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Salted Honey Lime Watermelon Agua Fresca

ByKristen Wood Last updated

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My watermelon agua fresca is light, refreshing, and naturally sweet with fresh watermelon, honey, lime juice, and a pinch of sea salt. Served over ice, it’s an easy summer drink that’s perfect for cookouts, warm afternoons, or whenever you’re craving something cool. This vegetarian recipe can also be made vegan with one simple swap!

A glass of pink watermelon agua fresca with a lime slice and chili powder on the rim, placed on a blue and white patterned surface.
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A Note From Kristen

This recipe started with one simple thought: if salt makes watermelon taste even better, why not try it in an agua fresca? After testing different amounts of honey, lime, and salt, I landed on this perfectly balanced version that’s sweet, bright, and incredibly refreshing. I always serve it over lots of ice, and a Tajín rim takes it completely over the top. Happy sipping!
~Kristen

A glass of red watermelon agua fresca garnished with lime sits on a blue patterned surface, with watermelon slices and lime rounds nearby.

Key Ingredient Notes

A few quick notes on the ingredients that matter most. Find the full ingredient list and instructions in the recipe card below.

  • Honey: Adds additional sweetness and depth to the agua fresca. To make it vegan, swap with agave nectar, maple syrup, or your preferred sweetener.  
  • Lime Juice: Balances the sweetness of the watermelon and honey with acidity and brightness. Swap with lemon juice if that’s what you have, though the flavors will differ slightly. 
A glass of watermelon agua fresca garnished with a lime wheel sits on a blue mosaic table, with lime slices and watermelon pieces nearby.

How to Make Watermelon Agua Fresca

01

COMBINE

Combine the watermelon, water, lime juice, honey, and sea salt in a blender.

Cubed pieces of watermelon for refreshing watermelon agua fresca inside a blender, viewed from above, on a blue and white mosaic-patterned surface.

02

BLEND

Blend until smooth and frothy.

Top-down view of a blender containing a frothy pink liquid mixture, suggesting that ingredients for watermelon agua fresca have just been blended.

03

STRAIN

Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing gently to extract as much liquid as possible.

A close-up of a handheld blender mixing frothy watermelon agua fresca in a glass pitcher on a blue patterned surface.

04

SERVE OVER ICE, GARNISH, AND ENJOY

Serve over ice, garnished with fresh lime slices if desired. Enjoy!

A glass of red watermelon agua fresca with a chili-rimmed glass and lime slices, set on a blue patterned table with watermelon wedges in the background.

What to Serve with Watermelon Agua Fresca

  • Serve alongside veggie tacos, tofu tacos, enchiladas, or quesadillas.
  • Pair with grilled veggie skewers, burgers, or your favorite cookout dishes.
  • Enjoy with a fresh corn salad, black bean salad, or watermelon salad.
  • Sip with chips, salsa, and guacamole or a spread of hummus and fresh vegetables for a light lunch.
  • Add fresh mint, basil, or lime slices for an extra burst of flavor.
  • For a sweet-spicy finish, rim the glass with Tajín or another chile-lime seasoning!
A glass of red watermelon agua fresca cocktail with a chili-rimmed edge and a lime wedge garnish sits on a blue mosaic surface, with two lime slices placed beside the glass.

Kristen’s Tips

  • Use the ripest watermelon you can find for the sweetest, most flavorful drink.
  • Taste before serving and adjust the honey or lime juice to suit your personal preferences.
  • Want it extra cold? Chill the watermelon beforehand so you need less ice!
  • Freeze watermelon cubes to keep the drink cold without diluting it.
  • Give the pitcher a quick stir before serving if the juice has naturally separated.
A vibrant watermelon agua fresca cocktail with a lime slice garnish sits on a blue and white mosaic table; a wedge of watermelon is in the background.

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A glass of pink watermelon agua fresca with a lime slice and chili powder on the rim, placed on a blue and white patterned surface.

Salted Honey Lime Watermelon Agua Fresca

Author: Kristen Wood
371kcal
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Prep 10 minutes
Cook 0 minutes
Total 10 minutes
Fresh watermelon, lime juice, honey, and a pinch of sea salt come together in this refreshing watermelon agua fresca! This easy homemade Mexican-inspired drink is perfect for hot summer days, cookouts, and family gatherings.
Servings 4 servings
Course Drinks
Cuisine Central American, Mexican
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
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Ingredients

  • 1 mini seedless watermelon cubed, about 5 cups; see notes
  • 3 cups cold water
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey plus more to taste
  • small pinch sea salt
  • ice for serving
  • lime slices optional for serving
  • chile lime seasoning for the rim optional for serving, see notes below
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Method

  1. Add the watermelon, water, lime juice, honey, and salt to a blender.
  2. Blend until completely smooth and frothy.
  3. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher, gently pressing to extract the liquid.
  4. Optionally garnish with fresh lime slices. Serve over ice and enjoy cold!

Notes

I like to run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then dip it into chile-lime seasoning like Tajín for a festive garnish that adds a bright, tangy kick with every sip.
I prefer the flavor of a mini seedless watermelon, but any type of watermelon will work provided it is ripe and you strain well!
Storage
This drink is best enjoyed on the same day you make it. But, in case of leftovers, transfer them to a mason jar with a lid or an airtight container without the ice and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Note that separation may occur during storage, so give the container a good shake or stir before pouring over ice.
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Nutrition

Serving1.5cupsCalories371kcalCarbohydrates94gProtein7gFat2gSaturated Fat0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat1gMonounsaturated Fat0.4gSodium21mgPotassium1274mgFiber5gSugar78gVitamin A6405IUVitamin C93mgCalcium86mgIron3mg

Nutritional information is automatically calculated using a third-party calculator and is an estimate only.

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Kristen is a writer, photographer, recipe developer, and certified functional nutrition expert. She is also the author of Fermented Hot Sauce Cookbook, Vegetarian Family Cookbook, and Hot Sauce Cookbook for Beginners. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications including Elle, NBC, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, MSN, New York Daily News, Healthline, and many more. Kristen is also a syndicated writer for The Associated Press.

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