Easy Orange Agua Fresca Recipe (Agua de Naranja)

This orange agua fresca is a light, refreshing mix of fresh orange juice, cold water, lime juice, and just enough sugar to balance the citrus. It’s bright, not overly sweet, and especially good served ice-cold on hot days.

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Post last updated September 7, 2026.

We have a huge orange tree in our backyard, and once the fruit starts coming in, it feels like there are oranges everywhere. I make this agua de naranja on repeat because it uses up a good handful at a time and turns them into something we actually want to drink all day—lighter than straight orange juice and especially good alongside tacos, something spicy, or lunch outside.

There comes a point every year when I start eyeing that tree like, okay, we need a plan.

I squeeze oranges for breakfast, hand bags of them to anyone who will take them, and still somehow have a bowl overflowing on the counter. Making agua fresca is a great way to use several fresh oranges at once without feeling like you’re drinking straight juice all day.

And unlike a big glass of orange juice, this is lighter, colder, and much more refreshing when the weather heats up.

What Is Agua Fresca?

Agua fresca literally means “fresh water,” which sounds almost suspiciously boring for something this good. In reality, aguas frescas are cold, fruit-forward drinks made with fresh fruits, water, and usually a little bit of sugar—a traditional Mexican drink that is basically exactly what you want when plain water isn’t cutting it.

There are endless agua fresca recipes built around seasonal fruits. Around here I’m also partial to whole lime agua fresca (agua de limón), cucumber lime agua fresca, tamarind agua fresca, and agua de Jamaica when I want something especially tart and refreshing.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fresh and refreshing: Bright citrus flavor without being as heavy as straight orange juice.
A great way to use fresh oranges: Especially handy when you have a tree—or accidentally bought way too many.
Not overly sweet: You control the amount of sugar depending on the sweetness of the fruit.
Quick to make: Most of the work is simply squeezing the oranges.
Easy to swap: Try blood orange, mandarin oranges, mineral water, or fresh mint leaves.

Ingredients

Fresh oranges: Valencia or Navel oranges are my favorite type of oranges here because they’re sweet, juicy, and easy to find.
Cold water: Water lightens the juice into a refreshing agua fresca rather than a glass of full-strength juice.
Lime juice: Fresh lime juice adds acidity and keeps the citrus fruit from tasting overly sweet.
Sugar or honey: You only need a little bit of sugar to balance the fruit. Agave syrup or simple syrup can also work.
Ice cubes: Lots of ice keeps everything properly cold.
Orange wheel slices: Optional, but an easy way to make each glass look a little more festive.

If your fresh orange juice is especially pulpy, run it through a fine-mesh sieve before adding it to the pitcher.

How To Make Agua Fresca

Squeeze: Use a citrus squeezer or juicer to squeeze 2 cups of fresh orange juice.

Combine: In a large pitcher, stir together the fresh orange juice, cold water, sugar or honey, and lime juice until the sweetener dissolves completely.

Chill: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so everything gets properly cold.

Serve: Give the pitcher a good stir, fill glasses with ice cubes, and pour the agua fresca over top. Garnish with a fresh orange slice.

What To Serve With Orange Agua Fresca

This sweet-tart agua fresca is especially good with dishes that have a little spice, richness, or crunch.

Try it with:

Recipe Variations

Sparkling: Replace the cold water with chilled mineral water.
Blood orange: Swap in blood orange juice for deeper color and a slightly more tart flavor.
Mandarin: Use mandarin oranges for a sweeter agua de mandarina-style variation.
Herby: Add a few fresh mint leaves before serving.
Less sweet: Reduce or skip the added sugar if your oranges are already very sweet.
Agave-sweetened: Use agave syrup instead of sugar or honey.

How To Store Agua Fresca

Keep orange agua fresca in a covered pitcher or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Fresh orange juice naturally separates as it sits, so give it a good stir before serving and add ice cubes only to individual glasses.

Kate Ramos