Herb Infused Water Recipe & Benefits

Herb-infused water is just what it sounds like; it’s infused with herbs! If you’ve never tried it, it may sound unappealing. But it’s pretty delicious on a hot summer day and has endless benefits for your body.

Making herbal water is as simple as tossing your favorite herbs and fruit in water and letting it infuse. Amp up the taste with lemon, berries, and other fruits. If you’re interested in making this cool summery drink, follow along with our infused water recipes.

Uncovering Benefits & Best Herbs for Herb-Infused Water

Here are some of the best herbs to include in your infused water recipes.

Mint

Mint will be your new best friend when it’s time to make detox water. It’s a superhero for digestion, soothing your stomach on those lazy days. Mint also tastes incredible, adding cool freshness to your drink.

The best part about mint is its variety of fruit combinations, including pineapple, strawberry, lemon balm, or vanilla bean mint. It also works with different herbs, so you can add basil and fennel to create a multi-herb concoction.

Basil

Basil is another cool-as-a-cucumber addition to your infused water. It’s a natural stress-buster and soothes indigestion. But its taste is the best part, making your summer drink fresh and peppery. Basil is best paired with berries, lemon balm, and other citrusy infusing ingredients.

Rosemary

Here’s a cool trick to keep inflammation in check and amp up your antioxidant game: infuse your water with rosemary sprigs! Its pine-like flavor is perfect for the summer, but you can upgrade with fresh cucumber slices and zesty grapefruit pulp.

Peppermint

Peppermint makes your breath smell great, but there’s more to this herb than that! We’re talking about antiviral, antioxidant, and antimicrobial powers to fight off illnesses and get some digestive support. Plus, its scent is truly revitalizing, as a natural booster to keep you on your toes all day.

Its flavor is straightforward but delicious. It’ll give your herbal water a minty, tea-like taste, making every sip feel like a treat. You can take things up a notch by adding berries, sliced cucumbers, and watermelon chunks.

Cucumber has its benefits in infused water. Drink cucumber water for hydration, weight loss, blood pressure, and cancer prevention!

Dandelion Herbs

It may sound unusual, but dandelion herbs have become trendy due to their digestive benefits. There’s not enough research to fully gauge its benefits, but one study says it can aid with type 2 diabetes. It’s all thanks to its anti-hyperglycemic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties!

Its flavors are reminiscent of endive, with an earthy and pleasantly better tinge. Add Stevia (avoid artificial sweeteners and sugar in detox waters) to balance its bitterness. Or you can squeeze fresh lemon for a refreshing citrus twist to complement the dandelion’s unique profile!

Nettle

Nettle is loved for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can soothe pain associated with various conditions. It tastes like spinach, bringing a fresh and vibrant green essence to your water. That’s exactly why it’s a great idea to mix it with a few berries, whether a strawberry or a blueberry.

Fennel

Although unpopular, fennel is rich in nutrients your body will love. That includes iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and a healthy dose of vitamin C! That’s not all; it’s also packed with fiber, removing all your tummy troubles with a cold glass of fennel water.

As for the taste, your taste buds will love its licorice-like flavor, especially when paired with citrus fruit like orange and lemon. This zesty, sharp drink will quickly become your favorite combination on a hot summer day.

How to Make Herb-Infused Water

Making herb-infused water is as simple as it gets. Here’s an infused water recipe with your choice of herbs and fruits.

What You’ll Need

• A large pitcher – You can use any container on hand, whether a glass pitcher or a mason jar. If you want to splurge, invest in a high-quality pitcher with an infuser cap. It does improve the flavor of the infused water!
• Fresh herbs – Use your choice or create combinations for a personalized flavor. Some popular options include fresh mint, rosemary, basil, and peppermint. Organic herbs are always better because they won’t add unneeded pesticides or chemicals to your infused waters. Use dried herbs for a more potent flavor.
• Fruits – Herb waters are delicious enough, but you can infuse a sweet and tart flavor by adding your choice of fruits. Popular options include lemon, pineapples, orange slices, and berries.
• Water – You can use tap, spring, or sparkling water; whatever floats your boat! Just make sure to add ice cubes for refreshing herbal water infused with herbs.

What to Do

You’ll find many complicated infused water recipes, but making herbal water doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complex. Here’s all you need to do to make infused water with no prep time!

