This year, I’ve made it a goal to drink more water. It’s because I realized that sluggish, headachy, a little “off” feeling seemed to hit me whenever I wasn’t properly hydrated. To make the resolution stick, I’ve had to go beyond ‘trying to remember’ to drink more and take specific actions to make it a habit.
First, I bought my own special water bottle and started carrying it with me wherever I go. Then I found a way to make drinking water a bit less tiresome and more like a spa treat. Making your own infused water is practically calorie free and gives you a refreshing and healthy way to stay hydrated. So if you avoid drinking water because it’s boring, this is for you!
Benefits of Drinking Infused Water
We know sugary drinks aren’t good for us because they are high in calories, and they don’t really hydrate us all that well. Caffeinated beverages like soda and coffee can actually leave us more dehydrated.
Infused waters have been on the market for years, and quite often, what you find on store shelves contains additives and “natural flavors.” Well, I don’t know exactly what natural flavors they put in there, but I prefer the natural ones I can select from my fruit bowl.
Infused water can offer quite a few health benefits, depending on the fruits, vegetables, and herbs you use. Besides providing an array of nutrients, antioxidants, and bio-available compounds, infused water can also:
Protect against aging. Many fruits are loaded with antioxidants, which protect our cells against free radical damage and boost their longevity.
Control bloating and aid digestion. Things like excess salt, hormones, and a sub-optimal diet can encourage water retention and bloating. But some foods, such as ginger and cucumber, may help reduce swelling and prevent water retention.
Boost relaxation. If you’re feeling stressed, you can infuse your water with herbs that promote relaxation, such as sage, lavender, and chamomile [source].
How to Make Infused Water
Believe it or not, you really can infuse water easily with fruit, vegetables, herbs, and spices. This goes beyond the classic ubiquitous lemon slice in a glass of water. It’s one of those things where you can get super creative and think outside the bottle. The possibilities are endless!
Here are some ideas:
Herbs: Rosemary, thyme, mint, basil, cilantro, parsley
Spices: Cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, fresh ginger, cloves, vanilla bean
Edible flowers: Rose, lavender, citrus blossoms, hibiscus, pansies, violets (just make sure they’re 100% pesticide-free)
Fruit: Berries (fresh or frozen), melon, tropical fruits, citrus, apples, pears
Vegetables: Cucumber, celery, fennel, carrots
Water: Filtered water is great, but if you don’t have a filtration system, tap water is fine too.
Gather ingredients
Gather ingredientsI like to make infused water using large glass pitchers or jars with lids. Give the add-ins a good wash or rinse. You can leave the fruits or veggies peeled or unpeeled. That’s up to you. Try to use organic if you can, and avoid any fruit that’s bruised or overly ripe or herbs that don’t look fresh. Cut it into thin slices or small cubes because the flavor will infuse more quickly. Add the fruit, herbs, spices, or whatever you want to use into a bottle and then fill it up with fresh water.
Be patient
Let the water sit for a few hours to allow the flavors to infuse. The longer it sits, the more flavorful the water will be. Some fruits or herbs will infuse more quickly than others. Citrus is pretty instant. Herbs take a little longer. Berries take a few hours and will also release color into the water. I immediately put the infused water in the fridge after I make it, but it doesn’t hurt to let it sit at room temperature for a little while (just like when making sun tea, sunlight can help extract the flavors). However, you should keep it in the fridge or add ice if you aren’t planning on using it right away.
Drink + refill
Pour a glass and enjoy! If you don’t like the feeling of seeds or pulp in your infused water, filter it through a few layers of cheesecloth or a fine sieve before drinking. You can refill the water a few times and let it infuse again, but the flavors won’t be as pronounced.
Here are 5 of my favorite flavor combinations:
1. Blueberry Lemon Mint
Rich in antioxidants, blueberries are known to fight inflammation and lower the risk of some cancers [source]. Meanwhile, lemon is rich in vitamin C, and mint helps to freshen breath.
