This quick and easy infused water is made with fresh ingredients from the garden or market. Add herbs, citrus, and fruit to your water for a refreshing, healthy, and delicious drink!
Did you start a garden this year?
I did-- and things got a little out of control.
I planted way more things than I intended to. And then I got more plants as gifts.
And now-- I'm finding every excuse possible to harvest all the things from my garden, and bring them into my tiny kitchen.
I love using my fresh herbs and edible flowers in drinks like fresh mint tea, catnip tea, or honeysuckle vodka, or in homemade sweeteners like mint simple syrup, lavender simple syrup, and citronella simple syrup.
But sometimes, I want something even easier than these (already simple) recipes.
One of the easiest ways to bring the garden (or produce from the farmer's market) into my home is to infuse water with citrus, herbs, and fruit.
Can I Use Tap Water?
You can-- if your tap water has a nice flavor, and if the tap water in your area is safe to drink. I usually use filtered tap water.
If you have hard, sulphuric-tasting tap water-- it's probably better to use bottled drinking or spring water.
Can I Use Sparkling Water?
I don't recommend it. You'll be letting the water sit for several hours, and sparkling water would lose all of its sparkle and fizz.
Do I Need a Special Infusing Pitcher to Make Infused Water?
Absolutely not! But if you have one, go ahead and use it.
Infusing pitchers, water bottles, and balls are designed to hold all of the infusing ingredients together, and keep them from falling into your glass.
If you don't mind a few berries in your water glass, it doesn't matter either way.
A few berries to enjoy after a glass of refreshing water is a bonus in my book.
If you use a decorative glass pitcher, the curved spout usually holds back most of the infusing ingredients.
How to Make Infused Water
I like to pick one citrus or berry, and one herb. And then I add a small handful of both to a pitcher of water.
What combinations of fruit and herbs should you use?
There's really no right answer here. Use what you love and what you have on hand.
My favorite combination is lemon and basil-- it's light and refreshing. Check the recipe card for suggested combinations.
My mother-in-law likes to make her infused water with pineapple and mint.
Pick and choose what you like, or go ahead and add a bunch of different herbs and fruit together!
After I took these photos, I added ALL of the infusing ingredients into a single pitcher. Lemon slices, orange slices, blueberries, strawberries, and mint. And it was delicious.
Want more SUMMER DRINKS? Try these:
Infused Water with Herbs, Citrus, + Fruit
Ingredients
- 4 cups water Use good tasting tap water or bottled water
Citrus, Fruit, + Vegetable Infusing Ingredients: (Choose 1 or Mix + Match), Check Recipe Notes for Suggestions
- 1 orange OR 2 mandarins, thinly sliced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 1 lime, thinly sliced
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 cup pineapple, very thinly sliced
- 1 cup strawberries, thinly sliced
- 1 cup blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries (these will take longer to infuse than sliced fruit)
Herb Infusing Ingredients: (Choose 1 or Mix + Match)
- 5 basil leaves (any variety)
- 5 mint leaves (any variety)
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 2 sprigs rosemary
Instructions
- Add water to a pitcher, and add desired infusing ingredients.
Tip: If you have a special water infusing pitcher or infusing ball, it will keep the infusing ingredients from spilling out of the pitcher. This is totally optional. - Chill water for at least an hour for the best flavor infusion.
- For extended usage: Add more water to the pitcher as it needs refilling, and replace the infusing ingredients when the flavor is becoming too strong, or when the ingredients look wilted or no longer fresh. (Usually every 2 days, depending on ingredients used.)
Notes
- Lemon + Basil or Mint
- Cucumber + Basil or Mint
- Strawberry + Thyme
- Pineapple + Mint
- Strawberry + Mint
- Lemon + Orange
- Orange + Rosemary
- Berries + Mint
Lisa
Now this is the perfect summer sipper! Light, refreshing and subtly flavored with natural ingredients. This reminds me of the spa water they welcome you with at the fancy hotels! What a great idea and without all the sugar or artificial sweeteners you get with sodas.
champagne-tastes
Spa water for sure! It's delicious 😀
Claire
These just look so bright and refreshing.
I love making up big jugs like this for the kids over summer.
Can't wait to try them with Strawberry and Thyme 😀
champagne-tastes
Strawberry and thyme is perfect! And it's so much better than soda 😀 Enjoy!
Gloria
I love the sound of these thirst-quenching waters. I am not a pop/soda drinker (way too much sugar). These on the other hand not only LOOK beautiful....but would taste beautiful as well. Perfect for the hot summer days we are getting into. Loving some of those combinations for sure.
Anne
I'm such a bad water drinker - and I live in Scottsdale! I never think of it until late afternoon, but I find if I keep a pitcher of infused water in the fridge, I'm much more conscious about drinking. Thanks for the mix and match suggestions 🙂
Kitty
I need to do this. We have a very robust herb garden. Water tastes great but we're in West Virginia so we don't trust it and buy tons of bottled water. We have a filter... so we should stop being so lazy and save the environment.
Julia
That lemon and basil combination sounds uber refreshing! And I love your suggestions, the orange and rosemary is calling my name - savoury yet light! I also wouldn't mind a few berries in my water - always a win! And the pictures are great! They make me thirsty 🙂
Leah
Infused water is such a nice change from plain ‘ole water. Makes me think summer right away, and all the great flavor combinations you have suggested are wonderful! Thanks for the great inspiration!
Marisa Franca
Now is just the right season to start drinking more fluids in order to stay hydrated. And your combinations really are excellent - that way plain water doesn't become boring. I even have a little bottle with a holder for adding ingredients so that I can have infused water whenever I want it. I'll have to start experimenting with flavors.
Dana
Sadly, I didn't start a garden this year since we're moving in October and last October, a lot of my stuff was still growing. I didn't want to be moving all of these live plants in heavy planters, haha. SO. I'm saving my excitement for building an actual yard garden next year. BUT. I feel you on the whole things getting out of control bit. It's bittersweet! It's like, "Yay my plants are healthy! But wow, I can't keep up."
Anyway. Infused waters always look so pretty. I usually only do cucumber water, but sometimes I add mint! My Mom used to make pitchers of citrus water, but she'd put sooooo much citrus pieces that the pith would come through and it the water would be bitter? Sometimes I throw a lemon slice in, but I keep it mostly cucumber-y 🙂 SPA WATER!
Carmy
I love infused water and make it all the time. However, this was the first thing I even considered putting herbs in it! It was such an extra hint of flavour that you've changed the game for me. This will be making many appearances over the summer!
Amanda
I drink SO much water, especially during the summer, I swear I'm part camel. 🙂 Infusing it with fruit is one of my favorite things to do to dress it up with natural flavors (I had tried the fruit droplets they sell in the stores once, and it was just SO not the same.) Love the idea of adding herbs to it as well. I think I'm going to make your suggestion of Orange Rosemary today!
Leslie
I planted a garden too - and it's getting super huge! I love infused water - especially in a bit pitcher for guests. Such a nice refreshing twist on regular water.
Donna
Yes I did plant a garden this year and YES I do need lots of ideas to help me get the most out of all these fruits, veggies and herbs. This is such a handy post and I can see these fruit and herb infused waters being the star of our dinner table all through summer.