Papaya and Lime Agua Fresca ~ you can customize this hydrating fruit beverage in a million ways, and it’s so much healthier than soda or juice!

Fair warning — I’ve got a new obsession…Agua Fresca. Spanish for fresh water. My papaya lime agua fresca is healthy, drop dead gorgeous, and the most thirst quenching drink you’ll ever find.
It’s sold on the streets all over Latin America, ladled out of huge jugs. This isn’t juice, or a soda, or a smoothie, or infused water— Agua Fresca falls somewhere in between all of those, and it’s incredibly refreshing. I think the unseasonable heat here in Los Angeles led me in this direction. My interpretation is ultra simple, just the pureed fruit mixed with a little lime and cold water. I serve it over ice, topped off with sparkling water. Keep a pitcher in the fridge and have a glass first thing in the morning, before coffee. Have a glass with dinner instead of a cocktail now and then. This stuff will change your life!
related: Raspberry Agua Fresca
So many different fruits are appropriate for this type of drink. I’ve happened to have a papaya ripening on my dining room table for a few days, but you can use any kind of melon, strawberries, cucumber (it’s a fruit,) mango, just about anything.
TIP: I like to add lemon or lime juice for a touch of tartness, that little bit of citrus brings out the flavor of any fruit.
I love the color pf papaya. It’s not like a mango, or a tangerine, or a guava, it has its own soft shade of pinky-orange. The flavor is unusual, it reminds me of melon, and I particularly like it in this drink because it has an exotic, tropical taste that is softened by the water. It’s sweet, so the lime helps balance it out. I’m so happy to have discovered this because, personally, I struggle with getting enough water. I just don’t like to drink it plain. It’s incredibly cost effective, too. One cup of fruit puree makes lots of agua fresca.
You can make it as fruity or as light as you want, by varying the amount of water or seltzer you add. Add a little sugar if your fruit is too tart, and a little more citrus if it’s on the sweet side. Whatever fruit you choose, the color is going to be glorious, from the pale green of honeydew melon, to the more robust purple of Concord grapes, to the milky yellow of pineapple. The key here is to use good, RIPE fruit (don’t try to do this with canned pineapple juice or a hard mango) and to serve it icy cold. If you have those two things down, you will be blown away.
Love to hydrate the healthy way? Try my HEALTHY INFUSED WATER ~ I’ll show you how to actually infuse fruit flavors into plain water for an even lighter way to hydrate!
Notes:
- I don’t feel the need to add sugar, but feel free to add a touch if you like things on the sweeter side.
- Use the formula of 1 part puree to 2 or 3 parts water as you experiment with your own combinations of fruit.
Papaya and Lime Agua Fresca
Equipment
- blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 1 ripe papaya
- 2 limes
- berries for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Peel the papaya and slice in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and fibrous part with a small spoon.
- Give the fruit a rough chop and puree in a food processor or blender. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary. You should have about a cup of puree.
- Strain the puree through a mesh strainer, stirring to push the liquid through. I added water to mine to help it get through. Most of it should go through, you will be left with just a little fiber.
- Add enough water to the puree to make 3 cups liquid. You can fiddle with this proportion and add more water if you like, but remember you’ll be serving it over ice, and also may want to add some sparkling water later, so don’t dilute it too much to start with. Stir in the juice of one lime. Cover and refrigerate until cold.
- To serve, pour the cold papaya water over ice, and garnish with a slice of lime and a few berries if you like. You can top off your glass with seltzer water if you like bubbles.
Thanks for fixing the link so quickly, Sue! I’ll keep an eye out for papaya the next time I go shopping, though I may have to mortgage the house I no longer own to pay for it! Imported fruit is costly here in Alberta, Canada ?? – but there are times… Lemons are actually on sale this week, for $ .67. EACH!
I’m pondering the merits of making a double batch, & turning 1 into “ice” cubes so my Agua fresca doesn’t get too diluted, if I don’t drink it fast enough/set it down & wander off to do something.
Have a blessed one!
You are amazing – this is amazing – the photos are outstanding and now I am so thirsty. I would have never thought to make this but won’t be able to stop thinking about agua fresca. I heard you were having a little heat out there – come east and cool off a bit!