Rice Free Peppermint Cocoa Agua Fresca
Cool, refreshing, and just a little indulgent, this peppermint cocoa agua fresca is the kind of drink that surprises you in the best way. It starts with a quick stovetop base of unsweetened cocoa and maple syrup whisked into water until silky smooth, then fresh peppermint leaves are steeped right in while the mixture is still warm, pulling out every bit of that bright, herbal flavor. Once strained and chilled with the remaining cold water, the result is a lightly sweet, chocolatey sipper with a cool minty finish that feels fancy without any real effort. Every single ingredient here is naturally grain-free and rice-free, so there's no label-scanning or substitution gymnastics required — just clean, whole ingredients doing exactly what they're supposed to do. It's an especially great option when you want something more interesting than plain water but lighter than a full hot cocoa. Serve it over ice with a fresh peppermint sprig and it looks as good as it tastes.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 cups cold water, divided
- 8 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh peppermint leaves, loosely packed
- ⅛ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- 4 fresh peppermint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine 1 cup of the cold water with the cocoa powder and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until the cocoa is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth and just beginning to steam, about 3–4 minutes — do not let it boil.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the peppermint leaves and fine sea salt, stir once to submerge the leaves, and let steep for 10 minutes.
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