Starfruit Agua Fresca
Florida starfruit hits its stride in late August, and this pitcher drink is built for that first haul off the tree. The fruit is blended with cold water, a little lime, and just enough sugar to take the edge off, then strained into something clean and pale gold. It is the kind of drink you make in ten minutes and pour all afternoon.
Barely sweetened, barely fussed with. Just starfruit doing its thing.
Around the last week of August, starfruit trees in Southwest Florida start dropping their first fruit of the season. The carambola ripens fast once it turns yellow, and it has this clean, faintly floral tartness that is unlike anything else growing locally right now. This agua fresca is the simplest way to put that fruit to use before it gets ahead of you.
We keep this one barely sweetened on purpose. The fruit has enough personality that it does not need help, just cold water, a little lime, and a pinch of salt to pull it all forward. Pour it over ice on a hot afternoon and it is one of the better things you can drink all summer. You can read how we raise them here.
Ingredients
Method
- 1
Reserve four or five of the prettiest starfruit slices to float in the glasses later. Set them aside on a plate.
- 2
Add the remaining starfruit slices to a blender along with 2 cups of the cold water, the lime juice, the cane sugar, and the salt. Blend on high for about 45 seconds until completely smooth.
- 3
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large pitcher and pour the blended mixture through it. Use a spoon or spatula to press gently on the pulp and get every bit of juice out, then discard the solids.
- 4
Pour the remaining 2 cups of cold water into the pitcher and stir. Taste and add another teaspoon of sugar if your fruit was on the tart side. The drink should taste lightly sweet, a little floral, and clean.
- 5
Fill glasses with ice, pour over the agua fresca, and drop a reserved starfruit slice into each glass.
Notes from our kitchen
- Ripe starfruit for this should be mostly yellow with just a hint of green on the ridges. Deep golden fruit that is soft to the touch will be sweeter and give you a richer color in the glass.
- The ridges on starfruit can harbor a slightly waxy or bitter skin, so a quick wipe with a damp towel before slicing keeps the flavor clean.
- This keeps refrigerated for up to two days. Give it a stir before pouring since it will settle slightly.
Common questions
Where do I find Florida starfruit in late August?
Check roadside stands and farmers markets around Lee and Hendry counties. A lot of folks in Southwest Florida have backyard trees, and the first drop usually comes mid to late August. If you have a neighbor with a tree, now is the time to knock on that door.
My starfruit tastes pretty tart. Can I fix it?
Yes, just add sugar one teaspoon at a time and stir to dissolve before tasting again. The salt and lime are already in there to balance things, so a little more sugar goes a long way. You can also swap the cane sugar for a light honey if you want a slightly floral edge.
Can I make this without a blender?
You can juice the starfruit with a citrus reamer or squeeze it by hand if the fruit is very ripe and soft, but a blender gives you the best yield and the clearest pale gold color after straining. A food processor works fine too.