This time of year I always start thinking of China, intensely. The rains end in June and sweltering heat swoops in. I remember my aunt sitting on a small bench by the doorway one summer, trying to catch a breeze, sewing something, probably patching up one of my silk tanks. You can’t wear anything but silk in that weather. Cotton turns into a wet rag.
Drops of sweat kept rolling down the tip of her nose onto the point of the needle. We weren’t doing anything except keeping still, dripping in sweat, eating watermelon, and running the pale green rinds along our skin to cool off.
Watermelon vendors would come to the door with melons piled high in their carts. We would buy several at a time and roll them under the bed, the coolest, darkest spot in the house. Sometimes up to ten. They’re smaller and rounder there, with seeds that make them sweeter.
It has been my favorite juice since then.
Scoop out the watermelon and puree in your blender along with the fresh mint leaves if using. You may want to do this in batches unless you have a powerful blender.
Pour through the fine mesh strainer into a pitcher or deep bowl, using a spoon to stir the pulp in the strainer and get most of the juice out. Don't push the pulp through the strainer, just stir it around so that liquid keep flowing to the bottom.
Can be refrigerated for up to a day but will lose its freshness after that.
Love a good watermelon and mint juice. This is so perfect for Summer!
Yesss it really beats the heat!
I never realized you could make watermelon juice! I just always thought it was… water haha 🙂 This looks delish !
It IS mostly water! That’s why it’s so easy to make juice out of it without a juicer 😛 There’s not even much pulp left over at the end, only a few spoonfuls.