Maracuya Drink (Passion Fruit Agua Fresca)

Tropical and refreshing this Maracuya Drink is exactly what you’ll want in your ice-filled glass this summer. With only three simple ingredients this drink is the definition of chill.

Recently, our days have been filled with sunshine and warm weather. A bit of California sunshine also made its way to Colorado when my friend from San Diego mailed me a box of maracuyás straight off her vines. This certainly brightened my spirits and inspired me to develop several passion fruit recipes including a classic agua de maracuya drink. 

Maracuyás, more commonly known as passion fruit, contain a sweet-tart pulp that can be transformed into a fun libation or dessert. Their seeds add fun texture to everything, too. I’m a big fan and love to use them in everything from salsa to sorbet. 

While vacationing in Panama, I had agua de maracuyá every morning. It wasn’t overly sweet, which I loved and tried to replicate in my recipe. 

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

Passion fruit has recently gained attention because it is a rich source of powerful antioxidants and contains high levels of vitamin C and A, which are important for skin, vision, and the immune system. They’re the perfect tropical addition to this agua fresca, too.

Super easy: 3 ingredients and 2 simple steps makes this a fast, easy drink for hot summer days with almost zero prep time and very little clean up.

Not too sweet: Sometimes passion fruit drinks can have too much sugar to make up for their natural sourness but this one is perfectly balanced. 

Wonderful texture: I love the pop of the seeds which makes this drink stand out from other aguas frescas.

WHAT ARE PASSION FRUIT?

Passion fruit is a tropical fruit that grows on vines in warm climates. They have a tough, inedible skin but once you cut it in half, the fragrant pulp is the sweet and sour treat inside. Scoop out the jelly-like flesh and enjoy, seeds and all. 

Healthwise, they are an excellent source of potassium which benefits heart health, among other things, as well as a significant source of fiber when eaten with the seeds. They are rich in minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and iron, excellent for strengthening bones. 

If you live in a warm climate you can find passion fruit at your local farmer’s market or your neighbor’s backyard (once they start growing they never stop). Otherwise, Whole Foods commonly carries passion fruit as well as many Latin markets. 

INGREDIENTS

The eye-popping flavor of the passion fruit does the heavy lifting here so there’s no need for lots of ingredients. 

• Water. Regular tap water or filtered water is fine. 
• Fresh passion fruit. Look for fruit that is heavy for it’s size and the skin is wrinkled. 
• Cane sugar. Or white sugar is great. See FAQ’s for other sugar substitutes.

TOOLS, SUPPLIES, AND EQUIPMENT

The one thing you need to make this recipe is a blender. I use a Vitamix Blender but any blender will work. I love the pop of the seeds but if you are against eating them, you will also need a fine mesh strainer to strain them out. 

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

Step 1

Blend. Cut each passion fruit in half horizontally. Scoop the passion fruit pulp out of each half with a spoon into the blender. Combine with the sugar and water and blend on low for 30 seconds. Don’t blend on high or you will break up the edible seeds which add nice crunch and texture. 

Step 2

Enjoy! Taste and add more sugar if desired. Serve over plenty of ice cubes and garnish with a half of a passion fruit on a fun cocktail pick if you want. 

TIPS, TRICKS, AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Seeds or no seeds. Like I’ve mentioned, I particularly like the snap of the seeds as you sip. Make sure they stay whole but blending the passion fruit juice on low. If the blender is too high it will crush the seeds and you will have to strain them out. 

Use ripe passion fruit. Fresh passion fruit juice can be really sour if the fruit is not ripe. Look for medium-sized fruit about the size of a jumbo egg with slightly wrinkled skin and consistent purple color. Passion fruit with smooth skin is not quite ripe yet and can be too tart. 

Variations. I love this simple, straightforward Maracuya drink but you can take it in a million different directions. Add a splash of white rum and a few mint leaves for a tropical cocktail. Switch up the flavors by adding fresh pineapple to the blender. Make passionfruit juice lemonade or limeade by adding fresh squeezed lime juice or lemon juice.

HOW TO STORE

Make this homemade passion fruit juice and keep in a pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Give a stir right before serving though because all the seeds will fall to the bottom. 

MARACUYÁ DRINK FAQS

WHAT PAIRS WELL WITH PASSION FRUIT AGUA FRESCA?

This is a delicious refresher any time of day but it makes a great afternoon pick-me-up or (with a splash of rum) a happy hour cocktail with some other nibbles. Try with: 

• Colorful, Kid-Friendly Fruit Kebobs. Bonus points for serving with chocolate sauce or dulce de leche for dipping
• Get sophisticated and serve with my Spicy Pineapple Jam with Manchego Cheese appetizers. 
• Don’t like spicy? Try Manchego Cheese with Quince Jam Agave and Pecans instead.

LOOKING FOR MORE INSPIRATION?

• Passion Fruit Iced Tea
• Passion Fruit Salsa
• Mango Passion Sorbet
• Lola’s Fancy Passion Fruit and Coconut Flan
• Strawberry Agua Fresca with Beets
• Jugo Verde
• Sparkling Agua Fresca de Tamarindo

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