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Aguas Frescas: A delicious Mexican tradition being enjoyed in Waco

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MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (KXXV) — Mexico is known for it's food, culture and tradition. Part of the food you might think of are tacos and tortillas, but there are also a few iconic drinks — aguas frescas are a fresh water drink made with fruit.

  • The variety of fruity flavors with a little added sugar, and a few cups of water, create a refreshing and authentic drink.
  • Some flavors of Aguas Frescas are pineapple, watermelon, lemonade, horchata, tamarind, cucumber and lime.
  • It’s a drink with hundreds of years of history behind it. Some say the Aztecs started it, others believe it started being sold on the streets of Mexico, but now it can be found at Mexican restaurants and markets all across the United States.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Fresh cut fruit, liquefied, then ready to serve!

These are aguas frescas —The direct English translation means fresh waters, but that phrase does not do these Mexican drinks justice.

“Pineapple, watermelon, lemonade, horchata, tamarind, cucumber and lime,” owner of Wako Taco Sante Soto said.

The variety of fruity flavors with a little added sugar, and a few cups of water create a refreshing and authentic drink.

“When people drink it, hopefully they can tell the difference between an authentic drink, and one that not authentic, we want to differentiate ourselves from the rest,” said owner of Wako Taco, Javier Escareño.

Cutting pineapple to make Agua de piña

It’s a drink with hundreds of years of history behind it. Some say the Aztecs started it, others believe it started being sold on the streets of Mexico, but now it can be found at Mexican restaurants and markets all across the United States.

With every sip and each item on their menu, the goal of Javier Escareño and Sante Soto, owners of Wako Taco, is to transport their customers to a world of culture.

Blending the fruit with water

“We want them to say, yes this is a real Mexican restaurant, not Tex Mex,” Soto said.

They hope to carry on tradition.

“A lot of the recipes are traditions from my family,” Soto said.

They also strive to you give authentic real flavors you can’t find anywhere else.

Draining the pulp

“From the flavored water, the rice and beans, everything, the tortillas are made by hand, everything is authentic,” Escareño said.

Wako Taco makes about two to three batches of their Aguas Frescas a day, and every day they’ve got different flavors.

Wako Taco's Menu can be found here


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