Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca (Recipe Inspired by THE UNHONEYMOONERS)

Fair warning, Tartlets: once you taste a Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca, it will be your new summer drink obsession.

#SorryNotSorry

I know a lot of people prefer alcoholic summery drinks (Rosé all day, and all that), but we at the Cottage aren’t really a booze-lovin’ bunch. That said, I still enjoy a good refreshing drink, especially when I’m reading under my pergola during the sweltering New Jersey summers.

What is the book-inspired recipe for The Unhoneymooners?

Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca is my book-inspired recipe for The Unhoneymooners, which is the perfect read to put you in a fun, summery mood.

This fresh, super simple drink is this book’s perfect culinary compliment. The pineapple is obviously a nod to Olive and Ethan’s time in Hawaii, and the agua fresca is a great nod to Olive’s Mexican heritage.

What’s agua fresca?

What’s agua fresca, you ask? Don’t worry; I didn’t know what it was until a few years ago, when I read about them in Adrianna Adarme’s The Year of Cozy.

Agua fresca is a blended fruit drink popular in Mexico and parts of the U.S. It’s made with fresh fruit, water, and a small amount of sugar.

You shove all the ingredients into a blender, give it a whirl, and POOF! You’ve got agua fresca.

Ummm… is Agua Fresca just “fruity water”?

While the premise of agua fresca seems simple, let me be the first to assure that this amazingly refreshing drink is somehow SO much more than water and fruit.

You can use honey, agave nectar, or sugar to sweeten an agua fresca, but this Pineapple Mint version uses a mint-infused simple syrup, which is super easy to make.

Why I love Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca

I have to admit, I’m not a huge pineapple fan. Or a mint fan. But, I’m completely sold on this Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca.

The combination of flavors is insanely addicting, mostly because the zippy mint syrup perfectly counters the brightness of the fresh pineapple. There’s also a little bit of lime juice in there to help with that sweet-and-sour balance.

I could drink this Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca every day for the rest of the summer. In fact, I’m sipping on one of these babies as I type up this post.

The recipe below makes about 4 servings, but I’m thinking of doubling or tripling it for an upcoming BBQ we’re having. Since there are so few ingredients, it’s the perfect beverage to make for a group, especially since the mint simple syrup makes enough for several batches of agua fresca.

While I may not be able to get to Hawaii this year like Olive and Ethan, at least I can pretend I’m there when I’m sipping on my own Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca.

What do you serve with Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca?

Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca, along with Super Simple Lemonade and Mint Iced Tea, is the perfect drink to have on hand for for summer BBQs, potlucks, and picnics. You can create a Tex-Mex themed feast and serve agua fresca with Loaded Turkey Nachos, Steak Tacos, or Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas.

For dessert, Coconut Cupcakes, Cardamom Banana Cake, or Cinnamon Hot Chocolate Ice Cream will carry the vacation flavors through to the end of the meal!

Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca

A refreshing and fruity drink made with fresh pineapple, mint simple syrup, lime juice, and water. Serve over ice for the perfect summer drink!

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

MINT SIMPLE SYRUP INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves

PINEAPPLE MINT AGUA FRESCA INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups cubed, fresh pineapple
• 2 cups water
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/4 cup mint simple syrup (see above)
• extra mint leaves, for garnishing

Instructions

 

MINT SIMPLE SYRUP INSTRUCTIONS

• Combine water, sugar, and fresh mint in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring regularly to help the sugar dissolve, then let simmer 2 minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the stove and let cool for 30 minutes, leaving mint leaves in the pot to steep in the syrup.
• Pour the cooled syrup into a lidded container or jar (you may want to use a small strainer for this), then discard the mint leaves. Syrup will keep in a covered jar in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.

PINEAPPLE MINT AGUA FRESCA INSTRUCTIONS

• Add pineapple, water, lime juice, and mint syrup to a blender. Put the lid on the blender and blend using the “Smoothie/Puree” function until the mixture is smooth. Taste, and add more lime juice or mint syrup to your liking, if needed.
• Pour agua fresca into glasses filled with ice, then garnish with mint leaves. Serve immediately.