The refreshing taste of summer, all in a glass! With its fresh and juicy watermelon flavor, this drink is perfect for hot days at the beach. Share this Watermelon Water with friends, enjoy it with your picnic lunch, or as an afternoon pick-me-up at home.
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This recipe was inspired by my last visit to Costa Rica, where I first tried a delicious Tamarind Margarita cocktail.
My husband and I went to this great restaurant in Costa Rica by the seaside one day, where Aguas Frescas were made fresh in front of us. My husband and I were going through all these amazing flavors, trying to decide which ones sounded best - and it's hard because there were so many good choices.
Finally, we tried a variety that left my mouth watering for more, Agua de Sandia - it tasted like summertime! I learned that Agua Fresca means fresh water, and Agua de Sandia means watermelon water.
I couldn't wait to recreate this hydrating and cooling drink at home! Every time I take a sip, I am transported back to the ocean vistas of Costa Rica with toucans and macaws flying overhead.
Ingredients
You only need a few ingredients to make this incredibly refreshing Watermelon Water. I prefer not to add sugar; I do not think it is needed with ripe and naturally sweet watermelon, although it was added to the Agua de Sandia and other Aguas Frescas I enjoyed in Costa Rica.
- Ripe watermelon - the sweeter and riper, the better!
- Fresh ice and cold water
- Freshly squeezed lime juice
- Sea salt - just a pinch of Himalayan sea salt to bring out the flavor of the watermelon.
See the recipe card for the quantities.
How to pick a ripe watermelon
Watermelon is a delicious summer fruit that is in peak season from May to September. The color of your watermelon can indicate its ripeness.
- Choose a heavy watermelon. Pick it up - it should feel heavier than it looks, which means it has high water content, indicating a sweeter watermelon.
- Green stripes should be deep green in order to show that it has fully matured, while pale yellowish stripes should be creamy yellow.
- Look for a watermelon that is round and evenly shaped; it's likely to be sweeter than oval watermelons, which tend to be watery and less flavorful.
- Take a look at all the sides of the watermelon. If you see dry spots and vein-like webbing lines, you may have an extra sweet watermelon! These dry spots show where sugar has been coming out of the fruit. Steer clear of any irregular lumps.
- Look for the field spot, which is the large, discolored spot on the surface, indicating where the watermelon was on the ground as it ripened. The color of the field spot should be creamy and yellow. If it's white or light yellow, you may want to keep looking for your ideal watermelon.
How to cut a watermelon
Wash the melon in cool running tap water to remove surface debris before cutting it for eating. Dry. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before cutting watermelons.
First, cut off the ends. Then stand the watermelon on its side as you remove the rind. If your watermelon is huge like ours was (thirty pounds), cut the watermelon in half before attempting to stand it on its side. Refer to this video for directions on how to cut a watermelon.
Once the rind is removed, cut the watermelon in half and place the flat side down. Now you are ready to cut the watermelon into slices and then cut each slice into 1-inch to 2-inch cubes.
Instructions
- Place the chopped watermelon into a high-speed blender. The blender pictured is 48 oz; I filled it with approximately 5 cups of chopped watermelon.
- Add cold water, fresh ice, fresh lime juice, and a small pinch of sea salt.
- Cover the blender securely. Start the high-speed blender at low speed and gradually increase to high speed. Blend for at least 30 seconds.
- Pour into glasses and enjoy it right away! I love the froth at the top of the glasses; it is extra refreshing to me.
Hint: Find the ripest watermelon you can find and be sure to include the seeds in this Watermelon Water!
Substitutions
If you don't have watermelon, you can try this recipe with cantaloupe or honeydew melon or another variety of sweet melon. You can also try it with other juicy or watery fruit like pineapple or cucumber, or a mixture. You may need to add more water. Let me know what you try!
Variations
Instead of adding lime juice, try lemon juice, or skip it altogether.
- Spicy - Add half a serrano pepper or half a jalapeño pepper. I'll leave it to you whether you want to add the seeds or not!
- Deluxe - Add a sprig of mint when blending the watermelon, and garnish your watermelon water with fresh mint. Or try sparkling water. For super deluxe, try my favorite, coconut water!
- Adult version - Add a splash of gin, rum, or vodka for a cocktail.
- Kid-friendly - This recipe is already kid-friendly, but for a fun summertime treat, turn this recipe into popsicles. Add half the amount of water and skip the ice. For popsicle-making instructions, refer to my Creamy Coconut Popsicles.
- Freeze - Make a frozen watermelon water by blending frozen watermelon cubes with water.
Equipment
A high-speed blender works well for this, although a regular blender will work fine. I love my blender; I've had it for over ten years.
Storage
Store the Watermelon Water in the refrigerator immediately in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 days.
