This recipe was created in partnership with The Local Love Project.
This refreshing beverage is a great way to utilize our local fruit. The subtle flavors of the melon will give you a nice base of sweetness while the raspberries and kumquat will bring it alive with diverse and tart flavors as they melt.
As a young adult, I fell in love with Aqua frescas, while strolling the isles of the San Jose flea market. This recipe is a notch up from those basic flavors and sure to make your day brighter!
Ingredients
Melon Juice
- 2-6 lb melon, rind and seeds removed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup lemon or lime juice, fresh squeezed
- 4-6 cups filtered water
Ice Cubes
- 24 each fresh raspberries
- 12 each kumquats, sliced thin
- 2-3 cups filtered water
Preparation
Rasberry and Kumquat Ice Cubes
- Place a fresh raspberry and 1-2 kumquat slices into each cube cavity of an ice cube tray.
- Fill the cavities to the top with filtered water
- Place into freezer until fully frozen.
Melon Juice
- Make melon into juice. If you have a juicer, run the melon flesh through on normal setting, creating a filtered juice. Optional: get a spoonful of the pulp and return it to the juice, giving it a more “authentic” texture. If you do not have a juicer, using a food processor with blade attachment, puree the flesh of the melon, and strain with a wire mesh strainer or cheese cloth.
- In tall pitcher, stir together the lemon/lime juice with sugar. Allow it to sit until sugar is full dissolved.
- Pour juice of melon into the pitcher and stir until thoroughly mixed.
- Add 4-6 cups of cold drinking water and allow mixture to sit in refrigeration for an hour (use 4 cups for a more bold flavor, and 6 cups when a more mild flavor is preferred)
To assemble beverage, place ice cubes into a glass and pour the prepared aqua fresca into the glass.
Enjoy!
