Citric Acid Free Chilled Lemon Ginger Agua Fresca
Bright, zippy, and genuinely refreshing, this chilled agua fresca is the kind of drink that makes a hot afternoon feel instantly more manageable. Fresh ginger is simmered and steeped until the liquid turns deeply aromatic and pleasantly spicy, giving the whole drink a warmth that balances beautifully against the citrus. Here's the thing about citric acid sensitivity — it's not just about avoiding the obvious culprits. Many packaged drinks and flavored waters sneak in citric acid as a preservative or flavor enhancer, making store shelves trickier to navigate than they should be. This recipe sidesteps all of that by using freshly squeezed lemon juice, which delivers natural acidity without any added citric acid isolate in the mix. Maple syrup brings a gentle, rounded sweetness that plays off the ginger's heat, and a pinch of salt ties everything together in a way that feels surprisingly sophisticated. Pour it over ice with a few mint sprigs and you've got a drink that looks as good as it tastes.
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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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