Dragonfruit water is a refreshing drink, or aqua fresca, made from a sweet dragonfruit syrup with only 3 ingredients including exotic dragonfruit, also known as pitaya.
This dragonfruit water made from a homemade dragonfruit syrup is easy to make with just 3 ingredients, and free of refined sugar and full of antioxidants. To learn more about how to eat dragonfruit, visit that post. This water is an infused water, but unlike my other infused water recipes or my detox waters, this one is based on a dragonfruit syrup, not a fruit, making it more of an agua fresca.
You can also add this dragonfruit syrup to my new Starbucks copycat drinks, Starbucks Dragon Drink and Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade.
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Why You'll Love This
Dragonfruit is exotic. Dragonfruit, also called pitaya, is a tropical fruit native to Central and South America. It has a vibrant pink or red skin with green scales, and inside either white or pink flesh speckled with small black seeds. The syrup is made by combining the flesh with water and juice to produce a syrup that can flavor the water but that can also be used in smoothies or on pancakes.
Nutrition of dragonfruit. Dragonfruit is low in calories and high in fiber, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to maintain a healthy weight. It's also packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, iron, and magnesium.
Hydrating. Dragonfruit water is not only hydrating, it has a tropical flavor and the nutrients of the dragonfruit, creating a delicious and healthy beverage.
Syrup Ingredients
- Dragon fruit pulp
- Lime juice
- Orange juice
- Water
See the recipe card at the bottom for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step by Step Instructions
For more detail, visit the complete recipe at the bottom of this post, but here are general steps.
Step 1: In a blender, blend up pink dragonfruit pulp, lime juice, orange juice and water.
Step 2: Pour the mixture into a small pot, and simmer to reduce the syrup about one fourth. Chill and use this syrup to make the dragonfruit water or in other recipes (see ideas below).
Microwave instead of stovetop: You can also just blend all the dragonfruit ingredients and then microwave them for 1 minute, and possibly another 15 seconds, stirring in between. Your syrup will be thinner but a similar flavor.
Mix the Water
To make this refreshing dragonfruit drink in the pitcher here, put 2 tablespoons of the dragonfruit syrup into 8 ounces glass of water, ice, dragonfruit chunks and lime slices. Or make a pitcher-worth of a fun refreshing cooler. Drink chilled.
Variations
The dragon fruit water is refreshing and delicious and is the perfect base for variations. Try adding:
- Muddle herbs - mint, rosemary, lemongrass, basil
- Spices - powdered or fresh ginger
- Tequila - for an alcoholic Agua Fresca
Benefits of Dragonfruit Water
Hydration: This w is an excellent choice for anyone looking to stay hydrated. Because it's made with water, it's a great way to keep your body hydrated throughout the day.
Rich in Antioxidants: Dragonfruit is packed with antioxidants, which can help to protect your body against damage from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause cellular damage and contribute to the development of chronic diseases.
Boosts Immune System: Dragonfruit is also rich in vitamin C, which is essential for a healthy immune system. Drinking dragonfruit water regularly can help to keep your immune system strong and protect you from illness.
Aids in Digestion: Dragonfruit is high in fiber, which can help to promote healthy digestion. Drinking dragonfruit water regularly can help to keep your digestive system running smoothly.
Ways to Use Syrup
I have also poured this syrup on pancakes, crepes, mug cakes and into my fruit smoothies. My girls especially like sweetening infused water with it.
And recently we blended it with raspberries, more dragonfruit and yogurt, and topped it with coconut cream and add chopped chunks of chocolate coconut bars.
More Water Recipes
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
Dragonfruit Water
Ingredients
Pink Dragonfruit Syrup:
- ⅓ cup pink dragonfruit (1 (3.5oz) packages - I used PitayaPlus brand found in supermarket freezer area, Or use fresh pink dragonfruits or pitaya, if available to you)
- ¼ cup lime juice (juice of about 4 limes)
- ¼ cup orange juice (juice of about 2 oranges)
- ½ cup water
Dragonfruit Water
- 2 tablespoon pink dragonfruit syrup
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup ice
- 1 lime Use slices and rind
- white pitaya chopped
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Instructions
Make the Syrup
- Blend up the pink pitaya or dragonfruit until creamy. If you use the frozen packages, let them thaw of course, before opening the packages. Add no more than 2 tablespoon of water to blender to help it blend.⅓ cup pink dragonfruit
- Put the blended mixture in a sauce pan, and simmer, bubbling it down about one-fourth the initial amount to thicken it. CONTINUE stirring the entire time and stop before it appears too dry. You want it to be pulpy and wet. This might happen very fast and it might not have reduced the mixture much, that's okay! It's better that you have more mixture, than a dry mixture stuck to the pan.OR see my directions to microwave instead of stovetop*¼ cup lime juice, ¼ cup orange juice, ½ cup water, ⅓ cup pink dragonfruit
- Once you have your pitaya reduced and thickened to your liking, take the pan off the stove and let it cool.
- The syrup keeps about 3 days in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use it to flavor smoothies and infused water, and to pour on pancakes, waffles and crepes!
Make Pink Dragonfruit Drink
- Add a tablespoon of syrup to a glass of water, ice and sliced dragonfruit and lime slices. Drink chilled.2 tablespoon pink dragonfruit syrup, 1 cup water, ½ cup ice, 1 lime, white pitaya
Other Uses of Syrup
- Use syrup undiluted on pancakes as pancake syrup.Put a few teaspoons into smoothies or hot water or hot milk to make a hot pitaya tea or latte.
Joanne
Lovely! Definitely will give this a try Dee.
Dee Dine
That's great to read, Joanne, thank you! Dee xx
Ela
Looks so beautiful and refreshing, Dee! Love the pink color! 🙂
Much love, Ela
Dee Dine
Thank you so much Ela!
Camila
This looks so lovely! I am all for the pink 💟 and I love pitaya!!!😋💕
Dee
Camila! Thank you for the compliment! Dee xx
Nisha / Rainbowplantlife
This is such a fun and beautiful beverage, Dee! I love the girly pink vibes from the dragonfruit!
Dee
Nisha, thank you so much! Dee xx