Recipe

Watermelon Drink (Melón de Agua)

Name: Watermelon Drink (Melón de Agua)
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 kg ripe watermelon flesh, seedless and without rind; 2 cups ice; 4 drops of lemon or lime juice; ½ cup cold water, only if needed

A natural watermelon drink blended with ice and a few drops of lemon or lime. Fresh, deep red and ready in 10 minutes, makes four glasses.

CiberCubaNovember 8, 2026

AI-generated image.CiberCuba

Preparation10 min
Total time10 min
Servings4 glasses
DifficultyEasy

In Cuba we call watermelon melón de agua, and in the heat of summer nothing beats it as a cool drink: sweet, fresh and with that red color that is a joy to see in the glass.

This drink uses only ripe fruit, ice and a few drops of lemon or lime that bring out the flavor. It is a homemade drink popular all over Latin America and the Caribbean, perfect for an afternoon snack, for summer days or to go with a family meal.

Ingredients

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1 kg ripe watermelon flesh, seedless and without rind
2 cups ice
4 drops of lemon or lime juice
½ cup cold water, only if needed

Method

Wash the outside of the watermelon well before cutting it open. Cut it into wedges, remove the rind and take out the seeds if it has any. Chop the flesh (1 kg in total).
AI-generated image.CiberCuba
Put the watermelon pieces in the blender together with the drops of lemon or lime juice.
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Blend for 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth. If the fruit is very firm and the blender gets stuck, add a splash of cold water, but only a little so it doesn't get watered down.
AI-generated image.CiberCuba
If you want a smoother drink, strain it through a sieve into a pitcher; if you prefer it with body, skip this step.
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Add the ice to the pitcher or the blender, stir or blend a few more seconds until it is well chilled, and taste it; adjust with a few more drops of lemon or lime juice if needed.
AI-generated image.CiberCuba
Serve right away in four glasses with more ice and, if you like, garnish with a thin slice of watermelon on the rim. If you won't drink it right away, store it covered in the fridge.

Tips and variations

Refrigeration: if you won't drink it right away, keep it in a covered pitcher in the fridge for up to 24 hours. It separates a little as it sits, so stir well before serving and add fresh ice at the last moment so it doesn't get watered down.

How to choose a watermelon (Latin markets in the US): look for a piece that feels heavy for its size, with firm skin and no bruises or soft spots. Tap it with your knuckles: if it sounds hollow, it is ripe. The yellowish patch where it rested on the ground shows it ripened on the vine. Latin markets usually sell it whole, in halves or in pre-cut pieces; if you buy pieces, check that the flesh is deep red, glossy and free of mealy or watery areas. If you can, choose the seedless variety, which saves work.

Variations: if you prefer a smoother drink, strain it through a sieve; if you like it with body, leave it unstrained. With very sweet fruit no sugar is needed; if the watermelon is a bit bland, add a teaspoon of sugar when blending.