We just returned from a ten day carb fest vacation. We tried every possible Dutch fry, Icelandic hotdog and somehow, not sure why, a LOT of pizza and fried foods. It was fun #noregrets. Haha!
With that said, we ate so much indulgent food that I was actually CRAVING kale when we got home. (Not exactly my normal Jeni’s Ice Cream craving, you guys!!)
So Jeremy and I have been kickstarting a bunch of healthy routines this week. It feels amazing. We tried Avo for dinner, and we were both inspired by how tasty a raw, vegan, gluten-free meal can be. I think I need some dramatic music, actually, because I’m feeling REALLY inspired.
Anyway! Water.
Water isn’t coffee. It’s certainly not a latte. Water isn’t soda. Water isn’t juice or smoothies or cocktails or all the other delicious things that I love.
To be blunt—water is no fun.
But we all know we need to drink more, right? (raising my hand) So this week I am making batches of infused waters to keep in our fridge. And so far, it’s really helping me reach for the water!
Here are a few combinations you may not have tried before! Orange and star anise (you only need one star to flavor the whole bottle), basil and kiwi and apple and cinnamon.
If you think these sound gross, cool, but I am NOT LISTENING to your feedback until you at least try it. 😀
No really, just try it!
My favorite is the orange and star anise flavor. There is a hint of citrus and spice. It’s real nice.
There are endless combinations you can try. I also love lime and mint and strawberry and basil/mint. If you’ve never tried infused water, don’t expect it to be super flavorful like lemonade. Expect it to be lightly flavored water. Keep this in your fridge at all times and you’re straight up fancy!
Oh—and if you have a winning flavor combination that you go back to again and again, please leave me a comment. I will try anything! xx. Elsie
Credits// Author and Photography: Elsie Larson. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
These just look so pretty, I love infused water, my mother loves to cook with anise so I know exactly where to find some. This will be a mus try
Yum! I love infused water. Watermelon has been one of my favorite flavors.
Hi Elsie
I often tried this during the hot summermonths and the kids just didn’t drink any more water at all…
Me for myself, I’m a fan of infused water but the prefer to use siurps instead.
Thanks for the ideas. I must try ginger soon, it’s helping when you have a running nose they say.
Grüess Pascale
Delish! these all sound great!
http://shehlagrr.blogspot.com
I have to admit, I’m late to the whole water infusers craze, but lately I have been getting into them. Thanks for this!
strawberry + basil or cucumber+lemon+basil are my 2 go to in the summer
I went to a tea party an they were serving orange and pineapple flavored water. It was so dang delicious – almost like a punch! Who needs tea, now LOL!
Thank you for the ideas. I worked in a hot office and drank a lot of water. Tiring of plain water I started using sugar free powders in my water each day. Eventually I tied this habit to the diarrhea that I developed for over a year, including many doctor visits, colonoscopy, and endless diets of gluten, dairy free, etc.. After switching to fruits in my water, it all cleared up like magic. I endorse these ‘recipes’.
Oh, and random other thought of the day? Make a strongly flavored infused water/tea, and freeze it in ice cube trays or popsicle molds. Add the ice cubes/popsicles to plain water in your glass. It’s an easy way to keep a variety of flavors on hand.
Get your hands on fresh lemon balm. mmmmmm
Crack open a coconut and put a slab of the meat in to infuse.
Fresh ginger slabs are pure win, but put them in water and let them infuse overnight. They combine well with lemon, mint, orange, green tea, lemon balm, strawberries, cucumber, pineapple, cardamom, and almost anything really! I make myself a super large mug of hot lemon and ginger tea every night, and then drink the rest when I wake up in the morning.
I also like to infuse with the hard core from pineapples. (Tbh, I like to eat the hard cores too!)
Sugar cane makes great infused water.
I second or third or 200th the cucumber.
Rosemary + blackberry is shockingly tasty; basil pairs up well with a lot of fruits. Most green herbs make good infused waters, but I personally don’t like dill that way. If you’ve seen a flavor combo in a jam or a tea, you can make it into a tasty infused water.
Don’t forget your flowers – rose and lavender pair well with a lot of things, and if you grow them yourself dianthus makes a delicate spicy flavor. (Elizabethans called dianthus clove pinks and used them in drinks.)
Celery makes a pretty good one, but I like it better paired with vodka…
Sorry to ramble so much
I love infused water. I drink enough water every day but can always use the help on ways to make it better. Love these ideas.
www.throughmyowneyes.com
So I love love love fruit water. That’s what we call it. I make a big pitcher for potlucks, church events, gatherings at our house. And here’s what I use most of the time. Especially when fruit is not in season in Arkansas. I buy a bag of mixed frozen fruit. But obviously any frozen fruit would do. I first fill my pitcher with ice, about 1/3 of the way up. Then I add the frozen fruit. On top of that I add slices of citrus fruit. Whatever is on sale or what I have on hand. My favorite is lemon and lime, but grapefruit or blood orange slices are fun too. I also cut the ends kind of think and squeeze that juice into the pitcher. Then I add water. Carefully so that all the fruit doesn’t end up sitting on the bottom under the ice. Last, drink and enjoy! It’s good for a couple of days in the fridge. But after that it gets that strong rind flavor from the citrus fruit. I’m not the first to come up with this, but enjoy it none the less.
My absolute favorite combo is fresh lime juice, cucumber slices and fresh mint. Soooo good!
Can not beat a large pint glass of half cold tap and topped up with boil water from the kettle, and added with sliced lemon, you can then top up with hot water, cheers
Yum! We love infused water in our house! These look like some tasty combinations!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
OMG the Icelandic hotdogs are so good right?!
My go to is cucumber, mint, lemon and ginger ~ I’m excited to try the kiwi basil though if/when I can find either of those ingredients (the grocery in my town of 800 people is limited to say the least!)
Yum! These are flavors I’ve never thought of. I want to try them asap!
I recently downloaded a water drinking reminder app. These recipes will come in handy when I get tired of plain bottled water.
I can’t wait to try these! I love my go-to lemon + mint, but your options sound so good for fall!