Celebrate Watermelon Day With Agua Fresca

There’s no other fruit that embodies summer quite like the watermelon. A warm-weather essential for gatherings and backyard parties, it seems only fitting that this iconic melon should have its own holiday, and this Sunday is exactly that: National Watermelon Day. You may not get the day off from work, but August 3rd is still a day worth celebrating.

Composed of over 90% water, these aptly named and subtly sweet melons are hot weather perfection, and have been providing refreshment since their first recorded harvest in Egypt almost 5,000 years ago — watermelons were so revered, they were even placed in the burial chambers of royals to give nourishment in the afterlife. But the watermelon isn’t just beneficial in its ability to hydrate, they’re brimming with nutritional goodness as well and are an amazing source of vitamin C and lycopene (which aides in cardiovascular health).

If you’re looking for a new way to enjoy these bright green and pink beauties, today we’re making watermelon agua fresca, which might just be even more refreshing than the melons themselves.

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Ingredients:
Makes about 8 servings

4 cups fresh chilled watermelon, seeded and cubed

1/2 cup water

1 lime sliced into wedges

1 small bunch of mint, about 25 leaves

Honey or agave nectar to taste (about 8 tsp)

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Combine the watermelon and water in a blender and puree until smooth. Add a lime wedge, a few mint leaves and a dash of honey to each glass and muddle the ingredients with a spoon. Add some ice to the glasses and pour over the agua fresca, stir to combine and serve. Depending on the sweetness of the watermelon and your preference, you may want to add more honey, or possibly use less.

Watermelon Agua Fresca

What’s your favorite way to enjoy watermelon? Let us know in the comments!

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9 years ago
jessi
9 years ago

we have a watermelon festival here in richmond to celebrate!!

9 years ago

Watermelon is one of my favourite fruits and making them into drink is just voila <3
Thanks for sharing this. xo

http://www.kinikunormal.blogspot.com/

Liz
9 years ago

holy smokes that looks so good! I will definitely be making these on sunday (but realistically i will use any old excuse to make a watermelon recipe) http://fleurs-de-liz.blogspot.ca

Thomas
9 years ago

This sucks – save your watermelon. Do not try.

9 years ago

This was amazing, just tried it! So refreshing!

http://www.readygypsetgo.com

9 years ago

Yum!!!!

Naly
8 years ago

This is not Agua Fresca. I would know coming from a Mexican family that makes this all the time.