Agua Fresca: Watermelon + Mint and Papaya + Lime

Papaya+Lime on the right,Watermelon+Mint on the left.

Let's be real here. An agua fresca is basically a fruit juice with a fancy-shmancy name. The important thing is this: it's light and sweet and cold and it may be all I drink this summer.

 But before I talk about the recipe, can we just take a moment to discuss the loveliness of limes? As if it weren't enough that lemons exist! Splendidly fresh-smelling citrusy-cool limes exist, too. How did we get to be so lucky?

I cut into my first lime and was instantly transported to El Salvador. Isn't it funny how a smell can trigger a clear-as-day memory? I was there years ago rebuilding houses and we sifted concrete mix and built walls and got sunburned and people stared at us because we were white and blonde and had blue eyes.  In the middle of the plot for a particular house there was a lime tree. It was huge, beautiful, and smelled fresh and deep and real. Whenever the breeze wafted through the branches, the smell of lime overtook the entire place like incense in the temple of God. It was incredibly refreshing.

And that's what I remembered as I cut my lime the other day. And that's why I love limes.

But back to the recipes at hand. Let me just ask one tiny question before we officially begin. WHY, may I ask, has no one told me about aguas frescas? How did I survive umpteen billion summers of lurid humidity without these? They're the perfect antidote to all things sweaty: fresh, cool, and lightly sweet.

Luckily, Gwyneth Paltrow recenly published this cookbook in which I discovered the following delightful recipes. I tried Watermelon + Mint and Papaya + Lime. Both were sublime, but I loved the watermelon and mint. It was sweet and refreshing and may I just say that a tiny hit of tequila would be the only thing that could possibly make it better?

The kiwi was a spontaneous deviation from the recipe. 

Om nom. (Gulp.)

Helpful Tips:

You can substitute regular honey or sugar for raw honey. Substitute approximately 2/3 cup sugar for every 1/2 cup of honey. 

To bring to room temperature quicker, stick the agua fresca in the freezer and stir every once in a while until its cool enough. 

In my opinion, these juices taste much better if they've been chilled for 24 hours.

Add more water if it tastes too sweet. 

These would also be out of this world when added to some carbonated water.

Watermelon + Mint Agua Fresca

Tweaked from It's All Good by Gwyneth Paltrow
Makes about 2 quarts

3 cups water
1/2 cup raw honey
1 small bunch of mint
1 small seedless watermelon, peeled and cut into cubes (about 10 cups)

Bring the water, honey, and mint to a boil in a pot, then extract and throw away the mint and let the mixture cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, blend the watermelon in small batches in a food processor or a blender, then pour through a strainer and throw out the solids. Add the watermelon juice to the room temperature honey syrup and serve in a glass pitcher filled halfway with ice.
Papaya + Lime Agua Fresca
Tweaked from It's All Good by Gwyneth Paltrow
Makes about 2 quarts

3 cups water
1/2 cup raw honey
3 pounds papaya (1 very large papaya or 2 regular ones), peeled, seeded, and cut into large pieces
Juice of 2 limes

Bring the water, honey, and papaya to a boil in a pot and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
Puree in batches and strain. Toss the solids, then whisk in the lime juice. Serve with ice.