10 Easy Infused Water Recipes for Summer
Summer is here and hydration has been on my mind lately. I’m spending more times outdoors, especially walk and hiking, which means I’m often carrying a water bottle around with me. While drinking water is the best way to stay hydrated, I’m willing to admit that it can get pretty boring. It’s easy to be tempted to reach for a cold soda or sugary bottled ice tea on a particularly sweltering day, but they’re not a healthy choice. Infused water tastes great and is easy to make at home. Plus, you can customize it to feature your favorite flavors or target specific goals. This article features some of our favorite easy infused water recipes, but first, let’s talk about all the hype.
Benefits of Infused Water
There’s been a lot of hype lately, especially around the internet, about some outrageous claims of the benefits of infused water. Claims include miracle detoxes and fat busters that can help you lose weight just by drinking them. I say you should always be skeptical when people start throwing around buzzwords about “detoxification”–most of those products are scams. Even if infused waters aren’t a cure-all for our woes, they still offer some great benefits.
- Makes boring water taste good without adding artificial flavors or extra sugar
- Offers a healthy alternative to juices, sodas, and other sugary drinks
- Keeps you hydrated!
Yes, the number one benefit of drinking infused water is that it helps you stay hydrated. Every cell of your body requires water to survive and when you’re dehydrated, your body can’t function as efficiently. If you’re not sure if you’re hydrating enough, check out your pee. Clear or light yellow urine means you’re properly hydrated. If your urine is dark in color, that means you’re dehydrated and should drink water or sports drinks ASAP.
Tips for Making Healthy Infused Water
You may think you can just toss some ingredients in a jug and call it a day, but there are a few best practices for making infused water. You can make them in large batches in a pitcher or single serve batches using a water bottle or glass mason jar.
Infused Water Prep
- Buy organic ingredients to avoid pesticides and other chemicals. Wash & rinse them thoroughly.
- Glass pitchers are better than plastic. Glass does not hold flavors and odors like plastic does. If you are using plastic, make sure it’s BPA free.
- Use cold or room temperature water. Make sure it’s filtered water!
- Slice hard fruits like apples thinly. Softer fruits can be sliced more thickly.
- Use a muddler or spoon to crush fibrous herbs like ginger and rosemary. Delicate herbs like basil and mint can be crushed to release their oils.
- If your pitcher doesn’t have a built-in strainer, use a tea infuser to control herb leaves and flowers.
- Infused water should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial growth.
- Infusion time will vary based on ingredients. Cucumbers, citrus, melons, and mint provide instant flavor to water. Other fruits and herbs will require overnight infusion.
- Citrus peels can make water bitter. Either peel the fruit before infusing or remove the citrus after 4 hours.
- After 24 hours, if you have not used all the water, strain the solids out. The infused water can be kept in the fridge for up to three days.
- Most of the nutrients will stay in the fruit, so get the most bang for your buck by using the fruit to make smoothies when you’re done infusing.
Now that you know the basics of infused water, check out these easy and delicious recipes.
10 Easy Infused Water Recipes
Lemon & Lime Water
If you’re trying to kick the soda habit, this is a nice alternative to Sprite. If you’re really struggling to say goodbye to soda, try this recipe with sparkling water instead. Since it only requires two ingredients, it’s super easy to whip up, especially on short notice.
Ingredients for a pitcher
- 1 Lemon
- 3 Limes
Slice the lime and lemon. Put in a pitcher with cold or room temperature filtered water. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Enjoy immediately or remove the fruit after four hours and store in the fridge for up to three days.
Strawberry, Lime, Cucumber, & Mint
I’m seriously addicted to mint. Anything you put it in, I will try. But I was honestly impressed with how refreshing this infused water is. It has a refreshing taste with a nice hint of sweetness from the strawberries, perfect for hot days.
Ingredients for a pitcher
- 1 Cup of Strawberries
- 1 Cup of Cucumber
- 2 Limes
- 1/2 Fresh Mint leaves
Muddle the mint leaves lightly in the bottom of the pitcher. Slice the strawberries, cucumber, and lime, then add to the pitcher. Fill with water and ice. Chill for at least 10 minutes up to overnight.
