This agua de tamarindo drink has a unique sweet and sour flavor. The refreshing and aromatic Mexican beverage is so versatile and allows for personalization with various sweeteners or additional flavors, making it a cherished and adaptable drink to be enjoyed by everyone!
Agua de tamarindo is a refreshing and delicious drink originally from Mexico. It is made from the pulp of the tamarind fruit, which comes from the pods of the tamarind tree. Tamarind has a distinctive sweet and sour taste, which gives this drink its unique and flavorful profile.
This tamarindo drink belongs to the category of aguas frescas in Mexico which are popular soft drinks made of fruits, seeds, or flowers. Some recipes include grains and fruits combined, like strawberry horchata.
The agua fresca de tamarindo is created by mixing tamarind pulp with water and sweetening it with sugar, honey, or another sweetener of your choice. It is often served cold over ice and can be garnished with lemon slices for an added touch.
The drink is perfect for hot days and is known for its digestive and antioxidant properties. It can be easily customized with different sweeteners or additional ingredients such as ginger, mint, or chili powder for a personalized twist.
Ingredients
- Tamarind pulp: This is the key ingredient in agua de tamarindo. It provides the distinctive sweet and sour flavor profile for the drink. You can use fresh tamarind pods, pre-made tamarind paste, or tamarind concentrate.
- Water: Water is used to dilute the tamarind pulp, creating a light and refreshing beverage. The amount of water can be adjusted depending on your taste preferences and the concentration of the tamarind pulp or concentrate.
- Sweetener: To balance the sourness of the tamarind, a sweetener is added to the drink. Common sweeteners include sugar, honey, or agave syrup, but you can also use other sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit if you prefer. The amount of sweetener can be adjusted to your taste.
Note: If you use tamarind pods you will need first to discard the shells and boil the pods in a pot to make the paste. This is a long process so if you want to make a quick and easy agua fresca de tamarindo, I recommend using store-bought paste or concentrate.
How To Make Agua de Tamarindo Drink
Top Tips
- Adjust sugar to taste. Add sugar in small doses, taste it, and then adjust the sweetness to your liking.
- Stir before serving. Tamarind concentrate will settle at the bottom of the pitcher after a while, so make sure to stir always before your pour it into your glass.
- Try other sweeteners. Brown sugar, piloncillo, and agave syrup are all amazing options to sweeten this beverage, try them!
- Too tart? If the drink is too tart for your liking, add more water to dilute it.
- Add a twist. Rim the glasses with lime juice and chili powder for a spicy kick, or add a squeeze of lime for a tangy touch.
Foods To Pair With
Agua de tamarindo has a tart and refreshing flavor, perfect to balance spicy and fat in some foods, here are our recommended recipes to pair this tamarindo drink with:
- Camarones a la diabla: Sauteed shrimp simmered in a spicy and tomatoey sauce.
- Chorizo tacos: Soft street tacos made with chorizo and served with cilantro and onions.
- Chipotle enchiladas: Creamy enchiladas filled with chicken and baked to perfection.
How To Store
To store agua de tamarindo and maintain its freshness and flavor, follow these steps:
- Pour the prepared agua de tamarindo into a clean, airtight container or pitcher with a lid.
- Seal the container or pitcher with its lid to keep out air and prevent the absorption of odors from other foods in the refrigerator.
- Place the container or pitcher in the refrigerator. The tamarindo drink should be stored at a cold temperature to keep it fresh and flavorful.
- Consume the drink within 3 to 5 days. Over time, the flavors may start to degrade, and the drink may lose its freshness.
I always make a large batch stored in the refrigerator to ensure it’s always fresh and ready to serve. My husband’s favorite is agua de fresa!
If you are preparing the drink for a gathering, you can also store it in individual serving bottles or mason jars for easy distribution and enjoyment.
FAQ
What is agua de tamarindo good for?
Agua de tamarindo is not only a delicious and refreshing beverage, but it also offers several potential health benefits due to the nutritional properties of tamarind. Some of the benefits include digestive health, antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and heart health benefits.
To maximize the health benefits, consider using a natural sweetener like honey or a lower-calorie option like stevia.
Where did tamarindo drink originate?
Agua de tamarindo originated in Mexico. The tamarind tree itself is native to tropical Africa, particularly in Sudan, but it has been cultivated for centuries across many tropical regions, including Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. Tamarind was likely introduced to these regions by Arab traders and Spanish explorers during the colonization period.
What is agua fresca?
Agua fresca, which translates to “fresh water” in Spanish, is a popular type of drink in Mexico. It is a light, non-alcoholic beverage made by blending fruits, grains, seeds, or flowers with water and a sweetener, such as sugar or honey. The drink is typically served cold, making it a refreshing option, especially during hot weather.
More Agua Fresca Recipes
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Agua de Tamarindo Drink
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup tamarind concentrate
- 7 cups water (room temperature)
- â…“ sugar (or more, to taste)
Instructions
- Place tamarind concentrate in a large pitcher and add 2 cups of water. Mix to combine.
- Pour the remaining water and then add sugar to taste. Stir well until sugar dissolves.
- Taste and adjust the flavor by adding more concentrate or more sugar.
- Serve in glasses with ice or place the pitcher in the fridge for at least 2 hours before drinking.
Notes
- Adjust the flavor to your liking by adding more sugar or tamarind concentrate to the drink.
- Tamarind concentrate will settle at the bottom of the pitcher after a while, so make sure to stir always before your pour it into your glass.
- Try other sweeteners like brown sugar, piloncillo, or agave syrup.
- Rim the glasses with lime juice and chili powder for a spicy kick, or add a squeeze of lime for a tangy touch.
Nutrition Information
Maricruz Avalos Flores is a Mexican cook and photographer living in Italy where she shares authentic Mexican & Italian recipes that can be easily made at home using easy-to-find ingredients.
Love agua de tamarindo!! And love that this recipe doesn’t use tamarind pods because they are not so easy to find everywhere. I bought tamarindo paste and that’s what I use for making this recipe. Thanks!
It is heating up, and this is the perfect drink for the patio. It will be a nice addition to our Mexican themed dinner nights. Refreshing, cooling and delicious.
I love how it turned out! Such a nice and refreshing drink!
Refreshing and perfect for the hot summer days ahead…..can’ wait to try it!!!
I never had tamarindo before, and didn’t know what to expect, and I must say it was delicious. My kids loved it, thanks!
This was so refreshing and using the tamarind concentrate made it really easy.