Almond Free Chilled Lemon Ginger Agua Fresca
Bright, zippy, and genuinely refreshing, this chilled drink is the kind of thing you'll want to keep a pitcher of in the fridge all week long. Fresh ginger is simmered and steeped until the liquid turns deeply aromatic and pleasantly spicy, then balanced with real lemon juice and a touch of maple syrup for natural sweetness. The result is a drink that feels sophisticated without requiring any special equipment or hard-to-find ingredients — just a saucepan, a strainer, and a pitcher. Because everything here is made from scratch with whole, simple ingredients, there's zero guesswork about what's actually in your glass. A pinch of fine salt quietly ties all the flavors together in a way that makes the lemon and ginger really pop. Served over ice with a few lemon slices and fresh mint, it looks as good as it tastes — effortlessly pretty for a backyard gathering or a quiet afternoon at home.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 3 cups cold water, divided
- 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4 lemons)
- 4 tbsp maple syrup, or more to taste
- ⅛ tsp fine salt
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- lemon slices, for serving (optional)
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine 1 cup of the water and the sliced ginger in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 5 minutes, until the water is fragrant and lightly golden.
- 2
Remove from the heat and let the ginger steep in the hot water for 20 minutes, until the liquid is deeply aromatic and noticeably spicy.
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