Artificial Food Coloring Free Orange Cinnamon Agua Fresca
Bright, citrusy, and lightly spiced, this agua fresca is the kind of refreshing drink that makes you wonder why you ever reached for a bottle of something neon-colored. Store-bought fruit drinks and flavored waters are notorious for sneaking in synthetic dyes, even when the flavor sounds totally natural — so making your own is genuinely the smartest move. Here, fresh navel oranges do all the heavy lifting, delivering a vivid, sunset-orange hue that comes entirely from real fruit. A quick cinnamon tea brewed from a single stick adds warmth and depth without any flavoring packets or artificial shortcuts. Maple syrup sweetens things just enough, and a pinch of salt rounds out the flavor in a way that feels surprisingly sophisticated. The whole thing gets blended smooth and strained into a pitcher, so what ends up in your glass is clean, pure, and completely free of anything you can't pronounce. Serve it over ice with a fresh orange wedge and it looks every bit as beautiful as anything you'd find at a restaurant.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 large navel oranges, peeled and segmented (about 3 cups flesh)
- 2 cups cold water
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ tsp fine salt
For the cinnamon tea
- 1 cup water, for the cinnamon tea
For serving
- ice, for serving
- orange slices or wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the cinnamon stick and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 5 minutes, until the water is lightly amber and fragrant. Remove from heat and let the cinnamon tea cool for 15 minutes, then discard the cinnamon stick.
- 2
Add the orange segments, cooled cinnamon tea, 2 cups cold water, maple syrup, and salt to a blender. Blend on high for 30–45 seconds, until completely smooth.
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