Tamarindo Drink (agua de tamarindo)

Tamarindo drink, also known as agua de tamarindo is a Mexican beverage perfect to cool down on hot days. Our recipe is made in the most simple way by using tamarind concentrate so you can make it easily in just 5 minutes!

What is agua fresca?

Aguas frescas (plural) are sweet, soft beverages made with fruits, citrus, seeds, grains, and even flowers. They are very refreshing and help you to stay hydrated and cool during hot days but also have an important role in Mexican cuisine.

In Mexico, you will find street vendors with large jugs selling agua de tamarindo (and other flavors) all over the country. Despite having sugar, they still are a healthier choice over sodas or canned fruit juices.

Those soft drinks are also offered at small home restaurants called fondas but also at fancy restaurants sometimes combining different fruits and other ingredients to deliver particular and tasteful options.

What is tamarind?

Tamarind is a native tree from Asia and Africa that also grows in tropical climates such as Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Its produce is used to prepare paste, powder, and concentrates that are used in many recipes around the world. From the famous Pad Thai to sauces in the Middle Eastern cuisine.

In Mexico, tamarind is used mostly to make aguas frescas (soft drinks) and paletas (ice popsicles); but also a variety of candies, such as Banderillas and Pulparindos among others.

Tamarindo has many health benefits, such as:

• Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and beneficial plant compounds.
• It contains polyphenols like flavonoids, some of which can help regulate your cholesterol levels.
• Those polyphenols in the fruit have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can protect against heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

So, as you can see, this agua fresca de tamarindo not only is delicious and extremely easy to make but is also good for your health!

Tamarind concentrate

In some parts of the world, finding tamarind pods is not easy, that’s why I decided to show you how to make this tamarindo drink using store-bought concentrate. You can also use tamarind paste if you dissolve it first in a bit of water.

The photo below shows you the tamarind concentrate brand I used, but you can use any brand you prefer to make your agua de tamarindo.

Note: Take in mind that tamarind concentrate is the pulp that has been boiled down and that preservatives may also be added.

Agua de Tamarindo Recipe

1. Place tamarindo concentrate in a large pitcher and add 2 cups of water. Mix to dissolve well. If you using tamarind paste, dilute in a bit of water before adding it to the pitcher.
2. Pour the remaining water and then add sugar to taste. You can also use any sweetener you prefer. Mix to dissolve sugar.
3. Taste your tamarindo drink and adjust the flavor by adding more concentrate or more sugar.
4. Now you can either place the pitcher in the fridge for at least 2 hours to allow the drink to nicely chill, or you can place some ice on glasses and fill them with the tamarindo drink and enjoy.

Notes

• 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.

Make It Ahead

Looking for prep recipes for your pool party? This recipe for Mexican tamarind water is perfect to make ahead!

Thanks to using concentrate instead of tamarind pods, you can make this refreshing drink up to 3 days in advance.

Just keep the pitcher in the refrigerator and make sure is well covered to prevent the drink from absorbing other food smells. If your pitcher doesn’t have a lid you can cover it with cling film.

How To Serve It

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 tamarind 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.

Similar Recipes

If you enjoyed this tamarindo drink, don’t forget to try some of our other favorite Mexican frescas:

• CHIA: When chia seeds meet lemons and limes, it only results in the most refreshing and healthy agua fresca de chía.
• PINEAPPLE: Pineapple water, also known as agua fresca de piña is one of your best options to cool down on summer days.
• STRAWBERRY: Strawberries on the season or not, you can make this delicious agua de fresa all year round.
• STRAWBERRY HORCHATA: The most loved Mexican agua fresca with a twist, this strawberry horchata not only tastes amazing but also looks pretty cute too!

I hope you enjoyed this recipe, if you did, please don’t forget to rate it and leave us a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!

To keep up to date with more delicious recipes in this blog, you can follow us on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, and YOUTUBE.