Tamarind Agua Fresca
A deeply tangy, sweet-and-sour traditional Mexican cooler made from tamarind paste and cane sugar.
Base
none
Glassware
Highball glass
Flavor Profile
soursweetrefreshing
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste or concentrate
- 1 tbsp cane sugar or simple syrup, to taste
- 8 oz cold water
- Pinch of salt
- Lime wedge, to garnish
Instructions
- 1Dissolve tamarind paste and sugar in a small amount of warm water until smooth.
- 2Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a glass with ice to remove any seeds or fibers.
- 3Top with remaining cold water and add a pinch of salt.
- 4Stir well, taste and adjust sweetness, then garnish with a lime wedge.
Origin & Story
Mexico, traditional
Aguas frescas — fresh-water drinks blended from fruit, flowers, or seeds — are a cornerstone of Mexican daily life, sold from giant glass jars at markets and taquería counters. Tamarind is one of the most popular varieties, prized for its intense sweet-sour flavor that no other fruit quite replicates.
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