agua fresca
noun
agua fres·ca
ˈä-gwə-ˈfre-skə 
plural aguas frescas
ˈä-gwəz-ˈfre-skəz
or less commonly agua frescas
or less commonly 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
Fany GersonMost 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
Lesley TéllezThese flashy agua frescas are served in barrel-shaped cups topped with fruit …—Fielding Buck
Fielding Buck… an agua fresca served in a quart Mason jar.—Alison Cook
Alison CookExamples of agua fresca in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ordering happens at a walk-up window, and the best place to sit is at the sidewalk tables, perhaps while sipping goldfinch-yellow agua fresca, a not-too-sweet blend of pineapple and cucumber.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Owner and El Centro local Ernie Quintero serves craft beers from his brewery in neighboring Imperial, but his best seller is his Jamaica Fuerte, a hard hibiscus tea served like an agua fresca.
—Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025
The menu features sandwiches, small bites, sweets and drinks like agua fresca, horchata, Jamaica, cafe de olla, lattes and lemonade.
—Bahar Anooshahr, AZCentral.com, 15 Aug. 2025
To drink, the bloody agua fresca ($6.50) combines watermelon and strawberry juice with a Tajín and lime rim.
—Irene Milanez, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025
Another delicious way to add mango to the menu is by combining it with your morning orange juice for a refreshing, chilled agua fresca.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2025
Reserve extra syrup for additional agua frescas or another use.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Refreshers and agua frescas are increasingly showing up on menus, while fast-food chains expand their specialty iced coffee, hot chocolate and energy drink options, according to market research firm Datassential.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Owner and El Centro local Ernie Quintero serves craft beers from his brewery in neighboring Imperial, but his best seller is his Jamaica Fuerte, a hard hibiscus tea served like an agua fresca.
—Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025
The menu features sandwiches, small bites, sweets and drinks like agua fresca, horchata, Jamaica, cafe de olla, lattes and lemonade.
—Bahar Anooshahr, AZCentral.com, 15 Aug. 2025
To drink, the bloody agua fresca ($6.50) combines watermelon and strawberry juice with a Tajín and lime rim.
—Irene Milanez, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025
Another delicious way to add mango to the menu is by combining it with your morning orange juice for a refreshing, chilled agua fresca.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2025
Reserve extra syrup for additional agua frescas or another use.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Refreshers and agua frescas are increasingly showing up on menus, while fast-food chains expand their specialty iced coffee, hot chocolate and energy drink options, according to market research firm Datassential.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agua fresca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agua%20fresca. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share