I use a 6-quart container for storing leftover cut watermelon in the fridge. You can tightly wrap the cut side of the watermelon with plastic wrap and placed it in the fridge with the plastic wrap facing up. The plastic wrap prevents the surface of the melon from getting mushy.
Top tip
Pick the ripest and sweetest watermelon you can find. Then get ready to enjoy this low-calorie, naturally sweet, healthy, and hydrating drink full of antioxidants and phytonutrients such as lycopene. Did you know that watermelon is 92% water?
FAQ
No, you do not need to do this. However, would you please not waste your time taking seeds out of a watermelon? It's beneficial to eat the seeds since they contain magnesium, zinc, and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which protect against heart attack and stroke. The blender pulverizes the seeds, and if any remain, they will be at the bottom of the container.
No, you don't need to strain it. It's beneficial to enjoy the pulp and the fiber in this drink. However, if you prefer, you can strain it.
Yes, if your watermelon is organic. I would add some chopped rind to the mixture to be blended. You can remove the green outer skin of the rind and use the rind as you would use squash in a stir fry, a curry, or soup.
It's best if you cut the watermelon immediately before eating it. You can store any cut watermelon in the fridge, well wrapped, for up to three days. I put mine in a large covered bucket with a lid. Any large container will work as long as it is leak-proof and airtight.
Blend it with a little more water until you achieve your desired consistency. I like mine with the pulp and with ground seeds since it contains healthy natural plant fiber and vitamins and minerals. If you don't want the pulp and ground seeds, you can strain the mixture.
Yes! After you cut the watermelon into chunks, place them one by one on a sheet pan and put them in the freezer. Once they're frozen, make a frozen drink by blending the watermelon cubes with water. Place the leftover watermelon in a freezer-proof plastic bag or glass container.
Related Recipes
There's nothing like a juicy and sweet watermelon during summer to keep you hydrated. If you love watermelon, you are going to love Watermelon Water!
If you make this Watermelon Water, please review it - leave a ★ star rating and post a comment below. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook, and share your creation with me! Just tag me @resplendentkitchen and hashtag #resplendentkitchenrecipes. I can't wait to see your creation!
📖 Recipe
Watermelon Water
Ingredients
- 5 cups chopped watermelon including seeds including seeds, approximately 725 g
- 1 cup cold water or coconut water or sparkling water
- 1 cup ice cubes
- ½ lime freshly juiced
- Pinch Sea salt
Instructions
- Place chopped watermelon into high-speed blender. Add water, ice, lime juice, and pinch of sea salt.
- Start high-speed blender at low speed and gradually increase to high speed. Mix for 30 seconds.
- Pour into glasses and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Resplendent Kitchen offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy. Although resplendentkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information from online calculators, these figures are estimates.
Kayla DiMaggio says
Loving how fresh this is! It is so delicious and the perfect Summer drink!
Emily says
Thank you for your review Kayla! I'm so glad to hear how much you enjoyed this summery drink!
Julia says
I was desperate to try this... went and bought a watermelon... came back ... followed your instructions and we sat out in the sunshine and enjoyed it. Delicious and so refreshing. Thank you.
Emily says
Hi Julia, thank you for your review! I'm so glad the blog post was helpful and that it led to such a delicious experience. I hope you enjoy this seasonal fruit throughout the summer months!
Lucy says
This is the perfect summertime drink. So cooling, refreshing and hydrating. This is my go to drink! Thank you 🙂
Emily says
Hi Lucy, thanks for your review! I'm really glad you enjoyed this Watermelon Water and that it's become your go-to drink!
Chrissaysnature says
This watermelon water is so refreshing, easy to make, and perfect for hot summer days! Thanks for an amazing recipe!
Emily says
Chris, thank you for your review! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed the watermelon water recipe. It's great to know that we're not alone in enjoying this refreshing drink!
Marinela says
This refreshing watermelon water is the ultimate drink to sip on hot summer days, a tasty summertime treat, yum!
Emily says
Thank you for your review, Marinela! I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed this refreshing watermelon drink!
Anaiah says
Perfection in a glass! I made my watermelon water with mint like you suggested and it made it even more refreshing. Definitely gotta try the spicy version next time!
Emily says
I'm so glad you enjoyed the watermelon water, Anaiah! I love hearing about the different ways it's enjoyed, let me know what you think of the spicy version!
Choclette says
Really looking forward to trying this. It looks gorgeous and sounds so refreshing. Task for the weekend is to track down some watermelon.
Emily says
Thanks for the review, Choclette! I'm so glad to hear you're looking forward to trying this new recipe. I hope you find a nice watermelon! We've been getting ours at a local Mexican grocery store.