Blueberry Orange Water
This is the perfect drink for when you get one of those unfortunate summer colds. The oranges are packed with Vitamin C and the blueberries bring tons of antioxidants to this energizing drink.
Ingredients for a pitcher
- 2 Oranges
- 1/2 Cup of Blueberries
Slice the oranges and add to the pitcher with the blueberries. To intensify the flavor, muddle a few of the blueberries and squeeze the juice of one of the oranges. Refrigerate for at least two hours, up to overnight.
Watermelon Basil Water
When I think of summer, I often think of eating juicy slices of watermelon and enjoying fresh basil from the garden–but I don’t think of doing those two things together! The result of combining these summer favorites is a sweet and refreshing infusion perfect for a summer afternoon.
Ingredients for a pitcher
- 1 Cup of Watermelon
- 2-3 Sprigs of Fresh Basil
Cube the watermelon and add it to the pitcher with the basil leaves. Chill for 1 hour to overnight.
Cherry Mint Water
I love mint, but I love cherries even more. When one of my friends suggested I combine the flavors, it blew my mind. This is now one of my favorite infused waters to make once the cherries are in season.
Ingredients for a pitcher
- 2 Cups of Cherries
- 1/2 Cup of Mint
Muddle the mint leaves in the bottom of the pitcher. Cut the cherries in half and remove the pits, then add to the pitcher. Gently mash the cherries with a wooden spoon to release some of the juices. Fill with filtered water. Refrigerate overnight.
Cinnamon Pear Ginger Water
This is one of my favorite infused water recipes when I need a little variety to my routine. If you’re one of those people who spends summer counting down the days to fall, this is the infusion for you. It’s also great for when you’re sick thanks to the ginger.
Ingredients for a pitcher
- 1 Pear
- 6 Cinnamon Sticks
- 1/2 Inch of Ginger
Slice the pear thinly. Grate the ginger. Add all the ingredients to a pitcher and fill with filtered water. Refrigerate overnight for the best infusion.
Strawberry Jalapeno Water
If you suffer from seasonal allergies like I do, you know that nasal congestion can really slow you down and make you miserable. This infusion is fantastic because it contrasts the sweetness of the strawberries with the kick of jalapeno and helps you clear out your sinuses.
Ingredients for a pitcher
- 2 Cups of Strawberries
- 1 Jalapeno
Halve or quarter the strawberries based on their size. Slice the jalapeno. Discard the seeds if you want to reduce the spiciness. Add the ingredients to a pitcher and fill with water. Refrigerate for two hours or overnight.
Raspberry Lemon Mint Water
If you love raspberry lemonade, this is a low-sugar alternative. Some people like to add lime or substitute it for the lemon for a slightly different flavor.
Ingredients for a pitcher
- 1 Cup Raspberries
- 1 Lemon
- 1/4 Cup of Fresh Mint
Slice the raspberries in half and place them in the pitcher. Muddle the mint leaves and raspberries. Slice the lemon and add to the pitcher. Refrigerate at least two hours to overnight.
Grapfruit Rosemary Water
This was another flavor combination that made me go, “Huh?” when I saw it. If you enjoy grapefruit, you’ve got to give this infusion a try.
Ingredients for a pitcher
- 1/4 Grapefruit
- 1 Sprig of Fresh Rosemary
Muddle the rosemary in the bottom of the pitcher. Cut the grapefruit into thin slices and add to the pitcher. Fill with filtered water. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to four hours. Remove the grapefruit and keep in the fridge for up to three days.
Pineapple, Coconut, & Lime Water
If you’re in a tropical mood and want to pretend like you’re on vacation or just looking for a sweet infusion for the beach, try this one out. This is one of the best infused water recipes to give an adult spin–it’s super tasty with a little rum mixed in.
Ingredients for a pitcher
- 1 Cup Pineapple
- 1 Cup Coconut
- 1 Lime
Slice the lime. Cut the pineapple and coconut into chunks. Add to the pitcher and fill with water. Refrigerate for 30 minutes up to overnight.