Agua de piña, also known as pineapple agua fresca, is a fruity, refreshing, and bright Mexican drink. It’s made with only 3 ingredients and can be customized to your liking!
If you’re in the mood for a thirst-quenching and tasty drink, you need to try agua de piña (pineapple agua fresca)! It’s made with fresh pineapple, water, and sugar, and it’s simply delightful.
It’s best served chilled over ice and can be garnished with some mint leaf sprigs and lime wedges for a little extra brightness.
Picking the Best Pineapple
This agua fresca uses fresh pineapple which takes this drink to another level of refreshing! If you want to make the best version of this delicious thirst quencher, you’ll need to know how to pick a good, sweet, ready-to-eat pineapple. These are the things you should look for:
- Color: Make sure it’s greenish-yellow; brown signifies the fruit breaking down.
- Squeeze: When you lightly squeeze the outside, there should be a little give (not a lot).
- Smell: Bring the bottom of the fruit close to your nose, and there should be a distinct pineapple smell.
- Weight: The pineapple should feel heavy. Its weight is a sign that it will be juicy.
More Aguas Frescas
There are many flavors of aguas frescas made from different ingredients, including fruits, teas, and even rice! Here are some different aguas frescas to enjoy:
- Cucumber – Agua de Pepino
- Tamarind – Agua de Tamarindo
- Hibiscus – Agua de Jamaica
- Rice and Almond – Horchata
- Watermelon – Agua de Sandia
- Fresa – Agua de Fresa
- Cantaloupe – Agua de Melon
Ingredients
- Pineapple: Make sure to peel and dice into large pieces.
- Water: Simple, clean, cold water.
- Granulated sugar: To sweeten the drink just a bit. This is entirely optional, depending on the sweetness of the fruit. Start with very little, then adjust the amount as you go. You could also use a different sweetener if you prefer.
How to Make Agua de Piña
Blend the pineapple, water, and sugar in a large blender until smooth. You may have to do this in batches if your blender isn’t big enough.
Strain the mixture into a pitcher to remove any pulp. If you like the pulp, you can skip this step.
Take a sip and taste. Stir in more sugar if desired. Serve the agua de piña over ice with a squeeze of lemon or lime!
Tips
- For a less sweet agua fresca, only use half of the sugar.
- You can use a different sweetener like agave or honey if you prefer.
- Add a squeeze of lemon or lime for a fresh citrus twist!
- If you like pulp, you can omit using the strainer.
Recommended Tools
- Blender: A powerful blender is a must when blending fruit to make sure it all gets smooth.
- Pitcher: Here’s a great glass pitcher with a lid that fits perfectly in the fridge!
- Strainer: This one comes in 3 different sizes and is perfect for straining any aguas frescas.
Storage
To store, place leftover agua de piña in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
More Recipes
Agua de Piña (Pineapple Agua Fresca)
Ingredients
- 1 medium pineapple, peeled and diced into large chunks
- 6 cups water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Add the pineapple, water, and sugar into a large blender. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth. You may have to do this in batches if your blender isn't big enough.
- Taste and blend in more sugar if desired. Strain the mixture into a pitcher to remove any pulp.
- Serve immediately over ice or chill in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of sugar based on the ripeness of your cantaloupe or to your liking. For a less sweet agua fresca, only use half of the sugar.
- If you like pulp, you can omit straining the mixture.
- Add a squeeze of lemon or lime for a fresh citrus twist!
Nutrition Information
Photos by Erin Jensen of The Wooden Skillet.
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