2. Citrus Cilantro
2. Citrus CilantroNot everyone is a fan of cilantro, I know, but citrus and cilantro go so well together that you might not even know it’s there. Cilantro is often used in detox diets because it stimulates digestive enzymes and juices, which helps with certain gastrointestinal disorders [source]. It also has antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects [source]. Also, lemon, orange, or grapefruit slices add a dose of vitamin C while promoting hydration. If you don’t have cilantro, then use mint or basil instead.
3. Green Apple Raspberry Rosemary
3. Green Apple Raspberry RosemaryBecause they’re both tart and sweet, green apples tend to pack a more flavorful punch than other fruits. Combine them with raspberries (antioxidants and vitamin C) and rosemary (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial [source]), and you have a double-duty hydration booster.
4. Pineapple Cucumber Mint
4. Pineapple Cucumber MintCucumbers are a spa water superstar—and for good reason. They’re said to help cleanse the body by getting rid of “accumulated pockets of old waste materials and chemical toxins” [source]. They also have a cooling effect on the body and boost hydration. Pineapple is loaded with micronutrients and bioactive compounds such as potassium, manganese, magnesium, and B vitamins. And the volatile oils in peppermint can help improve conditions such as acid reflux, hiatal hernia, and kidney stones [source].
5. Kiwi Blackberry
5. Kiwi BlackberryKiwi fruit is rich in polyphenols, a potent antioxidant, and helps stimulate the immune system [source]. And blackberries provide high levels of vitamins C, A, E, K, and D.
10 more tasty infused water ideas
- Orange Chai Spice: sliced oranges, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, allspice
- Vanilla Basil Strawberry: vanilla bean (remove seeds first), a handful of fresh basil, 1 cup of sliced strawberries
- Fennel Pear: thinly sliced fennel bulb plus a few green fronds, and thin slices of ripe, but firm pear
- Basil Melon: sliced or cubed melon, handful of basil leaves
- Ginger Lime: sliced fresh ginger, sliced limes
- Blueberry Cucumber Basil: a handful of fresh blueberries, sliced cucumber, a small bunch of basil leaves
- Lemon Lavender: slices of lemon, a few teaspoons of lavender (tied in cheesecloth)
- Raspberry Rose: a handful of raspberries, organic fresh rose petals
- Mango Pineapple Mint: slices of firm-ripe mango, slices of pineapple, a handful of fresh mint leaves
- Apple Cinnamon: slices of green or red apple, a few cinnamon sticks
Infused Water FAQs
Can I eat the fruit when I’m done?
Sure! Assuming the fruit hasn’t gotten too soft (it’s still edible, it just might be less enjoyable), feel free to eat the fruit as you drink your water. You can always add it to a smoothie if it gets a little too soggy, and you don’t feel like eating it.
Can I infuse water with frozen fruit/citrus peels/dried fruit?
Yep, you can use dried fruit, frozen fruit straight from the freezer, and any fruit and vegetable peels you like to add more flavor to your water. But just like with fresh fruit, I recommend choosing organic, if you can, and thoroughly washing peels before making an infused water.
Can I just squeeze fruit juice into the water rather than diffusing it?
Sure, if you’re in a hurry, feel free just to squeeze the juice directly into your water. It might turn out sweeter than if you had steeped it, but it won’t hurt anything.
How long can I leave the water on the counter while it steeps?
I recommend only letting your spa water sit out on the counter for 2–3 hours at most. Any longer and you run the risk of having bacteria begin to set up shop in your water.
How can I keep the fruit from disintegrating in the water?
Over time, the fruit will start to soften and get pulp, seeds, and oils in your water. Some fruits do this more than others. You can either use a diffuser pitcher (or a good portable diffuser bottle) to keep the fruit somewhat contained or you can strain the water through a few layers of cheesecloth to remove pulp and debris before drinking.
