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10 of the Best Infused Water Recipes You’ll Find…

May 1, 2017May 5, 2017
by Geo

Infused water is like creating art: it’s fun, it’s healthy, and its possibilities are endless. Nowadays, you will see all kinds of products on the market that turn your water into different colors and flavors. However, not only are their ingredients questionable, but they’re also downright unnecessary. There are plenty of household ingredients you can make infused water with that you may already have in your kitchen or garden. From strawberry to thyme, apple to rosemary, it doesn’t take much to make your water a flavorful masterpiece.

It’s pretty simple to DIY infused water. That said, there are a few tips and tricks borrowed from the mixologists of old to help you get the most out of your infusions. Sliced, squeezed, muddled, or mixed, fruits and herbs have different structures and textures that take one process or another to help get the most out of your preferred produce. With so many combinations, where to start?

We’ve taken it upon ourselves to blend some of the most interesting flavors we could find. Sure, there are plenty of recipes for mint and lime infused water out there, and even some benefits, and that’s why we decided to get a bit more adventurous. Citrus, berries, melons, and culinary herbs, all of our favorite ingredients are there to inspire you to make your own recipes. So without further ado, let’s get infused.

Blueberry Tarragon

An unlikely pair, blueberry and tarragon are actually quite an interesting match. Blueberry is a crowd favorite, but tarragon, commonly known as the “little dragon”, is a culinary herb appreciated for its unique taste and aroma of licorice and sweet basil. One of the four “fines herbes” of French cuisine (1), tarragon is also used as the primary flavoring for a soda called Tarkhun, widely popular in Eastern Europe. So it’s no surprise that infusing tarragon with blueberry is actually a match made in watery heaven.

For infusion: steep anywhere from 1-4 hours for flavor. Blueberries can be steeped whole or halved to absorb more easily into the water. Tarragon can be muddled or steeped whole, as well.

Strawberry Dill

Strawberry is an obvious choice. But the fragrant addition of dill makes this blend a definite conversation starter. Dill, another culinary herb, is famous for its use in pickles, cooked with fish, and featured in everything from yogurt to biscuits. Because of its sweet, bitter, and citrusy flavor profile, dill blends well with just about everything. So why not strawberries? And on that flavor note, strawberry and dill already work well together in salad, so why not something as simple as water?

For infusion: steep up to 4 hours for maximum flavor in cold or room temperature water. Strawberries are best sliced for better absorption. Dill is quite aromatic, so it should infuse rather easily.

Raspberry Sage

This pair is #3 in our trifecta of berry and herb combinations. Raspberry is a popular fruit flavoring for everything from breakfasts to beverages to desserts. Sage, on the savory end of the spectrum, adds a delicious flavor to meat to butter to honey. Together, these culinary powerhouses add a cool and refreshing take on infused water. And that’s not even to mention the medicinal benefits of raspberry and sage.

For infusion: with raspberry being very porous and sage an aromatic leaf, infusing is a cinch. In cold or room temperature water, steep a small handful of raspberries and a sprig or two of sage leaves in filtered water from 1-4 hours.

Turmeric Lime Jasmine

If you don’t already know about turmeric, it’s one of the most interesting culinary and medicinal flavors you can find. An anticancer powerhouse, turmeric is used in everything from teas and spices to pain relieving supplements, with a peppery, ginger-like taste. Lime, with a flavor all its own, is used from spices to beverages to pies. Jasmine, a fragrant flower with a rich history, has a perfumy flavor often added to green tea and all things “aroma”. Together, these three ingredients offer a deliciously, savory imbibe with a full range of complementary flavors. It’s great for conversation and those days where you’re searching for something outside the norm.

For infusion: dealing with 3 different types of ingredients, this infusion requires a little more attention. Because turmeric is a root, it needs more time and heat to release its flavor. Either steep in hot water or leave in the sun with the jasmine flowers for several hours. Afterward, strain water and squeeze lime into the resulting infusion. Garnish with a lime slice or wedge.

Cucumber Mint Strawberry Lime

Oh, so much can be said about this combination. The most flavor-packed of any recipe on this list, cucumber-mint-strawberry-lime could be broken down into any smaller pairing and still be delicious. But together, these four offer a sweet, cooling, and especially refreshing infused water for those hot-as-Hades summer days.

For infusion: slice cucumber and strawberry into thin slices, muddle several sprigs of mint in a cup. Steep all 3 in water for at least an hour in cold or room temperature water before squeezing lime for final step. Garnish with a lime wedge, and serve chilled.

Blackberry Lime Cilantro

Another summer favorite-to-be, blackberry lime cilantro water has all the elements for a cool, calm, collected day. Blackberry is a sweet, tart, and nutrition-packed berry. Cilantro, an herb in the parsley family, is also loaded with nutrients and has a flavor many have likened to parsley and citrus. (2) Blended with the lime and blackberry, this is one surprisingly refreshing combo made for picnics and sun-soaked beach days.

