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This is quite a summer. 90° one day and dry. Then 80° but humid as the devil so it actually feels hotter. And certainly oppressive.

My body is confused and I’m not sure what to drink. My diet sodas are not refreshing. I don’t want the sweetness of lemonade. I need something beyond mere water though, please. Something with flavor.

In past summers I’ve indulged on agua frescas and been very happy. This summer’s daily variations in temperature makes me want something, still with flavor, but just a tad more subtle. I’ve been homing in on watermelon. And without the agua or aqua.

That’s right. I just chop up the watermelon and put it in my blender. Well, I’m lucky enough to have a Vitamix, which means you don’t have to strain the resulting liquid. Yes, you could strain the watermelon juice from a Vitamix and, yes, you would retrieve a little pulp. But only a little. I like the “feel” of that slight amount of pulp that remains. With a conventional blender, you might want to strain after all.

No water added. None. A little sugar to boost the flavor. Just a little. A quarter cup of sugar for each 4 cups of watermelon juice. That’s it.

After a few hours in your fridge, the watermelon juice will separate, denser juice to the bottom and clear water the top. A quick stir to recombine and you are fine.

I drink my juice one pitcher at a time, always within a day or so. Time does not decay the flavor which is mild yet happily refreshing. No assaulting jolt of flavor. Just cool comfort.

Give it a try and I think you’ll find drinking your watermelon is better than eating it.

Source: Brian O’Rourke

Photo Information: Canon T2i, EFS 60mm Macro Lens, F/4 for 1/20th second at ISO‑3200