DrinksEasy

Prickly Pear Water

Name: Prickly Pear Water
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 8 Red prickly pears; 2 Limes (juice); 60 g Sugar; 1.5 litres Water

15 min (15 prep + 0 cook) Easy 6 servings Nacional

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: 24 Mar 2026 · Updated: 29 Mar 2026

Prickly pear agua fresca with lime, sweet and refreshing.

About this recipe

Agua fresca made from red prickly pear fruit with a touch of lime. A refreshing drink with vibrant colour and delicate sweet flavour.

History & Origin

Prickly pear water is one of Mexico's most emblematic and ancient drinks, made from the fruit of the nopal cactus, a national symbol appearing on the Mexican coat of arms. The prickly pear has been consumed for over 9,000 years in Mesoamerica. The Aztecs called it "nochtli" and considered it sacred. The founding of Tenochtitlan is linked to the legend of the eagle perched on a nopal. Red prickly pears are the most popular for aguas frescas due to their spectacular colour and natural sweetness.

Estimated cost

£4.25

Total cost

£0.71

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

Calories

Protein

16g

Carbohydrates

0.5g

Fat

Fibre

5mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Peel the prickly pears carefully using a fork and knife to avoid the fine spines. Cut off the ends and remove the skin.
💡 Wear gloves if the prickly pears have many fine spines (ahuates).
2
Blend the peeled prickly pears with a glass of water for 30 seconds.
3
Strain the mixture through a fine sieve to remove the hard seeds. Press well to extract all the juice.
4
Pour into a jug, add the remaining water, lime juice and sugar to taste. Mix well, refrigerate and serve with ice.
💡 Red prickly pears give a more vibrant colour; white ones are sweeter.