For infusion: soak blackberries in cold or room temperature water for at least 2-3 hours. Muddle cilantro and add to water at any time. Squeeze half a lime before serving. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!

Hibiscus Lavender Rose

If there were ever a colorful and fragrant combination, this delicious, flowers-only blend is most certainly your Huckleberry. Hibiscus, a tropical flower known for its Hawaiian charm, offers a deep red color loaded with vitamin C. Lavender, a culinary delight, offers a deep aromatic essence to everything from lamb chops to ice cream. And then there’s rose, the mother of all romantic flowers with its color, mystical, and practical connotations. Together, the combination is not only delicious and full of vitamin C, but it might also make you smell like perfume.

For infusion: steep all three in water, leave out in the sun for 2-4 hours. Hibiscus flowers will turn water deep red. Strain and enjoy!

Raspberry Cucumber Fennel

Raspberry and cucumber both have their refreshing qualities, but they are equally matched by the addition of fennel. Although fennel is closely related to parsley, carrots, dill, and coriander (3), its bulbs and feathery leaves carry more of a licorice and anise flavor. Pairing the cooling properties of cucumber and fennel with the sweet undertones of raspberry, it’s likely you’ll be happily hydrated wherever you are.

For infusion: cut several slices of cucumber, a small handful of raspberries, and 2-3 sprigs of wispy fennel leaves (or cut 1-2 slices of fennel bulb). Steep in cold or room temperature water for 1-4 hours.

Watermelon Cilantro

Watermelon is a standalone favorite. Cooling, hydrating, and full of lycopene, it’s no wonder this favorite melon has people waiting all year (like yours truly!) for summer. Paired with the unlikely match of cilantro, watermelon cilantro water is a dance of sweet, citrus, and herbacious goodness.

For infusion: Muddle a sprig or two of cilantro, slice several pieces of watermelon. Steep in cold or room temperature water for at least an hour.

Apple Mint

Not only are these two well-paired, but apple and mint each have their own varieties that can make for almost infinite combinations. Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious are just a few of the kinds of apples available (4), and chocolate mint, apple mint, ginger mint, and lemon balm are a few of the mint varieties to explore. (5) Although neither are foreign to any kitchen or garden, apple mint water should be a staple in every refrigerator.

For infusion: cut several thin slices of apple, muddle mint. Steep for 2-4 hours in cold or room temperature water, and serve. Enjoy!

Tip of the Infused Water Iceberg

These are some of the more unique combinations of fruits and herbs we’ve been fortunate enough to put together in water. Although these blends are fairly novel to us, there’s really no limit to the new kinds of flavors you can create. Honeydew, yerba mate, D’anjou pear, and gynostemma are some of the more interesting types of ingredients you can find. But without giving away any more for now, go infuse yourself!

References

Tarragon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarragon
Cilantro http://www.spiceadvice.com/encyclopedia/cilantro.html
Fennel http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=23
Apple Varietals http://bestapples.com/varieties-information/varieties/
Types of Mint http://herbs.lovetoknow.com/Slideshow:Types_of_Mint

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Infused Water Is No Detox Water, But It Is…

April 9, 2017May 5, 2017
by Geo

You’ve seen it on Instagram, Pinterest, and virtually every other social media feed where your favorite influencers are showing off their creativity with liquids. Fruit and herb infused water, or “detox water”, has hit critical mass. Cucumber water. Strawberry Blackberry Basil Water. Watermelon Citrus Mint Rosemary Asparagus Water. Not quite sure about that last one, but you get the idea. The possibilities are endless.

And like all the other diet fads and detox regimens these days, this DIY infused water comes with all sorts of health claims. Clears skin. Flushes the kidneys. Relieves indigestion. All of these effects may actually be true! But it’s most likely NOT because you steeped some organic raspberries and fresh thyme into that awesome yet overpriced infusion bottle.

Quite simply, you’re drinking more water.

Infused Water is Still Water

Like what I did there? Well, the point is, it’s all just better tasting water, for the most part. Let’s not delude (or dilute?) ourselves into thinking that adding fruits, herbs, or even vegetables is going to shortcut our daily requirement of roughage. There are no shortcuts, people. Sure, there may be some leakage of triterpines from your rosemary sprig. Or maybe tiny amounts of curcuminoids from your freshly sliced turmeric root. But it’s still 99.99% water.

