A good cantaloupe juice recipe is one of the best Summer drinks. It’s sweet, refreshing, and full of meaty and juicy melon that you drink and eat with a long spoon. Filipinos call it Melon sa Malamig, meaning “cold” melon, and it is truly a quintessential sunny day, melon drink recipe that you’ll want to try and share.
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When visiting family in the Philippines, it’s natural for us to focus all the things we do for the day around eating. What do we eat today? What do we drink today? Cantaloupe juice of course!
On a humid and hot day, it’s a refreshing, and relaxing snack. How is it “relaxing” you ask? Well, you can’t help but feel the urge to sit down and savor the moment of having something fresh and natural to satisfy. Whether we make it at home, or pick one up from a street vendor, it never disappoints.
These days, if the sun is shining bright into the kitchen and the ocean breeze is blowing through the shades, I’ll whip up a pitcher of cantaloupe drink and know that I have something exciting for the whole family to look forward to.
What is Cantaloupe Drink?
My favorite Summer beverage, especially when it’s a hot day (which is all the time in the Philippines) is the Melon sa Malamig, aka fresh cantaloupe juice.
It’s easily made with water, sugar, and the best part, strips of cantaloupe.
In Philippines, you can find this drink everywhere. From street corners to cafes, and also in ice form where the melon drink is made into from pops!
As a popular street drink, it’s served in bags with straws and there’s something so tasty, beautifully island-feeling, and more gratitude in that experience. Something about the peachy-orange color, textures of ice and fruit, and the mild sweet melon flavor that makes it a craving.
Best of all, you don’t need to be in the Philippines to create this awesome treat of a Summer drink! It’s so easy, you could make it today.
My most favorite way to have this version of cantaloupe juice is with a little condensed milk and some regular or almond milk stirred in. Plus, a dash of vanilla!
Oh it’s like cantaloupe ice cream! It’s milky, lip-smacking, and fun to eat this way.
It’s my late-night snack go to.
My other drinks that are perfect for sunny days and sweetened mostly by fresh fruit is amazing che Thai, honeydew melon drink, refreshing watermelon hwachae, and a tall glass of mango bango.
How to Choose Ripe Cantaloupe
Follow these easy steps to choose the right cantaloupe. Cantaloupes stop ripening after being picked, so choose a good melon at the store.
- The rind will have raised netting and be beige or tan. If it’s green, it’s not ripe.
- The aroma from where the melon was picked will be sweet smelling.
- The melon will be heavy, because it’s full of water, and there will be a yellower and smoother spot that looks like it’s been sitting on the ground for a long time. This is not a damage, it means the melon is juicy.
Enough of the waiting, let’s get to making cantaloupe drink two different ways!
Ingredients in Cantaloupe Drink (Melon sa Malamig)
- very fresh and ripe cantaloupe
- water
- simple syrup (one part sugar to one part water dissolved together)
- ice
Ingredients in Creamy Cantaloupe Drink
- very fresh and ripe cantaloupe
- condensed mik
- regular milk, or almond milk, or alternative milk of choice
- dash of vanilla extract
- ice
Equipment
- melon shredder
- big bowl or pitcher
- glasses
- tall spoons
Tips and How to Make Cantaloupe drink
In order to make this lip-smacking, satisfying, and delicious best Summer drink recipe, following these tips is a must.
- Have a melon shredder for the easiest way to get meaty shreds from your melon. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have one, use fork tines to scrape the melon into shreds.
- Use ripe melon to get the most juice.
- Use lots of hard, crushed ice. I love biting into icy bits that partially freeze some of the melon for a fun, sensory drink experience. It is so good to have a spoonful with little ice bits swimming in it.
- Don’t let this drink sit out. This is a Summer drink that you want to consume right away so the ice doesn’t dilute your drink, and also the melon drink should be as cold as can be. If it’s for a party, serve the punch bowl OVER ice so it stays fresh.
- Make Simple Syrup. This this is a must. While, you could just put sugar in, it’s not my recipe if you do. The sugar doesn’t dissolve and distribute as well if you put straight granulated sugar. Using simple syrup makes everything very nicely sweet and smooth.
- Stir – When you stir fast, it gives an ice cold chilling effect to the entire drink. This drink needs to be cold, so stir away to get the fruit and liquid down in temperature.
How to Make Simple Syrup
1:1 Ratio of Granulated White Sugar to Water
Use a One to One Ratio of water and sugar. Microwave for one minute. Stir till all sugar is dissolved. Now you have simple syrup to add to sweeten your drink as you wish. It’s very sweet, so add a little at a time. Save the remaining simple syrup in a glass container and refrigerate for next use.
