Artificial Flavors Free Cucumber-Basil Watermelon Agua Fresca
Summer drinks are often loaded with artificial colors, synthetic sweeteners, and "natural flavor" blends that are anything but straightforward — this one sidesteps all of that with nothing but real, whole ingredients you can see and taste. Ripe watermelon brings the sweetness, English cucumber adds a cool, clean freshness, and a generous handful of basil ties everything together with a subtle herbal note that makes this feel genuinely special. Fresh lime juice and a touch of honey give it just the right balance of bright and sweet, and a pinch of sea salt pulls the whole thing into focus. The blending and straining process is simple but makes a real difference, producing a silky, restaurant-quality drink that's light and incredibly refreshing. You can dial the sweetness up or down with extra honey, or add a little more lime if you want it punchier — it's completely in your hands. Served over ice with a sprig of basil or a few cucumber slices, this is the kind of drink that disappears fast at any gathering.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 6 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes (about ½ small watermelon)
- 1 medium english cucumber, peeled and roughly chopped
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1–2 tbsp honey, or to taste
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 cup cold water
For serving
- ice, for serving
- fresh basil sprigs or thin cucumber slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Add the watermelon cubes, chopped cucumber, basil leaves, lime juice, honey, salt, and cold water to a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 45–60 seconds.
- 2
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large pitcher. Pour the blended mixture through the strainer in batches, pressing gently on the solids with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
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