Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca
Aguas frescas were the soundtrack of summer in my family, a rotating cast of fruits blended with water and a little lime, always sweating in a pitcher on a hot afternoon. This cucumber-lime version is the most refreshing of the bunch, cool and clean and barely sweet. I grew up understanding that welcoming someone often started with a cold glass of something homemade pressed into their hand the moment they walked in. In the Arizona heat, this is the drink I keep ready for exactly that. Make a pitcher, keep it cold, and offer a glass to the next person through your door.
This Agua Fresca de Pepino y Limón is a refreshing Mexican drink made with blended cucumber, fresh lime juice, and a touch of sugar. Served over ice with a honey and Tajín rim, it’s the perfect thirst-quencher for hot days and summer gatherings.
Ingredients
- 4 cucumbers some skin removed, some left on
- 4 cups cold water
- 5 limes juiced
- ½ cup granulated sugar
For serving
- ice
- Tajin seasoning for rimming glass
- Honey for rimming glass
- extra cucumber chunks for garnish
Instructions
- Wash the cucumbers, trim the ends, and peel alternating strips of skin. Cut into pieces that fit your blender. Juice the limes and discard the seeds.
- Blend the cucumber pieces with some of the 4 cups cold water until smooth. Work in batches if needed, then pour everything into a large pitcher. For a smoother drink, pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer; leave it unstrained if you enjoy the pulp.
- Stir in the lime juice, sugar, and the remaining measured water until the sugar dissolves. Taste and adjust the sweetness or dilution to your preference. Keep chilled until serving.
- If desired, lightly coat the rims of the glasses with honey, then dip them in Tajín. Fill the glasses with ice, stir the pitcher, and pour in the agua fresca. Garnish with cucumber chunks.