Agua fresca syrup
A concentrated fruit and lime syrup that you dilute into jugs of aguas frescas or freeze into ice lollies.
Make this once, then cook it into 12 different dishes.
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.16 a head
- Makesabout 850 ml syrup, enough for 4 jugs of agua fresca
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the chopped fruit, sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over a medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- 2
Simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes until the fruit is very soft and the liquid has turned syrupy.
10 min - 3
Take off the heat and cool for 10 minutes. Blend until completely smooth, holding the lid with a tea towel.
- 4
Pour the purée through a sieve into a jug, pressing with a spoon, and discard the pulp. For a more rustic drink you can keep some pulp.
- 5
Stir in the lime juice and salt. Taste: it should taste a little too sweet and too sharp, because it is diluted before drinking.
- 6
Cool within 1 to 2 hours, then pour into a clean bottle and chill. To serve, mix 200 ml of syrup with 800 ml cold water and plenty of ice, then add more water to taste.
About agua fresca syrup
Agua fresca syrup is a concentrated base of cooked fruit, sugar and lime that is diluted with cold water to make aguas frescas, the light, fruity drinks sold from big glass jars across Mexico. It tastes bright, lightly sweet and sharply refreshing, with real fruit flavour rather than squash.
Aguas frescas are traditionally made by blending fresh fruit such as watermelon (sandía), melon, pineapple, strawberry or tamarind with water, a little sugar and lime. Making a cooked syrup base means you can keep it in the fridge and mix a jug in a minute, which suits busy households and parties.
Use the same syrup with sparkling water for a fizzy version, in cocktails and mocktails, drizzled over ice cream or yoghurt, or frozen into ice lollies.
Tips
- Choose ripe, sweet fruit in season: watermelon and strawberries in summer, pineapple and mango year round. Ripe fruit needs less sugar.
- Taste the syrup before diluting. It should be a little too sweet and too sour, because mixing with water and ice softens it.
- For a no added sugar version leave out the caster sugar and use very ripe watermelon or pineapple. It will keep for only 3 days.
- Add a few mint leaves or a thin slice of cucumber to the finished jug for a more refreshing drink.
- Freeze undiluted syrup in lolly moulds with a splash of water for fruity ice lollies.
Storing and freezing
Pour into a clean sterilised bottle and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze in 200 ml portions or ice cube trays for up to 3 months. Dilute only the amount you need.
Dishes you can make with agua fresca syrup
Agua Fresca de Sandía (Watermelon Agua Fresca)
GFDFEFAgua de Chía con Limón (Chia and Lime Agua Fresca)
GFDFEFAgua de Piña con Hierbabuena (Pineapple and Mint Agua Fresca)
GFDFEFLimonada Mineral de Fresa (Sparkling Strawberry Lime Soda)
GFDFEFPaletas de Sandía con Chile y Limón (Watermelon Chilli Lime Ice Lollies)
GFDFEFMangonada (Mango Chilli Slush)
GFDFEFRaspado de Fresa y Limón (Strawberry Lime Shaved Ice)
GFDFEFFruta Picada con Chile y Limón (Mexican Fruit Cup)
GFDFEFFresas con Crema (Mexican Strawberries and Cream)
GFEFNFNieve de Limón (Mexican Lime Sorbet)
GFDFEFPiña Asada con Chile y Limón (Grilled Pineapple with Chilli and Lime)
GFDFEFEnsalada de Sandía con Queso Fresco (Watermelon and Queso Fresco Salad)
EFNFQuestions
How much syrup do I need for a jug of agua fresca?
About 200 ml of syrup to 800 ml of cold water and ice for 4 servings. Start with less, taste, and add more syrup if you want a stronger flavour.
Which fruit works best?
Watermelon is the classic, but pineapple, strawberry, mango, melon and peach all work. Use one fruit per batch so the flavour stays clear.
Can I make agua fresca without cooking?
Yes. Traditional aguas frescas blend raw fruit with water, sugar and lime and drink it straight away. The cooked syrup is for storage and gives a smoother, longer lasting drink.
How long does the syrup keep?
Up to 5 days in the fridge in a clean bottle, and up to 3 months frozen. If it smells fermented or fizzy, throw it away.
Is it vegan and allergen friendly?
Yes. It contains only fruit, sugar, lime juice and salt, so it is vegan, gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free. It contains added sugar, so it is not a no added sugar recipe.
More base recipes
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.