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Aguas frescas[1][2] (Spanish for "cool waters", or literally "fresh waters") are light non-alcoholic beverages made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water. They are popular in Mexico, Central America, and parts of the United States such as the Southwest. Some of the more common flavors include tamarind, hibiscus, and horchata.
Aguas frescas are sold by street vendors, but can also be found in bodegas (convenience stores), restaurants and juice bars.[3]
Terminology
There is some confusion in terms internationally between the drinks referred to here and bottled soft drinks. In Guatemala and Nicaragua, these are referred to as "frescos", short for "refresco", which in Mexico means soft drinks. Soft drinks in Guatemala are called "aguas", short for aguas gaseosas, but easily confused with the Mexican aguas frescas.
Types
In Mexico, it is common to find aguas frescas in these flavors:
Sweet fruits
- Cantaloupe
- Grape
- Guava
- Mango
- Melon
- Prickly pear
- Orange
- Papaya
- Passion fruit
- Soursop
- Strawberry
- Watermelon
- Raspberry
Sour fruits
Seeds
- Chía, often blended with vegetables
Cereals
- Horchata
- Cebada
Flowers
- Hibiscus tea, also called "agua de (Flor de) Jamaica" or "sorrel", popular also in Jamaica and West Africa
- Alfalfa
See also
- Licuados
- Paletas
- Samalamig
References
- ^ Onstott, Jane (2010). National Geographic Traveler: Mexico. National Geographic Books. p. 36. ISBN 9781426205248.
aguas frescas national geographic.
- ^ "Aguas frescas, traditional Mexican beverages". El Universal (in Spanish). 14 September 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Mexico's delicious fresh fruit drinks: Aguas frescas : Mexico Cuisine". www.mexconnect.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.