How to Make Agua de Fresa (BEST Strawberry Agua Fresa)
Strawberry Agua Fresca, also known as agua de fresa, is a refreshing Mexican drink made with strawberries, water, and a hint sugar. It’s naturally sweet, hydrating, and packed with vitamins and antioxidants from the strawberries. I grew up loving strawberries, so this is one of my all-time favorite aguas frescas!
Growing up, we used to drive to Mexico every summer and I can vividly remember being in awe of the ruby red strawberries glimmering in baskets off of the carreteras in Irapuato. When I was in middle school, my family moved to Chino, California where strawberry fields were everywhere. This may be what sparked my love of fresas in all forms!
Aguas frescas are non-alcoholic beverages typically made by blending water and sugar with seasonal fruits and vegetables. Some are also made with dry ingredients such as rice, tamarind pods, and hibiscus, which are Mexican pantry staples.
NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS: STRAWBERRIES
- Strawberries are a better choice for people with diabetes due to their low glycemic index compared to many other fruits. This means that they won’t cause blood sugar levels to spike as quickly, making them a safer opiton for managing blood sugar.
- Strawberries are packed with vitamin C, which supports a healthy immune system.
- They also contain antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and may lower the risk of heart disease.
- Fresas are high in fiber, which aids in digestion, prevents constipation, and supports a healthy gut.
- Lutein and zeaxanthin, also antioxidants found in strawberries, may help prevent age-related macular degeneration and maintain good vision.
After you make my agua de fresa, be sure to read my interview Jesús Alvarado: From Field Worker to Farm Owner, the American Dream Realized.
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
- Strawberries: I use fresh strawberries, but frozen strawberries will also work. Berries and other frozen fruits are typically frozen at peak ripeness, which means that they’ll be sweet.
- Sweetener: I like to use pure cane sugar, simple syrup, agave, or dates to sweeten my aguas frescas. Feel free to use your favorite sweetener or skip the sugar altogether.
- Water: Agua fresca is supposed to be light in texture, like a juice. It’s not a nectar, which is why I use plenty of water to thin it out.
RECOMMENDED BY LOLA FOR THIS RECIPE
Vitamin Professional-Grade Blender
I have owned a Vitamix blender for nearly 25 years and it is well worth the investment, especially for making aguas frescas, smoothies, and jugo verde! VIEW PRODUCT
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
1. Prepare strawberries
- Rinse strawberries
- Remove green tops
2. Blend ingredients
- Blend strawberries with cold water and sweetener of choice
3. Strain mixture
- Using a fine mesh strainer, strain mixture into a large pitcher
4. Chill and enjoy
- Refrigerate until chilled and enjoy over ice
- Garnish with fresh strawberries, chopped or cut into halves, or fresh mint sprigs
HOW TO STORE
Any aguas fresca is best served as soon as you make it. However, you can store your agua de fresa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up three days.
LOOKING FOR MORE INSPIRATION?
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- All About Aguas Frescas
Agua de Fresa (Strawberry Agua Fresca)
Ingredients
- 1 pound strawberries about 4 cups rinsed and hulled
- 1/4 cup sugar or agave syrup or to taste
- 5 cups water divided
Instructions
- Process strawberries, sugar, and 4 cups of water in a blender on medium setting for 60 seconds.
- Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large pitcher. You may need to agitate the mixture to let the juice through but avoid pushing the pulp through to keep the juice light in consistency. Compost or discard the pulp.
- Stir in remaining 1 cup of water.
- Chill and serve over ice. Garnish with fresh strawberries or mint leaves if desired. Always stir before serving.
A Note from Lola
ON SWEETENERS
- I prefer my aguas frescas to be only slightly sweetened, so feel free to adjust the level of sweetness to your liking or skip the sugar altogether.
- My preferred natural sweeteners include pure cane sugar, simple syrup, agave, or dates.
RECIPE VARIATIONS
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- If you don’t have fresh strawberries, use frozen strawberries.
- Mix in mango, for a twist on this classic agua fresca.
- For a boost of iron, peel and add a small fresh beet to this recipe.
- For a boost of iron, stir in 2-3 tablespoons of chia seeds before chilling.
Nutrition
Recipe Originally Published: February 9, 2014
Lola Wiarco Dweck
Lola is a Mexican-American recipe developer, writer, and cooking instructor who loves sharing her culture with the world. Growing up in California and spending summers in Mexico, Lola celebrates her family’s Mexican recipes and vibrant culture through Lola’s Cocina.
Looks delicious!!! I can’t wait until strawberries are in season here. I’m looking forward to some more “red-themed” recipes 🙂
Thank you, Nicole. In Chino, where my mother lives, there have been strawberries almost all year because of this wacky weather!
Wow! I’m so jealous. We are still snow-covered here. No local strawberries until June 🙁
Do you prefer one sweetener over the other??
In my aguas I like using agave and in my licuados I prefer dates!
SUPER refreshing. I normally head to the mall and get agua fresca at Green Crush but this tastes better and I feel better (I don’t have to spend money). This will be great to have on a hot summer day or lounging by my pool (aka my friends pool).
A cup of inexpensive agua fresca costs at least $5 and you can make a whole pitcher (and more!) with $5.
I love the agave recommendation—I prefer it to sugar.
I make this for all my friends when they come over, I love fruit flavored drinks and this is perfect for hot days.
I’m always surprised at how few people are familiar with Agua de Fresa! My guests always love it.
I always forget about all the vitamin C on strawberries , this a great reminder.
Yes, most people don’t know they have more vitamin C than oranges.