The good news? You now have to pee every 15 minutes. And congratulations, you’re on your way to proper hydration, which comes with its own set of benefits. These include:

Better body temperature regulation: with more water available in the system, blood can flow more easily and heat can better dissipate into the air through the skin as blood vessels dilate with ease. (1)
Muscles and joints work better: more water equals more efficient waste removal for the cells inside and around contracting muscles; also, more water equals more joint lubrication. (1)
More elastic skin: although the jury is still out on the direct relationship between hydration and skin elasticity, or turgor, common sense dictates – you are what you eat, AND drink. For a quick test on your own skin, try the snap, pinch, and pout trick. How hydrated are you?
Cleanse toxins: proper hydration makes for all kinds of regularity, including the kidneys’ ability to filter waste from the blood and turn it into urine. With long-term dehydration comes waste buildup, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections. Yowza!

It’s Not What’s In It, But What’s NOT In it

Drinking infused water is not just about the few nutrients that managed to seep into it. It’s also about what you’re replacing it with. If you hadn’t prepared your colorful concoction in the first place, what else might you be drinking instead? As neutral as they seem, many store-bought and even organic beverages often have extra ingredients, especially sugar. Replacing that sports drink or vitamin water with your homemade infused water comes with all kinds of benefits. Some of these include:

Fewer calories: calories come in many forms, but sugar is the biggest contributor of “empty calories” in many carbonated drinks, with average counts in soda starting around 100+ calories for 12 ounces.
Low sugar: it’s well documented that sugar turns into fat, specifically fructose, which makes the brain resistant to leptin, the hormone that signals the brain when the body is “full” (2); less sugar, less fat!
No chemical flavors or preservatives: when your color and flavor from fruits and herbs is infused on the spot, there’s no need for caramel coloring, phenylalanine, or sulphur dioxide to keep your water from spoiling; that said, make sure to drink within a few days (because it WILL spoil).

Just Squeeze It

Okay, let’s give credit where it’s due. There are SOME benefits to adding a certain fruit to your water. Polyphenols, the compounds in plant sources known for their antioxidant properties, need to be extracted so they can be bioaccessible and potentially bioavailable. (3) Considering most fruits and vegetables can’t easily be extracted into water without some fancy contraption, that leaves one viable candidate with a myriad of possibilities. Citrus.

Not only is citrus versatile in its flavors, but it’s also loaded with nutrients AND easy to squeeze into water. Whether you prefer lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, or any of the more exotic varieties, water infused with citrus is chock full of benefits.

Vitamins Galore

You probably already know that citrus contains lots of vitamin C. What you might not know is that, depending on the specific variety, it also has various amounts of B vitamins, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and copper. And with the 60 kinds of flavonoids, carotenoids, and essential oils also present, you might want to squeeze out that last drop. (4)

Low Calories

Especially if you’re not eating the whole fruit, citrus is a great choice when counting calories. The juice of one lemon comes in at a mere 12 calories (5), not bad considering all the other good stuff it contains.

May Help Keep Away Kidney Stones

If you don’t know anything about kidney stones, consider yourself lucky! Long story short, they often form with high concentrations of certain minerals and low concentrations of citrate in urine. By regularly adding lemon juice, and an even sweeter deal, orange juice, to your water, your risk of kidney stones may become nonexistent. (6)

Possible Anti-inflammatory Effects

Remember those flavonoids we mentioned earlier? They may be responsible for aiding all kinds of biological processes, specifically reducing inflammation. Inflammation in the body can create all kinds of issues, including digestive discomfort, joint pain, even cancer. Squeezing some lemon, lime, or even orange juice into your water will inject those antioxidant-rich bioflavonoids will help keep that inflammation at bay. (7)

Slicing Through The Nonsense

Infused water is sweeping the social media feeds these days with beautiful pictures and unproven health claims, so sometimes it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. Although infusing water with sliced fruits and herbs won’t provide all the nutrients available in the whole plant, they will make water more palatable so you can reap the benefits of better hydration. Also, squeezing certain fruits like citrus varieties will unlock more of their potential than simply slicing them.

Whichever method you prefer, preparing infused water can fun, easy, and a great conversation starter. And now that you know some of the real #alternativefacts, feel free to spread the good word on your Twitter feed.

References:

6 Benefits of Staying Hydrated, http://www.onemedical.com/blog/live-well/6-benefits-of-staying-hydrated/

4 Ways Sugar Makes You Fat, https://authoritynutrition.com/4-ways-sugar-makes-you-fat/

The Role of Dietary Fiber in the Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability of Fruit and Vegetable Antioxidants, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3052441/

7 Reasons to Eat More Citrus Fruits, https://authoritynutrition.com/citrus-fruit-benefits/

Lemon Juice, raw Nutrition Facts & Calories, https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1938/2

Orange Juice Is Better Than Lemonade At Keeping Kidney Stones Away, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060831084343.htm

Citrus Bioflavonoids supplement health benefit, http://www.raysahelian.com/citrusbioflavonoids.html