Cucumber Ginger Mint Agua Fresca
by Sommer Collier — last updated on May 15, 2026 
My Cucumber Ginger Mint Agua Fresca is the ultra-refreshing mocktail I make on hot summer days. I blend cool cucumber, fresh mint, and zingy ginger with water and plenty of ice for a crisp drink that’s light, refreshing, and incredibly easy to sip. I also love customizing it with fresh fruit or even a splash of alcohol when I want to turn it into a cocktail.
Sip, sip… Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! That is the reaction of everyone who tastes my fantastic fresh-made cucumber ginger mint agua fresca recipe. Agua fresca, translated as fresh water or cool water, is a delightful nonalcoholic beverage originating in Mexico. Together, fresh raw cucumbers, lime juice, mint leaves, and ginger root create a bright and power-packed flavor, with subtle spicy undertones. It’s similar to my quick and easy jugo verde recipe, but this cucumber drink swaps parsley (or cilantro) with mint and just the right amount of ginger. I simply throw all the ingredients in the blender and puree it until the mixture is very smooth, then strain it and serve over ice. This cucumber agua fresca, aka agua de pepino, is a refreshing and healthy drink that the whole family will love!
Janis – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic! Great combination of flavors and so quick and easy to make. Threw everything in the vitamix and it came out smooth as velvet! Was a huge hit when I made for lunch with a good friend; there’s just enough leftover to make a fresh gin cocktail this evening!
Table of Contents
Sommer’s Recipe Highlights
Easy Make-Ahead Drink – The blender breaks down the sugar, so it dissolves into the water. Therefore, there’s no need to make a simple syrup before starting. So you can make this easy recipe in a large batch ahead of time, and keep it in the fridge for up to a week or so to serve on those hot summer days.
Variations Galore – While I’m a huge fan of this original recipe, there are several ways you can swap and/or add ingredients to make the drink your own. Add different fruits, a bit of bubbly soda, or even a splash (or two) of alcohol for an adults-only beverage. Keep reading for my full list of Recipe Variations!
Perfect Summer Drink – No matter what ingredients you wind up using, you’ll want to first fill glasses with plenty of ice, especially on those super hot days! This recipe makes approximately 6 servings, but honestly, when it’s super hot, I could drink it all by myself within a couple of days. But sometimes I share… Sometimes.
Key Ingredients and Tips
- English cucumbers – These are the long, thinner cucumbers with small seeds. They offer the best mild sweet flavor.
- Lime – I freshly squeeze limes for a lime juice that is bright and flavorful. Please don’t ever use the bottled stuff; it has a weird chemical taste.
- Sugar – Granulated white sugar adds a touch of sweetness. I’ve got some alternatives below if you’d prefer a less sweet version!
- Fresh mint leaves -The flavor of mint makes this agua fresca extra refreshing, and I think it is lovely with the mild cucumber flavor.
- Fresh ginger – There’s no need to peel the ginger, because it will get strained out before serving.
- Water – I recommend using water that is already cold.
How To Make
Find the full ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, storage tips, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Prep – I start by getting out my high-speed blender. Then I juice the limes and roughly chop the cucumber. However, there’s no need to peel the cucumber or the ginger in this recipe, as everything will be strained out later.
Add – Now I place the cucumber, freshly squeezed lime juice, sugar, most of the mint leaves (I’m saving the rest as a garnish), and fresh ginger in the blender jar. Then pour in half of the water.
Blend – I put the lid on the blender, and blend the ingredients on high speed until it turns into a frothy liquid. This might take several minutes, so be patient! (If I can do it, you can do it, too. :))
Strain – Once the veggies, herbs, and water are pureed, I strain the agua fresca through a fine mesh strainer or sieve to remove the pulp. (This is also the not-so-secret-secret to make smooth Brazilian lemonade.) To do this, I put the strainer directly over a large pitcher and slowly pour the juice from the blender jar. Don’t do it all at once, or the sieve might overflow and spill! Depending on how much pulp there is, you might need to work in batches and clean out the sieve a few times.
Finish and Serve – Now, I add the rest of the water to the pitcher. Then stir, and either place it in the fridge to chill or serve right away in glasses over ice. I add a few fresh mint leaves to each glass as well to make a pretty garnish.
Recipe Variations
- Make it a more traditional Mexican drink by including grains, nuts, or flowers like hibiscus (also known as jamaica).
- Add extra fresh fruits! This mexican mocktail recipe would also be absolutely delicious with watermelon or cantaloupe. If you are looking for a drink that’s much heavier on the fruit, I suggest trying my other aqua fresca recipe with strawberries and pineapples.
- If you don’t want to add granulated sugar, you can add honey, agave syrup, or even a little bit of maple syrup as a lower-sugar sweetener!
- You can substitute the limes for lemons if you prefer.
- If you don’t have mint, basil would work well too!
- You can serve glasses as-is or add a splash of lemon-lime soda for a little effervescence to each drink.
- You can also turn cucumber agua fresca into a perky alcoholic summer cocktail by adding 1-2 shots of vodka, tequila, or rum to each glass before serving.
- Make it spicy by adding a serrano or jalapeno to the blender! Sometimes, I add two for a muy caliente agua fresca!
Frequently Asked Questions
No, agua fresca is a little different than juice because juice is made solely from the liquid that is pressed from fruit or veggies. Agua fresca is a combination of juice, water, and sugar for even more hydration and a light, refreshing punch of flavor.
I guess technically no, but you definitely will not have a smooth, fluid juice. Even after blending well you can wind up with tiny pieces of ginger, herb stems, etc in the drinks. Personally, I’m not a fan of a thicker version. If you don’t have a fine strainer, you can place a paper towel in a colander and slowly pour it through.
You can store any leftover agua fresca mocktail in the fridge for up to 3 days! Stir or shake before serving, then pour it over ice!
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More Drink Recipes
Cucumber Ginger Mint Agua Fresca
Video
Ingredients
- 2 large English cucumbers cut into chunks
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (8-10 limes)
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 10-15 fresh mint leaves
- 1 piece fresh ginger (1-2 inches)
- 4 cups water, divided
Instructions
- Prepare all the ingredients and place in a blender jar. Add 2 cups water. Cover and blend until the mixture is very smooth.
- Place a sieve over a pitcher. Pour the agua fresca through the strainer to remove the pulp. Add the remaining 2 cups water. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
Fantastic! Great combination of flavors and so quick and easy to make. Threw everything in the vitamix and it came out smooth as velvet!
Was a huge hit when I made for lunch with a good friend; there’s just enough leftover to make a fresh gin cocktail this evening!
I love the ginger in this! I found some of it was hard to go through the sieve and I ended up scooping out the thicker/frothier part (ate it with a spoon though!) and pushed as much through the strainer as I could. This drink gives an immediate boost of energy and feels like a fancy spa drink.
This is daaaangerous! It tastes like it already has gin in it! I kind of hope my guests don’t like it tomorrow so there’s more for me. It’s also stupid easy to make!
wonderful
I made this in a big batch at a bbq party last summer. Half mocktail and half spiked with gin. It was such a big hit that the host asked that I make it again for their backyard party this weekend.
Thank you for the recipe.
I love aqua Frescas especially since I am not a huge fan of regular water. I just made this one but I added some fresh blueberries and I let everything “steep” overnight in the blender jar in the fridge and then strain it the next day. I typically freeze some into ice cubes as well! So yummy!
I love it. I grew cucumbers and mint in my backyard. This is so refreshing! The vitamin content is awesome. I will make this a lot.
Thanks for sharing! How far ahead of time can I make it?
Hi Vanessa,
You can make this a couple of days in advance.