During balmy weather, one woman says she never feels dehydrated “due to one delicious drink” – and it’s super easy to make.
British summer has been a mixture of overcast grey clouds and intermittent periods of strong sunshine and humid heat.
Journalist Shania King-Soyza admitted that as much as loves the good weather, too much heat can make her feel “lethargic” and gives her an “awful headache”.
Shania explained: “This is mainly due to my lack of water intake.” On a mission to “find the best alternative to water that would keep [her feeling] refreshed”, the Express.co.uk journalist “stumbled across a watermelon coconut agua fresca”.
Courtesy of Caroline’s Cooking, Shania said that since drinking the juice, she hasn’t felt dehydrated or suffered from terrible headaches during hot weather.
What is an agua fresca?
“An agua fresca is a light drink that’s popular in Mexico,” Caroline noted. “It’s typically a combination of one or more fruits, water and a little sugar to sweeten, although it depends on the fruit.”
Shania’s version of watermelon coconut agua fresca is ready in just five minutes, but you do need a juicer (or a blender) to make the summer drink.
How to make agua fresca?
Method
For this recipe, you will need to use a ripe, sweet, and juicy watermelon, so taste test your melon before juicing.
Begin by cutting your large watermelon into four. Place the watermelon and three mint leaves into your juicer or blender.
If you’re using a blender, strain the juice afterwards, or for more flavour, keep the mint leaves at the bottom of your glass. Once done, pour in a jug or a mixing bowl and add coconut milk.
At this stage, you can test the flavour. As both fruits have a subtle taste, most people opt for sugar to increase the sweetness. Shania opted not to use any sugar; instead, she juiced half a large pineapple and added it to the mixture.
Once done, squeeze in a whole lime (avoiding the seeds), which will complement the taste of the watermelon and mint. Pour into glasses with ice, then add mint leaves and a slice of watermelon to garnish.
If you’re serving at a party and care about presentation, Shania advises using red fruit such as strawberries or raspberries for a richer colour.
Shania had a pink dragon fruit at home, so she scooped one spoonful into the blender; she said : “The colour was so pretty.”
Nutritional benefits
Watermelon is made up of 92% water. It is “one of the most hydrating foods you can eat”, noted Healthline.
One cup (154g) serves around 118ml of water, some fibre, and nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A and magnesium. “It is also quite low in calories, providing only 46 calories per cup,” Healthline added.
Watermelon is also “full” of antioxidants and anti-cancer properties, such as lycopene, which protects cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Coconut water is rich in electrolytes, including potassium, sodium, and chloride, and studies have shown that it may be beneficial for rehydrating.