What if some of my fruit or herbs turn brown? Is it still safe to drink the water?
A little oxidation (think cut apples sitting on the counter for an hour) is perfectly safe to drink. But if your fruit turns brown after a prolonged period of time (like after sitting in the fridge for a few days), it’s kind of iffy. In that case, I recommend tossing the whole batch and starting fresh.
How long will a batch of infused water stay good for use?
Try to drink your infused water within 48 hours. After that, the fruit gets waterlogged and may start to break down, so it’s best to toss it out and start over.
Can I reuse the same fruit a few times before throwing it out?
Sure! Feel free to reuse the same fruit 2–3 times within 48 hours. After that, it’s best to make another batch with fresh fruit.
What’s the best fruit to water ratio to use?
For the most flavor, I recommend a 1:3 ratio of fruit to water. That means you’ll use 1 cup of the combined fruit, veggies, and herbs to 3 cups of water. Scale that ratio up or down depending on the size of your container.
We’re curious, what are your tips for upping your water intake?
P.S. See more infused water ideas perfect for summer right here!
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified physician who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical review board here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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It looks terribly pretty, but I’m wondering if there isn’t a way to do this and still be able to eat the cranberries? Maybe with toothpicks? And at the end of the party you just slice the wreath and each guest takes a slice home? It’s just that I hate wasting food, plus cranberries, if I manage to find any fresh ones, are horribly expensive in France…
My favorite is very ripe Kiwi & fresh mint from my Garden.
Mix in water & refrigerate till chill.
5oz. to cover that needy desire for a sweet drink.
Thanks for the yummy recipes!!Interested to try these out. I find water very boring and this is exactly what I needed!
CAN I ADD ORANGE PELLS INSTEAD OF ADDIBG ALL THIS FANCY CRAP. COUKD I USE ORANGE OEELS TO ADD THE SAME TASTE. OR CIMMON POWDER OR LINE AND LEMONS
I’m in tears crying from this comment LMAO!!!
You know you can do that with a blender on your own but then it would
be a smothi, also if you prefer to
pay alot of money for a little piece of dried fruit (loose of vitamins already) then keep in mind that those ingredient as well as any kind of smothi will plague your teeth. I mean if you prefer to add those bags you would ned your theets a god shrub after consuming because of fructose and tiny bits that could stick between. while infused water is just water. and if you are going to tell me that the content of his package is dissolved by water then it’s not natural ;) and still has bunch of stuff in it you wouldn’t want in your body.
easiest way to have both benefits. infuse water at night make a smothi with left ofer ingredients from the water plus some freshly added one and start your day with the smoothi instead of coffee and drink the water trough out the day :P
Your in serious need of help
Admin delete this festy comment!
I laughed so hard It hurts
I tried this it really works! Thanks!
Can u use a regular jug to do fruit water in and how long it take for the favor
A container is a container. Your hold up is figuring out what to put some water and fruit in, really? You may have larger challenges.
Hi. Will it be okay if i leave the water without ice in room temperature? And for how long can i keep it? I just got a 4 litre dispenser and i wanna know if i could just leave it on my kitchen countertop. And put ice when i need to drink it.
I wouldn’t leave it at room temperature for too long – a few hours up to a day at most.
Had no clue that you could do this!! But I <3 it, no calories, you can refill multiple times, and have all these different flavors.
I have a water bottle that’s part juicer, so you can juice the fruit, empty the fruit mush into,the bottom of the bottle and then fill it up.
How do u keep the water clean & clear? The fruit seems to make the water dirty & when u drink it u get residues from the fruit in ur mouth.
I freeze the fruit at least the night before if not longer. That way the water stays cold longer wth the dozen fruits and no soggy fruit. And I still has that fresh fruit taste.
seriously you are asking this question ? You have major food issues.
Unbelievable!!!
