Refreshing Agua de Piña, Pineapple Water, is a thirst quenching drink especially in the hot summer months. It’s fast and easy to make. You’ll love the lightly sweet pineapple flavor!
Agua Fresca fans will want to add this recipe to your rotation!
Pineapple agua fresca is full of flavor, not overly sweet and goes with everything from your favorite Mexican food to grilled recipes.
Fresh ripe pineapple is center stage in this non-alcholic drink.
If you love pineapple juice, you’ll want to drink pineapple water all summer long
What is Agua de Piña?
Pineapple water is a type of Agua Fresca; translated ‘fresh water’.
These fresh drinks are made with fruit, water and sugar. They are very popular in Mexico, Latin America and areas of the United States.
Agua Frescas are lightly sweet and very refreshing. There is enough fresh fruit to give great authentic flavor but not so much that they taste like juice. Agua fresca is particularly thirst quenching in the hotter months.
Agua de Pina is the pineapple version. Equal parts pineapple and water are blended then strained for a smooth pineapple water. A bit of lime perks up the flavor too.
This Mexican pineapple water is a favorite anytime.
Recipe Ingredients Notes
Pineapple. Use a ripe flavorful pineapple (how to pick it below). Prepared fresh pineapple chunks can also be used to save time. Do not use canned pineapple.
Water. The flavor of the water makes a bigger difference in how the final Agua de Piña will taste. If possible used filtered water.
Lime juice. You’ll need the juice of one lime. Use fresh lime juice. I use a hand held juicer for best juice extraction.
Granulated Sugar. Only a half cup is used and gives just a light, natural sweet flavor to the agua fresca.
How to pick a ripe pineapple
Choose a pineapple that is plump and round. It should not have wrinkles or cracks.
Look for fresh green leaves. They should look healthy. If you’ve heard the ease of pulling a leaf is an indicator of ripeness, experts no longer believe that to be true.
Smell the pineapple at the base. It should have a fresh pineapple smell not a heavy almost fermented aroma which means it has over ripened. If it has no smell it’s under ripe.
It should be firm to the touch, not soft. It can give a little but not alot which means it has over ripened.
Color isn’t a good indicator. Some pineapples are harvested ripe and are still green. Others can be a yellow color. They should not be reddish-brown.
Pineapples do not tend to ripen more after they are harvested. So until some fruits that will continue to ripen after you buy them, a pineapple should be purchased fully ripe.
How to correctly cut a pineapple
- Twist off the top (leaves) or cut across the pineapple just below the crown of leaves.
- Cut the pineapple into quarters lengthwise.
- Cut out the woody core.
- Cut off the skin removing the ‘eyes’ but saving as much of the flesh as possible.
- Note: the sweetest most ripe fruit is on the outer part of the pineapple cut away as little as possible.
- Cut the remaining fruit into cubes.
How to make Pineapple Water – Step-by-Step
STEP 1. Blend
Combine the pineapple and the cups of water. Blend to puree.
NOTE: depending on the size of your blender this will need to be done in batches.
STEP 2. Strain
Strain the pineapple-water mixture through a fine mesh seive.
This will remove the pulp leaving a smooth beverage. Discard the pulp.
STEP 3. Finish the Agua de Piña
Put the pineapple water in a glass pitcher or large jar. Stir in the lime juice and add sugar. Stir to dissolve.
STEP 4. Chill
Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be served as is or over ice.
How to store it
Store covered in a glass large pitcher or in a sealed jar for up to 3 days.
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Recipe
Agua de Piña (Pineapple Water)
Ingredients
- 1 medium Pineapple or 5 cups pineapple
- 5 1/2 cups Water filtered if possible
- Juice from 1 Lime
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
Instructions
- Place the pineapple and water into a blender and process until smooth. NOTE: do this in multiple batches as needed.
- Using a fine mesh sieve, strain the pineapple pulp leaving only liquid.
- Place in a glass pitcher or large glass jar. Stir in the lime juice and sugar. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Sommer says
This drink is so refreshing, and the flavor of the pineapple makes it so much more delicious (and makes me think its summertime already!)
Lindsay says
Such a fabulous summer drink! So refreshing!