Tips and How to Make this Cantaloupe drink Recipe with Milk
If you add condensed milk, then use a whisk and stir very, very well until it’s completely incorporated. Add a little regular milk to thin it out and it all creates a very creamy and yummy treat.
- Do all the above tips
- Be sure to drink this beverage right away! Do not ever let the cantaloupe drink sit out with milk in it.
The melon has enzymes that break down protein (like in milk) and it’s going to become off-tasting and bitter if you let it sit. Reason why many fruits are used in tenderizing meat. It’s not meant to sit with the milk. So always serve the condensed milk syrup separately if it’s for a party.
How to Serve Cantaloupe Drink
A party is where it’s at when this Summer drink favorite is present.
- Be sure to use lots of hard, small ice. You can use regular ice too, but I love getting a few ice bits on my spoon with the cantaloupe shreds. You can also crush your regular big ice for an “icy” effect.
- Shred the cantaloupe well with a melon shredder. Score the melon before shredding if you want short cantaloupe strings.
- Serve with long spoons for lots of scooping action.
- Serve condensed milk with regular milk mix, on the side over ice, in a carafe for a party. The cantaloupe in lightly sweet water can be in a punch bowl. The condensed milk with regular milk mixture can be added as the guests likes, like a topping, when they are ready to drink it. Have tall glasses and the long spoons handy. Don’t let the creamy version sit out pre-mixed, or else it’s going to be yucky.
Add Ins and Variations
- choose any milk you like
- try with pandan milk
- add grass jelly cubes or add in ai yu jelly
- try with tapicoa pearls
Is Cantaloupe Juice Healthy?
Cantaloupes are mostly made of water. This is why this recipe is one of the very best Summer drinks you can have. It’s hydrating and also, there are tons of vitamins and minerals found in these peachy melon spheres.
Cantaloupe juice drink (melon sa malamig) has:
- lots of Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Potassium
- helps with hydration
- low glycemic index to avoid blood sugar spikes
- lots of fiber
Resource: https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/cantaloupe-health-benefits
Yes!
Yes! Cantaloupe juice is very healthy, low calorie, and has lots of vitamins. You can adjust the sugar to your preference or not use any at all in this Summer drink recipe. You can sub condensed milk for coconut milk if you want to try a creamier version and also make it vegan.
I recommend only storing leftovers of the regular, non creamy cantaloupe drink. Leftovers will last until the next day (if you even have any leftovers) and I recommend not storing for more than three days.
You can, just store the cantaloupe shreds in simple syrup and some water in a glass container so it lasts till the next day. Do not pre-shred the melon any longer than a day before consumption. Fresh will be best.
Yes! However, it’s best to separate the ingredients and mix at the party before serving.
Cantaloupe Drink TWO Delicious Ways
Equipment
- melon shredder
- long spoon
Ingredients
Cantaloupe Drink
- 1 cup fresh, ripe cantaloupe shredded
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp simple syrup one part hot water and one part sugar
- ½ cup crushed ice
Creamy Cantaloupe Drink
- 1 cup fresh, ripe cantaloupe shredded
- 2 tbsp condensed milk if you want to omit this, substitute by adding a little simple syrup
- 1 cup regular milk or almond milk
- ⅛ tsp vanilla extract just a dash
- ½ cup crushed ice
Instructions
Make Simple Syrup
- Combine one part sugar to one part hot water. Mix until the sugar is dissolved. Refrigerate.1 tbsp simple syrup
Cantaloupe Drink
- Grab a big and tall glass.
- Shred the cantaloupe with a melon shredder and fill the glass halfway.1 cup fresh, ripe cantaloupe
- Pour in ice, simple syrup, and water.1 cup water, ½ cup crushed ice
- Stir very well, stirring quickly, moving the spoon up and down, and mixing for 30 seconds. Serve with a long spoon and enjoy!
CREAMY Cantaloupe Drink
- Grab a big and tall glass.
- Shred the cantaloupe with a melon shredder and fill the glass halfway.1 cup fresh, ripe cantaloupe
- Pour in ice, condensed milk, regular or almond milk, and a dash of vanilla extract.2 tbsp condensed milk, 1 cup regular milk or almond milk, ⅛ tsp vanilla extract, ½ cup crushed ice
- Stir very well, stirring quickly, moving the spoon up and down, and mixing for 30 seconds. Serve with a long spoon and enjoy!
Notes
- Add more melon as you like
- Add boba or mini tapioca pearls
- Try with different alternative milk to your preference
- Make it vegan with omitting condensed milk and using simple syrup
- Add ripe banana slices or jackfruit
- Try honey instead of simple syrup or condensed milk
- Make this for a party in a huge punchbowl and all the ingredients laid out separately over ice.
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