You simply purchase an infuser water bottle or container. Mine can hold 24 ounces of water. It comes with a removable infuser; a cylinder with holes in it. You fill the bottle with filtered or sparkling water. Next you add your ingredients to the infuser, then screw the cap on. You place the infuseri back into the water. Then you place the lid on the bottle and you are done. The infuser allows the juices to pass from the fruit to the water without pieces of the fruit getting out. Also, the water passes through the infuser so it acts as a filter too, keeping the pieces of fruit from coming out while you drink the water but also providing even more flavor. They range in price from $12 to $60; at least, that’s how much you will pay for a good one. There are cheaper ones but they don’t work as well or last as long. You can get them on sale for a bargain at TJMaxx, HomeGoods, or Marshall’s. I hope this helps. I love my infuser water bottle.
I made one with basil leaves yesterday and it was in fridge over night and some of the leaves are brown but not all of them, is water safe to drink?
Yes it is safe i guess, cs the leaves got withered. But i suggest u use fresh leaves ?
Well no?
I put sliced lemon,lime and orange in a pitcher with water. I wonder how many times I can use the same fruit before it goes bad?
Ever considered using Essential Oils instead? Ive created some very tasty infused water recipes many without having to sweeten with Raw Honey (NEVER sugar)
wouldn’t add essential oil to your daily water. Yes it’s great if you have something you want to treat. But remeber essential
oils are either based oil or alcohol or both and those are things that don’t b long into
daily water. Especially don’t advice it if you don’t know if the person is trying to get away from alcohol. as a tiny dripple really can be enough to make a person who is years dry carve and giv in to alcohol. I know it from first hand my neighbor had a terrible draw back because of essential oils.
They all looked nice! Most especially the Green Apple Raspberry Rosemary. Now I only need an infuser water bottle so that I can take this drink with me wherever I go.
Pampered Chef just came out with an amazing infusion water bottle! Check it out at my Website Pamperedchef.biz/lchris
A peach-basil-lime infusion was popular at my office today. So was strawberry-mint. Hoping to make it a regular thing for my coworkers and myself!
Yes. Strawberry have a lot of nutrions but to me it where i reside in Malaysia. It cost a bomb
Please email me the recipes, would like to all these…
Greatly appreciated…
Residing in Malaysia, fruits like kiwi and raspberry are quite costly. Normally i get fruits that are available locally and infuse it.
Natural here is not only healthier without additives but also more dollar friendly. Thanks.
We use cucumber and mint or strawberry and mint, love this as it gives us a few more ideas! Thanks xx
Strawberry and mint is my fave!
Can you leave the water on the counter to steep or does it have to be refrigerator?
My husband and I make them and let them chill for 4 hours in the fridge and then we drink them. But we like ice cold water. Leaving it out won’t hurt but the fruit only keeps for about 2 days.
Do you have to use herbs or can you just use fruits?
You can use either or both together.
How often should you change the fruits/herbs?
I would like to keep a 2-3 liter dispenser tabletop in my kitchen so I can drink more water and less soda.
But I’m guessing I should change very thing out at least every 3 days?
I love thyme and lemon!
Can I just put cardamom seeds in my cold drinking water
How many glasses do you drink if you want to lose weight??
I drink a quart or a little more a day plus the hmr 120 protein shakes and I loose 4-6 pounds a week…3-4 a week if you are just gonna drink the water
Once in a while I enjoy a soda but usually prefer water.
One day at the store I saw a fruit flavored water. I could hardly wait to try it but was soon disappointed after I took a drink and tatasted the dreadful artificial sweetener!
The next time I found one with no sweeteners, and it was exactly what I wanted. But wasn’t long and I could no longer find it. This scenario happened to me several times.
Now, thanks to this post I can have flavored water ANYTIME and what ever flavor I WANT!
Thank You so very much, I can hardly wait to try this!!!
Hey Lindsey, Thanks you for sharing with us the great ideas, I have to try some of them later. Thank you again!
Very good point!
Can you use frozen fruit or does it have to be fresh?
