Cucumber-Mint Agua Fresca Recipe

A Cucumber-Mint Agua Fresca is a refreshing nonalcoholic drink made with fresh cucumber juice, mint simple syrup, lime juice, and water. This easy beverage comes together in a blender and is served over ice.

Agua fresca, a popular drink in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, is made by blending fruit, grains, or nuts with water, lime juice, and sweetener such as honey or agave or sugar. Popular agua fresca flavors include hibiscus (also known as Agua de Jamaica), watermelon, and pineapple. Herbs like mint or basil can bring additional flavor to the drink.

This cucumber-and-mint agua fresca has a fresh, vegetal flavor profile that is very refreshing. A mint-infused simple syrup is used as the sweetener here, imbuing the drink with fresh mint notes and just enough sweetness to counter the tart lime juice.

Tips for making a Cucumber-Mint Agua Fresca

Developer Renu Dhar peels off some of the cucumber skin to bring the right balance of green color and cucumber flavor to the agua fresca. The color in the skins yields a gorgeous green hue, but since cucumber skins can lean bitter in flavor, peeling half the cucumber is advised.

English mint (also known as spearmint) has bracing coolness that shines through in the syrup, but any mint will work well here. Avoid over-steeping the mint: Soaking for too long will amplify its bitter notes.

This recipe was developed by Renu Dhar; the text was written by Cheryl Slocum.