On a hot day, few things are more refreshing than a cold glass of agua fresca. This traditional beverage, whose name literally means “fresh water,” is popular throughout Latin America. Made by blending fruits, herbs, and water, each region has its own variation, and popular ingredients include watermelon, lime, hibiscus, and tamarind. However you make it, sipping agua fresca is a refreshing way to beat the heat.
This version combines cooling cucumber with calming, citrusy lemon balm, creating a refreshing and soothing drink that’s perfect for summertime. Whether you’re looking to quench your thirst or want a tasty, herbal beverage to serve at your next summer get together, Lemon Balm & Cucumber Agua Fresca is a great option.
Benefits of Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is an herb in the mint family named for its lemony scent and flavor. It has a long history in herbal medicine for supporting both body and mind. Below are a few of the reasons to love lemon balm.
Lemon Balm Supports the Nervous System
Lemon balm has long been cherished by herbalists for its calming, relaxing properties. It is used for easing stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Various scientific studies have demonstrated lemon balm’s positive effects on the nervous system.
The herb has been shown to help boost mood (Scholey et al., 2014), relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression (Ghazizadeh et al., 2021), and improve sleep quality (Shirazi et al., 2021). Additionally, lemon balm has been found to be helpful for easing anger, anxiety, and irritability associated with premenstrual syndrome (Akbarzadeh et al., 2018).
Lemon balm is gentle enough for little ones, and its pleasant taste makes it a great, kid-friendly option for calming restlessness, easing teething discomfort, and supporting gentle sleep.
Lemon Balm Boosts Cognitive Function
In addition to its calming effects, lemon balm may also help with focus and memory. In one study, people who drank a lemon balm-infused beverage felt less anxious and showed improvements in tasks that required concentration and quick thinking, like doing math and remembering information. Lemon balm seemed to help people stay both relaxed and alert, unlike pharmaceuticals that are used for anxiety, which typically cause drowsiness and impaired cognition (Scholey et al., 2014).
Lemon Balm Promotes Digestion
Lemon balm is a carminative herb, that boosts digestion and relieves abdominal cramping. Drinking lemon balm tea during or after meals supports the digestive process, which can help with common issues like bloating and upset stomach.
Benefits of Cucumber
Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are about 96% water, making them excellent for promoting hydration. They have refrigerant properties, meaning they help cool the body, so they are extra refreshing on hot days (Mukherjee, Nema, Maity, & Sarkar, 2013). They also provide small amounts of electrolytes like potassium and magnesium, which play important roles in maintaining fluid balance. Additionally, cucumbers are a natural source of antioxidants, compounds that help protect the body from oxidative stress caused by free radicals.
The Importance of Proper Hydration
Staying properly hydrated is essential for overall health and well-being, especially during hot summer months when our bodies lose more water through sweat. Water plays an important role in regulating body temperature, supporting digestion, flushing out toxins, and keeping our skin healthy.
With naturally hydrating ingredients, this beverage does more than quench your thirst, it helps replenish fluids, support electrolyte balance, and helps keep you cool in the heat.
What You’ll Need to Make Lemon Balm & Cucumber Agua Fresca
This agua fresca is quick and easy to make, with just a handful of simple ingredients. It comes together in minutes and makes a refreshing drink to sip on hot days.
Ingredients:
- Fresh or dried lemon balm
- Cucumbers
- Honey, or other sweetener of choice
- Lime juice
- Water
- Optional: pinch of sea salt
How to Make Lemon Balm & Cucumber Agua Fresca
Start by making a lemon balm tea and letting it cool completely. Once it’s cooled, blend it with fresh cucumber, a splash of lime juice, a bit of sweetener, and some water until everything is smooth and well combined. Then strain out the liquid and compost the rest.
Serve over ice and garnish with a sprig of lemon balm, a slice of lime, or a cucumber ribbon for an extra special touch. Store in the refrigerator for a day or two, if it lasts that long!
Cool Off with Lemon Balm & Cucumber Agua Fresca
This refreshing blend of lemon balm and cucumber is a simple, tasty way to stay hydrated during the summer months. Whether you’re sipping a glass on the patio or serving it at a summer barbecue, this herbal agua fresca invites you to slow down and savor the flavors of the season.
Ingredients
Method
- Add lemon balm to a heat proof container and pour in boiling water. Cover and let steep for 15-20 minutes.
- Strain the tea and let cool to room temperature.
- Add the cooled lemon balm tea and other ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Chill in the refrigerator or serve immediately over ice.
Related Posts:
References
Akbarzadeh, M., Dehghani, M., Moshfeghy, Z., Emamghoreishi, M., Tavakoli, P., & Zare, N. (2015). Effect of Melissa officinalis capsule on the intensity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms in high school girl students. Nursing and Midwifery Studies, 4(2). https://ijwhr.net/pdf/pdf_IJWHR_227.pdf
Ghazizadeh, J., Sadigh-Eteghad, S., Marx, W., Fakhari, A., Hamedeyazdan, S., Torbati, M., Taheri-Tarighi, S., Araj-Khodaei, M., & Mirghafourvand, M. (2021). The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 35(12), 6690–6705. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7252
Mukherjee, P. K., Nema, N. K., Maity, N., & Sarkar, B. K. (2013). Phytochemical and therapeutic potential of cucumber. Fitoterapia, 84, 227–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2012.10.003
Shirazi, M., Jalalian, M. N., Abed, M., & Ghaemi, M. (2021). The Effectiveness of Melissa Officinalis L. versus Citalopram on Quality of Life of Menopausal Women with Sleep Disorder: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial. Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia : revista da Federacao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia, 43(2), 126–130. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1721857
Scholey, A., Gibbs, A., Neale, C., Perry, N., Ossoukhova, A., Bilog, V., Kras, M., Scholz, C., Sass, M., & Buchwald-Werner, S. (2014). Anti-stress effects of lemon balm-containing foods. Nutrients, 6(11), 4805–4821. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6114805
One comment on “Lemon Balm & Cucumber Agua Fresca”
Comments are closed.