Pineapple Water (Pineapple Agua Fresca)
Posted: 07/09/2021
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Freshly made pineapple water is refreshing, light, and so good for you, too. You’ll love this popular Mexican style fruit drink!
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: It’s refreshing and flavorful!
How long it takes: 10 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: blender, strainer, pitcher
Servings: 5
Table of Contents
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Learn how to make fresh pineapple water! It’s easy, full of health benefits, and so refreshing. Say goodbye to pricey sodas or flavored seltzers. You can whip up your own flavorful fruit drink with just a few ingredients and a blender.
Agua fresca, “cool or fresh water,” is a popular Mexican fruit drink. It’s non-carbonated and consists of fruit, water, lime juice, and a sweetener. This pineapple agua fresca can also be called agua de piña, or pineapple water.
Beyond the fact that it’s really delicious, pineapple water is good for you, too. Because the whole pineapple, not just the juice, is added to the blender, you get all the benefits of this amazing fruit. (By whole pineapple, I hope you aren’t thinking that there’s no way a whole pineapple will fit in your blender. You’ll discard the leaves, peel, and core.)
Did you know?
According to Healthline, pineapple is full of vitamins (especially vitamin C) and minerals; it’s a good source of antioxidants, and enzymes which can aid digestion. Pineapple is good for your heart, fights cancer, increases immunity, is helpful for inflammation and even arthritis! Some people eat or drink it as part of a detox diet.
Most of us don’t drink enough water either. Dehydration can lead to all sorts of problems, too. I know I really have to push myself to keep drinking water all day. This pineapple water is much more tempting than ordinary tap water, for sure!
About this pineapple water
Just to clarify, this is not pineapple infused water, which is basically water that’s been flavored with pineapple chunks. Infused water is refreshing and fun to experiment with (try cucumber and mint!) but not the same thing as this agua de piña, which is made in a blender.
So, pull your blender out of the pantry and let’s get started. You’ll find the complete printable recipe at the end of this post.
What you’ll need
- Fresh Pineapple: You’ll need a whole fresh pineapple, about five cups of diced fruit. If the pineapples you buy are on the small side, you may need two.
- Water: Use fresh clean water. Boiled water can taste flat. If you have to use boiled water, aerate it first by pouring back and forth a few times between a couple of containers.
- Lime Juice: The juice of one lime adds a nice tart component.
- Honey: Start with the amount listed on the recipe, and adjust according to taste. You could substitute white sugar, simple syrup, agave, or another sweetener of your choice, or omit it completely.
How to make it
Add the pineapple, lime juice, and honey to your blender container. Pour in the water. If it doesn’t all fit, no worries, you can add the rest of it later.
Process until the mixture is smooth.
Using a sieve, strain the mixture as you pour it into a pitcher. If you didn’t add all the water to the blender, stir that in too.
Chill the pitcher of agua de piña until you’re ready to enjoy a glass.
Garnish your refreshing pineapple water with fresh basil leaves, fresh mint, a wedge of pineapple, or a slice of lime, if you like. Serve it over ice or without ice, either way is great.
FAQs
What is agua fresca made of?
Agua fresca is fruit, water, lime, and a sweetener. Try cantaloupe, strawberries, papaya, watermelon, or even cucumber.
Is agua fresca good for you?
It’s good for you because the whole fruit is used, not just the juice. This blended drink is digested more slowly, and you get the benefit of fiber, too.
Is agua fresca alcoholic?
There is no alcohol in agua fresca. That’s not to say that you couldn’t add alcohol if you’d like to make a refreshing cocktail.
How do you pick a ripe pineapple?
That’s a really great question! Pineapples do not continue to ripen after they’re picked and they don’t give you too many clues about their insides.
Look for a pineapple that appears more yellow than green. Press the outside of the pineapple lightly with your finger. If it’s rock hard, the pineapple probably isn’t ripe. It should give slightly when pressed. If you pull out one of the inner leaves, it should come out easily. Check out the base of the pineapple and give it a sniff. It should smell fruity and sweet. If it smells fermented or like vinegar, sorry, that pineapple is probably too far gone.
How to make this beverage your own
- Make a cocktail. Add a shot of vodka, white rum, tequila, or mezcal to your glass. A dash of coconut cream or orange liqueur is good, too. Be sure to try my pineapple margarita.
- Experiment with garnishes. If you like, muddle fresh herbs like mint or basil in the bottom of your glass before pouring the agua fresca.
- Vegan agua fresca: Omit the honey and use agave or stevia to sweeten the beverage, or omit the sweetener completely.
- Substitute canned pineapple. Use two large (20 oz.) cans of pineapple in natural juice, undrained, instead of fresh pineapple.
Make Ahead Ideas
Actually this beverage is best made ahead so it has time to chill. However, if you’re in a hurry and want to get a head start on making it, prep the pineapple, cover and chill it until you’re ready to get your blender out.
Storage Suggestions
Pineapple water can be stored in the fridge for two to three days. If it smells vinegary, sour, or is fizzy, it should be discarded.
Leftover Love
Pour leftover flavored water into popsicle molds and freeze for a refreshing frozen treat!
More fruity beverages
Whether it’s a smoothie or a cocktail, beverages with fruit or fruit juice are so refreshing! Try:
- Mango Smoothie
- Green Smoothie Recipe – make it your own!
- Tropical Smoothie Recipe
- Strawberry Watermelon Slushie Spritzer
- Watermelon Lemonade with Mint (with Cocktail option!)
- Raspberry Rosé Spritzer – easy cocktail!
- Peach, Banana, Honey and Cottage Cheese Smoothie
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
servings
Freshly made pineapple water is refreshing, light, and so good for you, too. You'll love this popular Mexican fruit drink!
Ingredients
- 5 cups fresh pineapple, diced (1 or 2 pineapples, depending on size)
- 5 ½ cups water
- juice from 1 lime
- ¼ cup honey (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into blender container. If the water doesn’t all fit, reserve and add later after you strain. Pulse until everything is well processed and smooth.
- Strain out the pulp of the pineapple with a sieve, as you pour the pineapple water into a pitcher. Stir in any remaining water.
- Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
- Garnish with fresh mint or basil leaves, a slice of lime or a wedge of pineapple, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 134kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 15mg, Potassium: 189mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 96IU, Vitamin C: 79mg, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 1mg
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
