How to Make Watermelon Water (Agua de Sandia)

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 fresh Watermelon Water with friends, enjoy it with your picnic lunch, or as an afternoon pick-me-up at home.

Jump to:

• Is Watermelon Water healthy?
• Ingredients
• How to pick a ripe watermelon
• How to cut a watermelon
• How to make Watermelon Water
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Expert tip
• FAQ
• Summer Drinks
• Recipe
• Comments

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 was 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 with no added sugar 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.

Is Watermelon Water healthy?

Unlike your favorite sports drink, homemade watermelon water has clean ingredients and no artificial colors, flavors, or artificial sweeteners.

Watermelon has many health benefits; it contains natural electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium and is full of nutrients including lycopene, carotenoids, antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin C.

Because of its high water content from watermelon juice, it is low in calories. Did you know that watermelon is 92% water?

It may have anticancer effects, and it may support heart health. Since watermelon contains lycopene, it may reduce blood pressure and help lower cholesterol.

It also contains an amino acid called citrulline which may increase nitric oxide levels in the body, helping blood vessels expand and lowering blood pressure.

Ingredients

You only need a few ingredients to make this incredibly refreshing watermelon agua fresca.

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.

Cut the watermelon in half once the rind is removed 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.

How to make Watermelon Water

• Place the watermelon chunks into a high-speed blender. The blender pictured is 48 oz; I filled it with approximately 5 cups of chopped watermelon.
• Add cold plain 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, cucumber, or a mixture. You may need to add more water. Let me know what you try!

Variations

Here are some tasty ways to vary the recipe:

• Lime juice - 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 or mint leaves when blending the watermelon, and garnish your watermelon water with fresh mint or lime wedges. Or try sparkling water. For super deluxe, try my favorite, coconut water! Garnish with a slice of lime.
• 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 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.

If you don't have a blender, you can use a food processor.

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 place it in the fridge with the plastic wrap facing up. The plastic wrap prevents the surface of the melon from getting mushy.

Expert 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.

FAQ

Summer Drinks

There's nothing like a juicy and sweet, delicious watermelon on a hot summer day to keep you hydrated with antioxidant goodness. If you love watermelon, you are going to love Watermelon Water!

If you make this recipe, please take a moment to ★★★★★ star-rate it and leave a comment below. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook, and share your creation with me! Tag me @resplendentkitchen and hashtag #resplendentkitchenrecipes.

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