Agua de Ciruela Amarilla {Yellow Plum Cooler}

Have you ever made something to eat or drink, not because you loved it, but because someone you really care about loves it?  Such has been the case with me and yesterday's mystery ingredient... Ciruelas Amarillas (Yellow Plums).  My hubby is crazy about them, especially in Agua de Ciruela Amarilla, but for years, I wanted nothing to do with them or the agua fresca.  (Gasp!)

Agua Fresca de Ciruela Amarilla (Yellow Plum Cooler) - lacocinadeleslie.com


Hubby introduced me to Agua de Ciruela Amarilla, our first spring here in Mexico.  The color was such a beautiful shade of yellow, it just looked like it was going to be absolutely delicious.  As I watched Hubby take a long sip of the agua fresca he had been dreaming about for the 9 years he lived in the States, for a brief moment, I felt like I was watching a scene in a movie, where two star-crossed lovers were being reunited.  Hubby sat motionlessly, completely enraptured by the large cup of Agua de Ciruela sitting in front of him, the wind blowing through his hair.  The only thing missing was Etta James singing "At Last".

I wanted to feel that way too, so I hurriedly took a sip of my Agua de Ciruela...and then everything came to a screeching halt!  I didn't like it.  It tasted kind of like a sweet tomato juice, but not in a good way.  I took a couple of more sips to be sure.  The more I tasted it, the less I liked it.   But Hubby was sure I'd like the fruit a lot more, so we went to the market and bought a 2 pound bag of yellow plums to take home.

The green, unripe plums looked more like little tomatoes to me and I thought to myself, "That explains the taste!"  But the golden ripe plums looked like a cross between tejocotes and kumquats.  How could they not be delicious?  But as I bit into one of the plums, I had the same reaction as I'd had with the Agua de Ciruela Amarilla...I didn't like it and refused to try anymore.

Over the next 9 or 10 years, Hubby's love affair with Ciruelas Amarillas continued.  During the warm weather months, he'd bring home bags and bags of them to enjoy every week.  And every week I'd make him a big pitcher (or two) of Agua de Ciruela Amarilla, because it's his favorite and that's just the kind of awesome wife that I am.  But I never took another sip.

Until last year.

I couldn't get over the fact that there was a fruit in this world that I didn't like.  It just didn't seem right.  So I forced myself to drink a whole glass of Agua de Ciruela, something I hadn't done yet.  I figured if I still felt the same way afterwards, well, at least I could say I tried.  The first couple of sips still had that tomato-y taste, but by the time I was finished, I realized that what I thought tasted like tomatoes, was just the distinctive flavor of the Ciruelas Amarillas.  And I started to like it.

We've become very good friends ever since.

Looking back at it now, I can't believe how silly I was to think that I didn't love these sweet little golden gems.

Have you ever tried Ciruelas Amarillas (yellow plums)?

Yellow Plum Agua Fresca - lacocinadeleslie.com

Agua de Ciruela Amarilla
(Yellow Plum Agua Fresca)
lacocinadeleslie.com
Ingredients:
  • 1/2 kilo(gram) yellow plums  (1lb.) 
  • 6 to 8 cups water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar

Directions:
You could attempt to remove the pit by cutting the yellow plums in half, but be warned that yellow plums are extremely juicy, thus making this a very messy task.  I prefer the easy method of placing the whole plums in a blender with 3 cups of water, and pulsing for 3 to 5 seconds, just to break up the fruit, then scooping out the pits, that float to the top, with a slotted spoon.  Continue to puree the plums until smooth.

Strain the puree into a 2-quart pitcher.  Stir in the sugar until completely dissolved, then pour in enough water to fill the pitcher.  Refrigerate until ready to use.  Serve with plenty of ice. Enjoy!


Photobucket

Also sharing this recipe with YBR: Your Best Recipes hosted by SpicieFoodie











11 comments

  1. Ooooohhhhh... a new agua fresca. Never would have occurred to me to make one from yellow plums, because of the pit issue. Love that helpful tip. Will get some today!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Que delicioso debe ser nunca he probado esas ciruelas deben ser sabrosas!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I live in the NY metro area so I wonder where I might be able to find these ciruelas. Liking the taste or not, there really is nothing nicer and healthier than freshly made "juice" no? You don't have to worry about chemicals and preservatives. You can give it to your family with confianza. Once I figure out where to buy these cutie pies, I am going to give it a shot.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've never tried these yellow plums, but this drink looks absolutely refrescante! I'll have to give it a shot. Your post is hilarious, BTW. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. oooh!!! I was sooo right. Just seeing this post and I got it right. Yay! I've actually never had yellow plum so I'm bookmarking this recipe. Great stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  6. OH, I was going to guess a plum. Cool! I don't think I've ever tried these. I'll have to ask hubs if he likes them. But yes, that agua sure does look refreshing. And yes, there are certain things that hubby or kids love that I just don't like, but I make it for them any way. I'm good like that ;P.

    p.s..that first picture is GORGEOUS!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Totally didn't guess that ha! Yummy! It looks delicious!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh it does look refreshing!! I need to try to find a few of these babies! the pics are stunning, Leslie!

    vianney

    ReplyDelete
  9. You brought me back to the fresh juices my grandmothers made for us during the summers in Colombia which we call jugos. Then I lived in Mexico and discovered "aguas frescas." Delicious! So happy to be reading you again after a little break. You are as witty, funny, and charming as ever!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fresh juices are such a great part of my childhood too. I remember my Papi would bring in fresh tamarind and jugo de gunabana. Lol! I remember the time I made a friend taste Malta for the first time. They HATED it. I always thought, how could someone hate malta, right? It takes time and years sometimes to get used to a particular taste. Glad to unopened yor taste buds to a new fruit and juice! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Leslie,
    What a cute and sweet post:) I love all the different color ciruelas. But for some reason I can't remember having an agua fresca made from the yellow ones.


    Thanks for being a part of the YBR:)

    ReplyDelete