step 1 add all ingredients to a blender
  • Blend on high for several minutes until well-mixed.
    step 2 blend on high speed for 2-3 minutes

To Garnish

  • Pour some sea salt on a small plate. Take a lime wedge and rub it around the rim of your glass. Dip the rim in the salt, moving it back and forth until you get the desired amount of salt on the rim. Add ice. Pour watermelon water over ice. Garnish with fresh mint, a squirt of lime and a watermelon wedge.
    2 glasses of red drink sitting on a marble table garnished with watermelon wedges

Notes

  • NOTE: Nutrition information is estimated. 
  • Before adding the watermelon to a blender, chop it in half, then scoop out large sections with a spoon to dice into smaller chunks. As you’re doing this, you’ll likely see an abundance of water inside your watermelon half. Don’t waste this fresh watermelon water; alternatively, add it to the blender for a more flavorful beverage
  • For best results, serve chilled either from the refrigerator or over ice.
  • If drink turns out too sweet, simply add a bit more lime juice and stir. 
  • Watermelon Agua Fresca naturally separates when it sits for a while, either on the dinner table or in the refrigerator. Be sure to stir thoroughly before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 8oz | Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 244mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 1196IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
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19 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love agua frescas (we call them jugos in my country). And this watermelon with mint version was very tasty. I could drink this every day! 🙂

  2. Omg, we’ve been buying HUGE watermelons at Costco (which can be hard to finish with just a family of 2), loved this refreshing fresca, especially given how hot it has been lately.

  3. 5 stars
    Such a refreshing and easy drink! Love those flavors. Definitely the perfect use for summertime watermelon.

  4. 5 stars
    My absolute favourite summertime drink! Thanks for sharing all your tips on how to make it — Extra mint for me!

  5. 5 stars
    Wonderful recipe. We had a HUGE watermelon that wasn’t all going to get eaten up so I made this agua fresca and it was the perfect refresher for the hot weather we have been having!