agua fresca

noun

agua fres·​ca ˈä-gwə-ˈfre-skə 

plural aguas frescas ˈä-gwəz-ˈfre-skəz  also agua frescas

: a beverage consisting of water and sugar with fruits, grains, or seeds added for flavoring

Tamarind is one of the most common flavors of agua fresca in Mexico …

—Fany Gerson

Most lime aguas frescas in Mexico City taste like a tangier version of lemonade. My recipe is slightly different, as it uses brown sugar instead of white …

—Lesley Téllez

These flashy agua frescas are served in barrel-shaped cups topped with fruit …

—Fielding Buck

… an agua fresca served in a quart Mason jar.

—Alison Cook

Examples of agua fresca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sipping on the watermelon, calamansi, ginger agua fresca was just the right pairing with my boldly piquant dinner. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

The Tropical Coco Fresca is a layered pineapple-watermelon agua fresca with chamoy lava Tajin® rim, paired with a scoop of icy coconut snow that melts into a creamy tropical explosion of flavors, sure to keep you cool in the Texas heat! — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026

Swing by for a fish taco and an agua fresca, and enjoy your meal outside. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Authentic Mexican street tacos, agua frescas and papas asadas (roasted potatoes). — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from American Spanish, literally, "cool water"

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above