100 Days of Cookbooks: Agua Fresca

Summer’s technically gone, but it’s still hot here in SoCal.

Even if it’s cold where you are, you can’t go wrong with an agua fresca. What is it you ask? Agua fresca is a refreshing drink of water blended with fruit and a sweetener. Can we say yum!?

In Cassy Joy Garcia’s book, Fed & Fit, she creates a fantastic version with strawberries and lime and cuts the processed sugar. This flavor isn’t the only agua fresca recipe she has in her book either! Lavender grapefruit, blackberry rosemary, cucumber mint, and lemon thyme are also provided for you, as well as the nutritional information and a gorgeous photo. Really this whole book is absolutely stunning.

I served the strawberry lime version at a dinner party and everyone loved it. I wish I had the chunky, chewable ice to go with it, and then it would have been perfect! It’s a very light drink with a mild strawberry/lime taste. It’s not overpowering at all and the fruit really just enhances it. It reminds me of a ”more intense” flavored water with little bits of fruity chew here and there.

I also liked the fact that you use the fruits natural sweetness instead of adding sugar or even honey in it. If it’s not sweet enough for you, go ahead and add some honey, but it’s pretty tasty how it is.

The next agua fresca I make will either be the lavender grapefruit or the lemon thyme. It’s just so hard to pick! Maybe I’ll make both and have a group of people over for an excuse 😉