Cinnamon Free Chilled Lemon Ginger Agua Fresca
Bright, zingy, and impossibly refreshing, this chilled agua fresca is the kind of drink that makes you wonder why you ever reached for a store-bought bottle. Fresh ginger is simmered and steeped until the water turns deeply aromatic and spicy, then blended with real lemon juice, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt for a perfectly balanced sip. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of the warm baking spice that shows up uninvited in so many flavored beverages and packaged drink mixes — no label-scanning required. The maple syrup adds a gentle, round sweetness that plays beautifully against the sharp citrus and the slow heat of the ginger. Served over ice with a few lemon slices and fresh mint, it looks stunning on a table and tastes even better than it looks. Make a big pitcher ahead of time and keep it in the fridge — it only gets better as it chills.
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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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