How often are we told to “drink more water”? Plenty! But for some people, plain H20 can get pretty boring pretty quickly.
Infused water is perfect for when you need to drink up but are craving a little flavor and variety. It’s easy to make, requires few ingredients, and not to mention, it looks really fancy. You’ll also get some added nutritional benefits from the fruit.
To brew up a batch, all you need is a pitcher, water, and some sliced fresh fruit. Combine together, let them sit in the fridge, and after awhile your water will have a subtle fruity flavor. While fresh fruit like lemons or berries are common, you can also experiment with herbs, spices, and even edible flowers like hibiscus and rose.
Tips:
-Infused water takes about 2-4 hours for all the flavors to sink in, so give yourself time to prepare and wait. For maximum flavor, you can make the water the night before and keep it in the fridge until the morning.
-It’s best to keep water refrigerated to preserve freshness: letting your water sit out for more than 2 hours means that bacteria can start to grow. Infused water is usually best if you drink it within a day. If you’re unable to finish the water within 24 hours, you can remove the fruit and store the remaining water for up to 3 days in the fridge.
-If you’re adding citrus fruit to your water, remove the rinds first. Rinds have a bitter taste that can easily ruin your water.
-For harder fruits like pears or apples, slice as thinly as possible since these take longer to infuse.
-When you go to make your water, add the fruit to the pitcher or jar before adding the water. Lightly mash with a spoon to release the flavors. You can do the same with any herbs.
Experiment! Try different blends of your favorite fruits. Or, if you’re not sure where, you can start with these amazing combos.
Infused Water Ideas
- Cucumber, mint, and strawberries
- Watermelon and basil
- Peaches and peeled ginger
- Strawberry, lemon, and mint
- Grapefruit and rosemary
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