Honey Free Chilled Lemon Ginger Agua Fresca
Bright, zingy, and deeply refreshing, this agua fresca is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you're sitting somewhere sunny even on an ordinary afternoon. Fresh ginger is gently simmered and steeped until the water turns fragrant and spicy, giving the whole drink a warm backbone that plays beautifully against the tartness of real squeezed lemon juice. The sweetener here is pure maple syrup, which dissolves cleanly into the mix and keeps things completely free of bee-derived ingredients without sacrificing any of that satisfying sweetness. A pinch of salt rounds everything out in a way that's subtle but makes a noticeable difference. It comes together in one pitcher, chills quickly, and looks gorgeous served over ice with lemon slices and a sprig of fresh mint. Whether you're hosting or just treating yourself on a warm afternoon, this is the kind of homemade drink that's hard to go back to buying bottled.
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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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