Watermelon Agua Fresca

I’m not warming up to any of this Fall stuff yet, so I’m going to do everything summer as long as I can. And I’m doing it with agua fresca. I’ve been craving watermelon, so I picked up a beauty with every intention of making agua fresca. I first fell in love with agua frescas while living in Arizona. They’re extremely simple to make, perfect for using up the best of summer produce, and beyond refreshingly delicious! My favorite memory of agua frescos was sipping different combinations every morning while vacationing in Riviera Maya. All lined up, they were quiet a colorful sight every day, and watermelon agua fresca was, and is, by far my favorite flavor.This is seriously so good, and it makes the perfect afternoon pick-me up drink, especially on a Monday afternoon. Or if it’s Friday, and you’re home early before heading on one of your last summer weekends away, treat yourself to a personal vacation happy hour, by spiking this refreshing agua fresca with a dash of St. Germain, mint and fresh ginger.I highly recommend serving this watermelon agua fresca and its cocktail version at your next summer get together. They’ll definitely look impressive, without putting too much effort into it.St. Germain is the prettiest floral flavor, and it’s become my signature in all my cocktails. It pairs so lovely with the slightly bitter ginger whose spiciness hits you towards the end of each sip. It’s totally become my new favorite summer cocktail!If you plan on impressing guests with this refreshing sweet agua fresca, make it the night before serving, as it takes some time to strain the liquid from the pulp. But it’s so worth it, because it’s absolutely delicious. It satisfies every summer sweet tooth craving, and if you’ve picked a really good watermelon, you won’t even need any added sweeteners, it’s exceptionally sweet on its own.

Now, I wonder how long I’m going to go on eating watermelon.

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Ingredients {Makes 3 cups}

5 pounds – Watermelon {peeled + roughly chopped}

Splash of water

1 tablespoon – Raw Honey, optional

Recipe

Place all the ingredients in your blender. Blend until completely blended and smooth. Pour into a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl. Press down pulp removing as much juice as possible, and discard {or save to mix in yogurt or freeze at sorbet}.

Serve strained agua fresca into an ice filled glass and finish with a fresh watermelon stirrer. Or pour into a bottle and refrigerate an hour before serving.

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Elderflower Mint + Ginger Watermelon Fresca

Ingredients {Serves 2}

3 1/2 pounds –  Watermelon {peeled + roughly chopped}

Splash of water

small handful, about 1/4 cup – Fresh Mint Leaves

about 1 1/2″ – Fresh Ginger Root {peeled}

1 to 2 oz – St. Germaine {rum, vodka, ginger beer or other your favorite liquor I’m sure would taste delicious}

Recipe

Place all the ingredients, except for the St. Germaine, or liquor, into the blender. Blend until completely blended and smooth.

To serve, fill glass with ice, pour in the St. Germaine, or liquor, and stir. Pour the watermelon, mint, ginger drink over the ice, and stir together. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig. For entertaining, pour the blended drink into a bottle, refrigerate, then add in the liquor an hour before serving.