1. Wash your infusing ingredients thoroughly. You can toss them in a baking powder and ice-cold water bath to remove the dirt and grime.
2. Fill the pitcher with fresh, cold water before adding the herbs and fruit. If you want the herbs’ flavors to come through, add them to boiling water for a few minutes before filling the pitcher. This will allow the herbs to bloom so you can taste the flavor profile precisely!
3. Leave the pitcher in the fridge overnight for a few hours to let the herbs and fruit infuse the water. Before drinking, make sure to add ice to make your drink more refreshing!
4. You can add more water to the pitcher for extended use as needed. If the flavor gets too strong or the herbs look wilted, it’s time to replace them and the fruit. Depending on the ingredients, that’s every two days!
5. If you’re into the presentation, add a few edible flowers and lemon slices to your spa water for the perfect pop of color.

Best Herb-Infused Water Combinations

• Lemon Mint
• Cucumber Basil
• Orange Thyme
• Watermelon Cilantro
• Raspberry Mint
• Ginger Lemongrass
• Apple Cinnamon
• Citrus Rosemary

Try this easy lemon herb tahini dressing recipe for a delicious and refreshing twist on your herb-infused water.

FAQs

Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about herbal infusion.

Are Fresh Herbs Better Than Dried Herbs?

Fresh herbs taste nearly the same as dried ones; the only difference is the potency. Dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor, with a slight difference in taste.

For example, dried basil loses most of its anise flavor, while dried mint is even mintier than usual! In terms of Rosemary, it gets a spicy kick once it dries out, while fennel enhances its citrus flavor. The list goes on, but this change in potency means you can’t use the same amount of herbs.

Since you’ll leave the herbs to infuse water overnight, using dried leaves can make the flavors too strong. If you only have dried herbs on hand, only use one-third of the amount if they are fresh leaves. For example, one teaspoon of dried rosemary equals one tablespoon of fresh rosemary.

Should I Use Plain Water or Sparkling Water?

You can use any water for your herb water recipes! You can even use sparkling water, as it can be a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks packed with sugar. But we wouldn’t recommend it since you’d be leaving the water to infuse the flavors of the fruit and herbs for hours. It’ll go flat before you even get to start drinking.

You can also use tap water with a pleasant and natural sweetness. If the tap water in your area isn’t safe to drink, you can install an affordable water filter to make it drinkable. But if your area has hard tap water with a sulphuric taste, it’s better to use spring or bottled water.

What Are Some Tips for Buying Fresh Herbs?

It’s always better to use fresh herbs instead of dried ones when making herbal water. They impart a light, floral, and herbaceous taste into your water without the slight bitterness you may taste from dried leaves.

That also means you’ll need to use more fresh herbs to get the same potency as their dried counterpart, which has the benefit of convenience. If you need an instant glass of infused water, turn to your trusty spice cabinet for a quick solution.

Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal with your produce when shopping for herbs! Please give them a good sniff; their scent is the best indicator of their freshness and potency. Their appearance tells more of their story, so look for firm and vibrant leaves. Wilted, moldy, or yellowing might be past their prime.

Suppose you can go organic and avoid chemicals and pesticides. If you can’t, don’t feel guilty! Organic options are typically limited and pricier, so take this opportunity to support a local farmer’s market.

How Can I Make My Herb-Infused Water More Potent?

If you like your infused waters more potent than others, there are a few tricks you can use.

Of course, steeping them in hot water for a few minutes is the simplest way. This will allow the herbs to bloom, bringing out their flavors and medicinal properties. If you’re ready for tea, enjoy it immediately or let it cool to make cold-infused water!

If you’re using root herbs like ginger, we recommend steeping them for at least 15 minutes. But if you’re dealing with delicate edible flowers, a quick steep is all you need.

Here’s another trick if you combine roots, herbs, fruit, and flowers in your recipe. Many infused water recipes suggest letting the herbs and fruit steep in cold water for at least an entire day for even more flavor. It’s just like cold brew coffee, but even better for your gut.

How Much Herb-Infused Water Should I Drink?

You can drink as much herbal water as you want if you’re only after the refreshing, fruity taste. But if you hope to reap its health benefits, drinking at least one glass daily is best.

Even though herb water is the least unhealthy thing for your body, drinking too much is still possible. If you’ve added citrus flavors to your herbal water in the form of fennel or orange slices, it can eventually cause acid mouthburn or excessive stomach gases.

The best way to reap the health benefits of herbs is by consuming them directly. Use them as a garnish, mix them into your soup, or snack on a basil sprig! Herbal water is a way to drink water and stay hydrated while improving your gut health.

Conclusion

If you’ve followed our recipe, it’s no secret that making infused water is a piece of cake. Add your herbs and fruit, and pop them in the fridge. The best part is the endless list of combinations to make new herbal waters daily!