Aguas frescas

Aguas frescas[1][2] (Spanish for "cool waters", or literally "fresh waters") are light non-alcoholic beverages made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water. They are popular in Mexico, Central America and the United States. Some of the more common flavors include tamarind, hibiscus, and horchata.

"Agua fresca" redirects here. For the Native American tribe known as the Agua Fresca, see Utina. For the castle of Aguas Frescas, home of the fictional Count Almaviva, see The Marriage of Figaro (play).

Two types of aguas frescas in a Mexican taqueria in Seattle. On the left is a jar of agua de flor de Jamaica, and on the right is horchata. The drinks are ladled from the jars into glasses.
Chia seed agua fresca
Guava agua fresca

Aguas frescas are sold by street vendors, but can also be found in bodegas (convenience stores), restaurants and juice bars[3].

Terminology

There is some confusion in terms internationally between the drinks referred to here and bottled soft drinks. In Guatemala and Nicaragua, these are referred to as frescos, short for refresco, which in Mexico means soft drinks. Soft drinks in Guatemala are called aguas, short for aguas gaseosas, but easily confused with the Mexican aguas frescas.

Types

In Mexico, it is common to find aguas frescas in these flavors:

Sweet fruits

Sour fruits

Seeds
  • Chía, often blended with vegetables

Cereals

Flowers
  • Hibiscus tea, also called agua de (Flor de) Jamaica or sorrel, popular also in Jamaica and West Africa
  • Alfalfa

See also

References
  1. Onstott, Jane (2010). National Geographic Traveler: Mexico. National Geographic Books. p. 36. ISBN 9781426205248. aguas frescas national geographic.
  2. https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english/aguas-frescas-traditional-mexican-beverages
  3. https://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3224-mexico-s-delicious-fresh-fruit-drinks-aguas-frescas
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