Why You Will Love This

A watermelon mint cooler is fresh watermelon, mint and lime juice blended, strained, and topped with sparkling water. Watermelon is about 92% water, so the drink is cold and cooling and needs no added sweetener when the melon is ripe. It is a summer favorite, and it also refreshes the palate on a warm early-fall afternoon.

The Story Behind It

I started making this cooler during a week of long afternoon walks, when plain water had stopped being appealing and I wanted something cold that still counted as hydration. The first version was just blended watermelon. Then I added mint because its cool, fresh taste suits watermelon so well. Lime came last, for the tartness that keeps the melon from tasting flat.

Fresh watermelon cubes, bright green mint leaves, and lime halves arranged on white marble countertop with condensation droplets, natural spring light
Start with seedless watermelon at peak ripeness, when the flesh is deep pink and at its sweetest.

What You Will Need

  • 2 cups cubed watermelon
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1 cup sparkling water
  • Ice cubes
  • Mint sprigs and watermelon slices for garnish

How to Make It

  1. Blend the watermelon, mint leaves and lime juice until smooth.

  2. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve to remove the pulp.

  3. Pour into a pitcher, add the sparkling water and stir gently.

  4. Serve over ice, garnished with mint sprigs and watermelon slices.

Blender filled with bright pink watermelon juice and green mint leaves being pulsed, kitchen counter with lime and ice nearby
Blend until smooth, then strain for a clean, pulp-free pour.

Herbalist Notes

Peppermint or spearmint: they do not swap evenly here. Peppermint is sharper and tastes cold on the tongue almost before the drink is cold. Spearmint is rounder and sweeter, closer to the mint in a mojito. Peppermint suits a very ripe, very sweet melon. Spearmint suits one that is a little underripe and needs help.

Add the sparkling water last: stir it in gently just before serving so the bubbles stay lively.

Make It Your Own

For a tangier fizz, swap the sparkling water for a lime or berry seltzer. For a frozen version, freeze the watermelon cubes overnight, blend them with the mint and lime, and add the sparkling water at the end. For an adult variation, add 1 ounce of white rum or vodka per glass.

Two tall glasses filled with pink watermelon mint cooler, ice cubes visible, lime wheel and mint sprig garnish, condensation on glass exterior, outdoor patio table setting with bright natural light
Serve it right away over ice, or in a chilled glass, so it stays cold and fizzy.

Common Questions

How do I pick the best watermelon for this recipe?

Look for a creamy yellow spot, where the melon sat on the ground, not a white or green one. It should feel heavy for its size. Tap the side with your knuckles. A ripe melon sounds deep and hollow, and an underripe one sounds higher-pitched and metallic.

Can I make this ahead and store it?

You can blend and strain the watermelon, mint and lime base up to 24 hours in advance and keep it in the refrigerator. Add the sparkling water only when you are ready to serve. Watermelon juice separates as it sits, so stir before pouring.

Does this help with hydration?

Watermelon is mostly water, so the drink is mostly water. People also tend to finish a cold watermelon cooler, which makes it an easy way to get more fluid on a hot day.