After many years of hiking with my trusty field guide on hand I have come to know my surrounding forests rather intimately. I have been known to stop in the middle of a path to (geek out and) identify plants, always remembering the edible ones. There is something comforting in knowing how to identify the bounty that mother nature can provide. When summer comes around I am sure to keep my eyes peeled for any edibles, especially berries, because in all honesty wild berries are always better than cultivated berries.
Lately while biking in the forests I have had my eyes open for berries of all sorts. Watching the seasons change I have been waiting for summer to bring its bounty of natures candy. Down by a river that we frequently ride to, I found my little piece of heaven, a wild blueberry patch! I have had my eye on it for a few weeks now, waiting for the summer heat to set in and ripen those berries to perfection.
With today’s harvest I decided to make Agua Fresca, a drink that I came to know quite well while in Mexico. A refreshing drink of fresh blended fruit with a touch of sugar. This would work with nearly any kind of fruit, and you can play around with different herbs. With some mint from the garden and a squeeze of lemon juice this drink is sure to satisfy you on a hot afternoon.
Blueberry Agua Fresca
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups blueberries
- 4 cups cold water
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 Tbsp. mint
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 lemon, juiced
Place blueberries, 2 cups of cold water and mint in a blender. Blend until smooth and then strain, pressing the pulp against the strainer to extract as much liquid as possible. Place in a pitcher.
Dissolve sugar in 1 cup hot water. Stir into pitcher along with remaining 2 cups cold water and lemon juice.