Why hydrate with plain old water when there are so many ways to make it tastier – and even a bit healthier – without resorting to artificial additions? Infusing H2O with fruit, vegetables and herbs will help turn a mundane drink into an amazing one. Scroll through our gallery for all the refreshing recipes you'll need, from cold brew teas to sparkling coolers.
For the tastiest results, use tap water (filtered, if that's your preference), and fresh, unbruised produce for your infusions – if you're using skin-on fruit, especially citrus fruits, organic is a better choice. Thinly slice harder produce like pears, as this helps to release the flavour; meanwhile, soft fruits, such as berries or lemons, can be thickly cut or added whole. Tear herbs before adding them in, and keep delicate flowers in a tea strainer, or freeze them beforehand. You should leave your water to infuse for 1-2 hours, then keep it chilled in the fridge for a day at the most.
Infuse some water with some sizeable slices of juicy orange and a generous helping of blueberries, then chill before drinking for the ultimate in fruit-filled refreshment. Be sure to spoon up the blueberries at the end for a hit of healthy antioxidants.
Colourful and exotic, passion fruits are both sweet and tart. Scrape the pulp through a strainer so the seeds are left, catch the juice, then mix it in with soda or sparkling water, along with a little lime juice and mint. You can also add a small amount of sugar if you need it – or stevia, if you're trying to keep your calorie and sugar intake down.
The subtle, almost floral flavour of pears works really well with the spice and warmth of ginger and cinnamon. If it's cold outside, you can try infusing hot water with this combination too.
For something a little different, use coconut water instead of plain water. A study at the University of Memphis found coconut water to be as good as a sports drink at restoring fluids – plus, it's high in potassium, which helps keep blood pressure normal. Infuse with slices of blood orange, a squeeze of juice and a few blueberries for a bright, healthy beverage.
Try this drink if your stomach needs some TLC: ginger is a well known, and scientifically studied, remedy for nausea. Pineapple is a complementary companion flavour-wise, and is sometimes recommended after a heavy meal due to its content of bromelain, a digestive enzyme (though the jury is still out on this). Infuse for at least 2-3 hours for the best effects.
These ice cubes hold delicate flowers in place, which will unfurl naturally as the ice melts in water. The effect is visually appealing, and the flowers (violets, geraniums, roses and marigolds are best) gently scent the liquid. Add a small amount of water to an ice cube tray, place a flower or petal in each section, freeze, add more water, and freeze again to ‘set’ the flowers. Use distilled water for clear cubes, and be aware that not every variety of flower is edible – so check before using!
Cranberries give water a lovely, tart sweetness, while lemon adds piquancy. Slightly crush some fresh cranberries, and add them to water along with some citrus slices. You can drink this infusion immediately, but waiting for an hour or two allows the flavour to intensify. If it's too tart for your tastebuds, a little sugar syrup goes a long way.
Use a vegetable peeler to create cucumber ribbons (aim for the flesh, not the skin, as too much of it can be bitter). Add the ribbons to water with some thin slices of lime and sprigs of fresh thyme for a thirst-quenching, herby drink. Cucumber is 96.5% water, so it's virtually as hydrating as pure H₂O.
Stir a handful of dried hibiscus flowers into some cold water, then chill for 12-24 hours. Strain for a beautifully colourful, flavoursome cold brew tea that looks even better on the rocks. If you find that this heady cold brew needs balancing, add a touch of honey, stevia or agave. Research suggests regular consumption of hibiscus tea can help to lower blood pressure.
Cardamom water is popular in India, where it’s famed as a cure-all for everything from obesity to low mood. A 2019 study gives some backing to cardamom's health credentials, showing that the spice caused improvements in blood glucose and cholesterol levels in people with fatty liver disease. To make this drink, bring a few crushed pods to the boil, and simmer for 15 minutes. Drink hot or cold, adding sweetener if necessary.
Rosemary and lemon work harmoniously together in cooking, so why not in a drink? Use soda or sparkling water for an energising libation with herby undertones. There's some preliminary evidence that essential oils in rosemary may boost memory, which is an added bonus!
Alternatively, replace the lemon with grapefruit for an invigorating combo. Choose red grapefruit over white for extra antioxidants – the red colour is healthy lycopene, which may help to prevent heart disease.
