Agua fresca de piña y hierbabuena – Mexican-style pineapple and mint drink Recipe
Agua fresca de piña y hierbabuena is a lightly sweet drink made from blended pineapple, water, and fresh mint. In Mexico, these aguas frescas are sold at street stalls in huge glass jars, especially on hot days. This pineapple and mint version is as refreshing as homemade lemonade, but with a tropical twist.
This agua fresca transports you straight to a Mexican street, where huge glass jars of chilled drinks help people cool down in the hottest weather. The combination of ripe pineapple, lime, and mint tastes like a cross between tropical juice and lemonade, but without the heavy sweetness of store-bought sodas. The mint adds not only aroma, but also a real feeling of refreshment after just a few sips.
Chef's tips
Use a really ripe pineapple – the sweeter the fruit, the less sugar you’ll need to add and the more natural the flavor will be. If the drink is going to sit in the fridge for a while, add the ice only right before serving, otherwise the agua fresca will quickly become diluted. Lightly crush the mint in your hands or with a spoon before adding it to the jug – this way it will release much more aroma.
How to serve
It tastes best well chilled, served in tall glasses with large ice cubes and a slice of lime – a perfect drink for a balcony barbecue or a lazy afternoon at the allotment. It pairs well with spicy snacks like nachos or quesadillas, as it softens the heat of chili. You can also serve it to children at birthday parties instead of colorful fizzy drinks.
Ingredients
- pineapple - 500 g
- water - 800 ml
- mint - 1 handful
- sugar - 2 tablespoons
- lime - 1 piece
- ice - 8 pieces
Preparation
- Cut the pineapple into smaller pieces and remove the hard core if it is very fibrous.
- Put the pineapple, half of the mint leaves, the sugar, and the lime juice into a blender. Pour in about half of the water.
- Blend for 1–2 minutes until you get a smooth liquid. If the blender struggles, do this in two batches.
- Pour the drink through a fine sieve into a jug, pressing the pulp with a spoon to extract as much juice as possible. If you like drinks with pulp, you can skip this step.
- Add the remaining water and stir. Taste and sweeten more or add more lime juice if needed.
- Add ice cubes to the jug and the remaining mint leaves, lightly crushed in your hands to release their aroma.
- Serve immediately in tall glasses, well chilled if possible.
Storage
Keep any leftovers in the fridge for up to 24 hours, tightly covered. Stir before serving, as the pulp may separate from the liquid. Add fresh ice and mint just before drinking.
