Aguas frescas, or water infused with fruits or flowers and sweetened with sugar, are a popular drink here in Mexico. Often sold by street vendors and served out of large plastic jugs in the markets or at street festivals, they’re a tasty and inexpensive alternative to water, sodas or cervezas. It’s not uncommon to see people walking along the street or browsing the market while sipping aguas frescas from plastic bags. They can also be found on the menu at many restaurants and neighborhood fondas. To find out the flavors of the day simply ask your server, “Qué aguas tienes?”
One of my personal favorites is agua de pepino, or cucumber limeade, and I’ve recently begun preparing my own version of this healthy and delicious drink with a little help from this easy to follow agua de pepino recipe from La Cocina de Leslie. I generally don’t like a whole lot of sweetness in my drinks, so I’ve replaced the sugar in the recipe with a small amount of honey and added a healthy boost of chia seeds.
Agua de Pepino con Chía
1 large cucumber, peeled and cut in chunks
3 limes, cut in halves
water
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons chia seeds
Blend the cucumber with water until smooth and strain into a pitcher.
Blend the lime halves with water for 3-4 seconds (without grinding up the white part of the zest) and strain into the pitcher along with the cucumber puree.
Add enough water to fill the pitcher, add honey and stir. Lastly, stir in the chia seeds and refrigerate until ready to drink.
Serve with or without ice, garnish with a slice of cucumber or lime and enjoy!
Perfect alongside vegan tortilla soup with pinto beans.
What’s your favorite agua fresca?