You can use either frozen or fresh fruit
If you would like a Zinger in Australia try naturalbodybasics.com.au ;)
Great tips and post! I love staying healthy with all natural and easy to prepare recipes. I am sure this will be my new favorite kind of water from now on!
Infused water is the perfect idea for those of us that struggle drinking their daily 8 glasses of water. Basically, you can throw in whatever you have handy and experiment for yourself until you find some recipes that you love. Great combinations, the lemon and lavender one must taste amazing!
Perfect for summer coming up! I’ve just tried the basic ones like lemon + cucumber + mint.
I want to try them all. <3 Thank you for sharing!!! :)
Hope you can reply Lindsey! Thanks! :)
Hi Lindsey! I was wondering if we could just squeeze the juices out into the water instead of dropping slices of them into the water? Say, lemon juice instead of lemon slices? Would that make a difference? Or matter?
It looks beautifull as well.
can you leave it out of the fridge for like 7 hours or so, because i have school and like to do that and i normally put ice in my drinks (hot/warm days) but can u have it without ice and no fridge for that long of a period?
Is there a such thing of putting too much mint where you would have side affects.
when using fruit, how much of the fruit juices do you think actually is released into the water? I know you wouldn’t know exactly, but any thoughts?
I have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat fruit, except for lemons and limes due to the sugar. I suppose I could just try this and see, but I wondered if you had any thoughts.
thanks for the great ideas!
Hi Olive, I don’t think the juice actually makes it into the water as much as the flavor, though the fruit does become pretty waterlogged, so some may escape into the water. But when I drink the infused water, I’m not tasting extra sweetness from fruit, if that makes sense. Just the essence. My advice would be to stick to fruits like lemons and limes, and maybe berries that are lower on the glycemic index (I’m pre-diabetic, so I watch it too!). I do think you could make tasty combos using fresh herbs, fruit peels (apples maybe?), and even veggies. Cucumber is one of my favorites, but I think you could do carrots, celery, jicama, beets, bell peppers, etc. Maybe worth a try! Great question though. I wish I had a definitive answer for you on the juice question though!
Thanks for your thoughts!! I really appreciate it.
I just started and I learned after letting it infuse over 12 hours and taking out the fruit the first time is awsome and last longer. I have two choices in the frige most of tge time and one with me. After reading this I find my choices are limitless…thanks.
I was so excited to try this but all I had in the fridge was lime and cherries. I did cut the cherries in half to remove the seeds. Can’t wait to try it.
Do you cut or poke the blueberries first?
I haven’t done that, but you certainly could.
What is the amt of water to cucumber/mint ratio?
I usually use roughly one quart of water plus 1/2 to 1 whole cucumber sliced and a good handful of mint. In the picture, that is a pint jar, so it’s half of that.
am currently making the same water, this post gave me lots of inspirations :)
lifevsstyle.com
Thank you for the personal response. I truly appreciate the time and effort you took to do this.
Do you use the rind of the citrus or the actual fruit?
You can use either/or. I have done both.
How long does the water stay good in the fridge?
Hi Kerri! It kind of depends. I’ve kept it for two to three days, any longer than that and I worry about mold. Some fruits will last longer than that. Berries only last about a day or so. Cucumbers and lemons will last quite a bit longer. You can also infuse the water, remove the fruit, veggie, or herb, and store it in the fridge for longer. Great question!
I didn’t even think to take the fruit out. Haha, so silly of me! I am going to try cucumber and lemon first!
I would never have thought to try most of these ideas, but now I am going to give them all a go :)
I’m partial to Watermelon and Lime infused water, myself. I’ve heard Blackberry and Grapefruit is also good.
Love! Right now I put my leftover fixings from making cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, lemon and black pepper hot tea into a glass jar and fill with water and do that several times before switching out the goodies. I also have another with just lemon slices, but I’m definitely going to take a cue from this page and put in some fresh sprigs of herbs from the garden, thanks!