Major points:
- Infused water refers to water to which fresh ingredients are added.
- These ingredients release their natural flavors into the water, giving it a delicious taste.
- Making it yourself allows you to control which ingredients are included.
Infused water refers to water with added fresh ingredients. You might wonder why you should try it. The main reason is that it is incredibly tasty. Especially on hot summer days, when your thirst is strong, infused water offers a refreshing change from plain water. Another reason is that it looks fantastic. Next time you serve guests, offer them lemon-blueberry-mint water, and you are sure to receive plenty of compliments.
What ingredients are needed?
First, you will need water. Whether you prefer still or sparkling water is up to you. To make it worth the effort, you can prepare several liters at once. However, homemade drinks usually do not last as long as store-bought ones. Drink your infused water within two days. Pour the water into a container, ideally a glass carafe with a lid. If you do not have a carafe on hand, you can use glass bottles with large openings or even large mason jars.
Next, add fruits, vegetables, herbs, or spices to the water. The options are endless, limited only by your taste and imagination. Lemon or lime slices are particularly popular, but other fruits like fresh raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, melons, peaches, and apples work well too. Vegetables such as cucumbers, herbs like basil, and even edible flowers such as lavender or rose petals can also be great additions. Popular combinations include raspberry-rosemary or mango-ginger. You can slice the ingredients or add them whole.
The longer you let the drink sit, the more intense the flavor will be. If you are short on time, use strongly flavored ingredients like mint or lemon, cold water, and ice cubes, and you can enjoy your drink after about 10 minutes. If you have more time, prepare the water and let it infuse in the fridge for several hours. Be careful though – some ingredients, like lemons with peel, can make the water bitter if left too long, and ginger can make it spicy. Since it is difficult to provide an exact timing for each ingredient that suits everyone’s taste, you will need to experiment to find the right combinations and infusion times for you. But it is worth the effort.
If possible, use organic products or ingredients fresh from your garden. This will help reduce the amount of chemicals and pesticides in your drink. Always remember to wash the ingredients thoroughly before using them!
Why make infused water yourself?
The food industry has noticed the trend of flavored water and now offers various versions. Here are a few examples:
- Flavored water
- Flavored water with sugar or sweeteners
- Water with a small amount of fruit concentrates
- Water with added vitamins
- Infused water as effervescent tablets for pouring/dissolving
Depending on the product, the ingredients vary. You will often find that many products contain added flavors. Additionally, sweeteners and sugar are frequently added. By making infused water yourself, you have complete control over what goes into it. This way, you can be sure that no added flavors or sweeteners are included.
What to do when the water is finished?
After drinking the water, ingredients like lemon slices, mint leaves, and other items will remain in the bottom of the container. What should you do with them? There are several options:
- Reuse
Refill the carafe with fresh cold water, and the process will start again. Depending on how intense you like the flavor, you can repeat this three to four times. - Replace
While cucumber slices lose flavor quickly, herbs release theirs for a longer time. Simply replace the ingredients that lose flavor after each refill. - Eat
Although the ingredients may taste a bit watery, they are still edible. Add the cucumber slices to your salad or the raspberries to your muesli. This helps reduce food waste. - Compost
If you do not want to eat the ingredients, they can be composted or thrown into the organic waste bin.
What does Neatic recommend concerning infused water?
Many people do not enjoy drinking plain water, opting for beverages like juices, soft drinks, or infused water instead. These beverages can contain flavors, sweeteners, or sugar, sometimes even in combination.
Neatic avoids added flavors and sweeteners, and limits sugar to 40 grams per day or 280 grams per week. A great alternative to store-bought products is making your infused water, where you know exactly what ingredients are included.
In addition to infused water, tea is a great alternative when drinking. You can read here whether tea affects the risk of death and dementia.