Skip to main content
Bon Appétit

Chile-Cucumber Agua Fresca

4.8

(11)

Two Cucumber Agua Fresca drinks on green tile
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua

This drink is as cool as you’d expect from blended cucumber, sure—but it’s also got notes of citrus, star anise, ginger, and habanero that bring the warmth, heat, and acidity that will keep you coming back sip after sip. By infusing the habanero into a syrup, chef José Roberto Ricalde Gonzalez of the food waste–saving community kitchen Refettorio Mérida captures the chile’s fruitiness while taming its unapologetic heat. Pair this punchy drink with salty or rich foods at any time of day­, or try it after hours with a splash of your favorite Mexican spirit.

All products featured on Bon Appétit are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through the retail links below, we earn an affiliate commission.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4–6 servings

Ingredients

1

small English hothouse cucumber (about 8 oz.)

⅓

cup sugar

1

3" piece ginger, scrubbed, sliced

1

habanero chile, halved

10

star anise pods

1

tsp. whole cloves

3

Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Cucumber ribbons or slices (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Peel cucumber; set peel aside. Cut flesh into 1" pieces and transfer to a blender.

    Step 2

    Heat sugar, ginger, chile, star anise, cloves, reserved cucumber peel, and 1 cup water in small saucepan over medium, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit 10 minutes.

    Step 3

    Strain syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into blender; discard solids. Add lemon juice and 2 cups ice and blend until smooth. Strain agua fresca through sieve into a medium pitcher; discard solids.

    Step 4

    Pour agua fresca into ice-filled glasses and garnish with cucumber ribbons. 

    Do ahead: Agua fresca can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Stir well before using.

Explore Bon AppétitDrinksCold DrinkPitcher DrinkNonalcoholicCucumberVegetableChileHabanero Chile
Sign In or Subscribe
to leave a Rating or Review

How would you rate Chile-Cucumber Agua Fresca?

Leave a Review

Reviews (11)

Back to Top

  • Good flavors but this recipe only makes 2 servings, not 4-6 as advertised. If I make it again I will double the recipe

    • Danielle

    • Colorado

    • 10/21/2023

  • I wonder, would this better with lime?

    • Anonymous

    • 7/7/2022

  • Where’s the recipe dude? I’m signed in and still have to work for it and watch pop-ups?! No thanks.

    • Anonymous

    • 7/7/2022

  • Delicious, though I cut the sugar down to 1/4 cup.

    • Patty Russell

    • Orange County, CA

    • 6/27/2022

  • I had the same problem. It is something with multiple accounts. They can fix.

    • Astoria Reader

    • Astoria NY

    • 5/1/2022

  • Why not letting me have the recipe. I am a subscriber!

    • Peggy

    • Everett, WA

    • 5/1/2022