This one's simple, but oh-so delicious. Infuse water with rose petals, smashed strawberries and lemon slices for a few hours, and voilà: an elegant and refreshing drink.
Lemon, like mint, has its place in many infusions – it's hard to find a more refreshing ingredient, and it's a great provider of vitamin C. Adding lavender not only raises this drink to Instagrammable levels, but it also adds colour, a pleasant scent, and a light, flowery taste.
Like edible flowers, herbs can also be frozen in ice cubes to add to water as and when required. Even better, you can freeze sprigs of mint in fresh lemon juice to give your drink an extra lift.
Lemon and mint are comfortable bedfellows, but fragrant sage works well too, adding warmth to infused water. Just don't use too much sage or you'll find it overpowering – a leaf or two in a small pitcher should do.
Lemongrass has a fresh, heady scent and flavour, and it makes an ideal pick-me-up. Roughly chop some stalks, and simmer them in water for 10-15 minutes. Add a dash of sugar or stevia if needed, then stir, strain, cool, and serve over ice. This one goes nicely with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.
Pop some antioxidant-rich matcha powder into a cocktail shaker along with some warm water, and blend. Add some cold water, ice cubes and a teaspoon of honey, mix again, then serve over ice with slices of lime.
Basil and peach also make a tongue-tingling combination. Add 2-3 torn basil leaves to a jug of water along with a couple of peeled, sliced peaches or nectarines. Simple, but effective!
Chamomile is a popular herbal tea – but rather than drink it hot, why not try it cold? To reap the benefits, bring some water to the boil, then simmer some tea bags or flowers for 15 minutes. Allow it to cool, then serve in ice-filled glasses with a dash of honey. The idea that chamomile helps to soothe away troubles may be more than just an old wives' tale: a small study of people who took a chamomile extract supplement showed it helped with anxiety.
To make this refreshing cooler, either blend a cup of pomegranate seeds with water, fresh mint and lemon juice and serve over ice, or infuse pomegranate seeds – some muddled, some whole – in water with some torn mint leaves.
Now this is an infusion anyone can master! Drinks don’t get much prettier or more summery than fresh raspberries and lemon slices bobbing about in ice-cold sparkling water.
Watermelon is incredibly refreshing – and that red colour, as with tomatoes and red grapefruit, signifies a source of heart-healthy lycopene. Either add slightly crushed chunks of watermelon to water and leave to infuse, or blend the fruit and water together and serve over ice.
To make chia water, add a tablespoon of the little seeds to a large glass of water and leave it to stand for 15 minutes (or even overnight) – the chia will become gelatinous. Before drinking, stir through the juice of a quarter of a lime or lemon and, if needed, a little sugar or stevia. Chia is a fabulous source of many nutrients, including fibre and magnesium, and may help to create a feeling of fullness.
To extract their warm aniseed flavour, first pour boiling water over a handful of fennel fronds and leave it to steep for 10-20 minutes. Chill the mixture in the fridge, and when cold, strain and pour over ice, with a sprig of fennel and some cubed fruits of your choice to decorate.
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Add a dash of freshly squeezed orange juice and a tablespoon of juicy cubed or smashed mango to a glass of chilled plain or sparkling water. This refreshing, easy-to-drink beverage will help to top up your vitamin C levels.
Mint is one of the best herbs to infuse – it’s relatively tough, so it doesn’t break up easily, and it has a strong flavour that permeates liquid beautifully. Add it to some cold sparkling water with a handful of blackberries for an eye-catching drink. Interesting fact: mint has 3.5 times more iron per gram than beef.
Basil gives a lovely lift and fragrance to plain water. Simply scatter in a few torn leaves and leave to infuse, along with some strawberries and slices of lime. And there you have it: a delicious (and eye-catching!) summer drink.
The UK's Eatwell Guide says we should drink six to eight glasses of fluid a day. Though milk, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices all count, water is the ultimate healthy and inexpensive choice. The recommendation is just a guide, and you may need more or less depending on the weather and how much you sweat. Bear in mind that about 20% of our daily fluid intake comes from high water foods, such as fruit and vegetables.
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