Infused Water Recipes

Name: Infused Water Recipes
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 cups (500 ml) water; 1/4 beetroot, peeled and cut into strips; 1/4 apple, sliced; 2 cups (500 ml) water; 2 large strawberries, sliced; 4 slices of cucumber; 2 cups (500 ml) water; 4 large mint leaves; 1/4 lemon, sliced

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It is easy to stay hydrated with our Infused Water Recipes. These delicious ideas take minutes to prepare, and taste fabulous!

Two glass bottles on infused water (with lemon and mint) on a board, surrounded by fruit and vegetables.

Why we love these recipes:

To encourage yourself to drink more water, it does help if it tastes good. So, if you’re looking for a healthy, flavourful way to remain hydrated, try subtly-flavoured Infused Water.

I’m a big fan of Infused Water Recipes, and generally have a large pitcher with lemon and mint, or other flavours, in my refrigerator or on my desk. It’s fresh flavoured and refreshing and having it nearby means that I’m motivated to sip it throughout the day. As a bonus, as the water only contains the flavours, there are minimal, if any, additional calories.

Depending on what you’ve infused in your water there will be some added nutrients. Although the nutrients may be small, if having Infused Water nearby encourages me to drink more water, that’s still important for my health.

Here are three suggestions:

infused water - three varieties in glass bottles.

Beetroot and apple:

I like to include beetroot; I slice it into matchsticks and it infuses a beautiful pink shade to the water. The earthiness of beetroot beautifully complements the sweetness of the apple.

Strawberry and cucumber:

The cucumber is refreshing and is balanced by the sweet flavour of strawberry. This is ideal for hot summer days. Be sure to have a pitcher of this Infused Water at your next barbecue.

Lemon and mint:

This is one of the most popular flavour combinations. It is the perfect drink after a period of over-indulgence. The lemon is cleansing, the mint bright and fresh and they both aid digestion.

Step by step instructions:

Select a combination of fruit, vegetables and herbs. Wash them well, cut them in slices or chunks and drop into a pitcher of cold or room temperature water; filtered water if possible.

You can drink the water straight away, but it will become more flavourful after the fruit has infused for 2-3 hours. For extra flavour, infuse the water in the refrigerator overnight.

Tips for success and FAQs:

Firstly, when buying fresh fruit, always choose those without bruises or damage. Organic ingredients are preferable; however, I know that this is not always possible.

To prevent the growth of bacteria and to remove dirt or pesticides, always be sure to thoroughly wash your produce. In addition, do not keep infused water at room temperature for more than 2 hours. After that, I recommend that you put it in the fridge in a clean, sealed container, to prevent bacterial growth.

If you don’t finish your water within 12 hours, remove the fruit/vegetables and discard them and keep the water refrigerated.

To obtain the maximum flavour from fibrous ingredients such as ginger root or lemongrass, it is best to crush them using a mallet or the back of a heavy knife.

Crush leafy herbs, such as mint or basil, in your fingers to release their fragrant oils.

What types of containers are best?

For containers, my first choice is always glass, be it pitchers or mason jars. You can purchase pitchers and bottles designed for this use, but it isn’t necessary. It’s preferable to use what you have and spend your money on fresh produce instead.

How long does it take to infuse water?

You can drink the water immediately, but the flavours will be more developed after 2 – 3 hours. The longer it sits, the more pronounced the flavours.

What fruits and vegetables are suitable?

There’s a myriad of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices from which to choose. Softer fruits such as berries can be sliced or halved. Slice harder fruits like apples very thinly as they will take longer to release their flavours.
Citrus fruits tend to turn the water bitter after about 4 hours so don’t make it too far ahead.

Two glass bottles on infused water (with strawberry and cucumber) on a board, surrounded by fruit and vegetables.

Suggested flavour combinations:

The opportunities are truly endless. Here are some more of our favourite ideas for you to try:

Cucumber, mint and chilli
Lemon and raspberry
Grapefruit and rosemary
Watermelon and mint
Strawberries and basil
Orange and star anise
Ginger and lime
Apple and cinnamon stick

When it comes to serving:

I aim to have a pitcher of Infused Water on hand at most times. It is ideal for:

Children;
Health enthusiasts;
Sporting events;
Picnics;
A non-alcoholic option when entertaining;
The perfect way for anyone to boost their water intake.

More delicious drink ideas:

Two glass bottles on infused water (with beetroot and apple) on a board, surrounded by fruit and vegetables.

Infusing water with fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices will encourage you to drink more liquid without an excess of sugars and artificial flavourings and colourings. I believe that, in general, what we make ourselves is best. There are no unnecessary additives and we are in control of the quality of the ingredients that we use.

These simple and delicious Infused Water Recipes will make it easy to achieve your daily water requirements. Please let me know if you try them.

Alex xx