I don’t like water. There I said it.
I know that hydration is important, and even more important when you’re pregnant, but I just don’t like to drink water! I find it boring and flavorless and a chore to drink unless I’m actually extremely thirsty, which usually means I’m already dehydrated. Plus, if I don’t make myself drink it throughout the day, I end up gulping cupfuls right before bed and then getting no sleep because I have to run to the bathroom five times during the night.
There are flavored waters you can buy, or flavors you can add to water, but I really don’t want to put chemicals or artificial sweeteners in my body just to get the water I need. I started thinking about how to flavor water naturally and quickly realized that it’s actually quite simple. There are so many fruits and vegetables that can add great flavor to water really cheaply!
Water infused with sliced strawberries, or orange slices, or cucumber mint water, well it suddenly becomes a treat instead of a chore.
I’ve also learned that fruit flavored sparkling water makes an amazing alcohol free cocktail for parties or at the end of a long day of housework.
My latest favorite combination has been lime cucumber mint water. We have mint growing in the backyard, cucumbers are incredibly cheap right now, and limes are always about ten cents each at the Latino market near our house. It only takes a couple mint leaves, a couple slices of lime and three or four slices of cucumber to add quite a bit of flavor to a large mason jar of water.
By making three jars of flavored water in the morning and putting them in the fridge, I see them every time I open the fridge (which is a lot now that I’m pregnant!). I just pull one out at a time and carry it around the house with me. It’s helped me stay hydrated and I’ve also actually been enjoying drinking so much water!
You can also make this in a big pitcher or individual glasses, but if you make a pitcher I’d suggest drinking it within a day or two or the lime peel can start to add a bitter flavor.
Okay, you know my current water kick, what’s your favorite homemade flavored water recipe?
LIME CUCUMBER MINT WATER RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1 small lime, thinly sliced
- 12 mint leaves
- 10 cucumber slices
- 64 oz water
Instructions
- Divide lime slices, mint leaves and cucumber slices between two 32 oz mason jars. Add cold water.
- Refrigerate at least 15 minutes before drinking.
Notes
Approximate cost/serving: By growing my own mint, this costs me just around 10 cents a glass. Cheaper than the water flavoring packets (and better for you). But I find I can also refill the jars once with the same lime, mint, and cucumber so if you do that it’s just 5 cents a serving!
Vegetarian/Gluten Free:Â Yes to both and vegan too.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 27Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 22mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information is an estimate only.
We use Young Living Peppermint oil – takes one drop for 1.25 gallons of water. My family all enjoys our peppermint water (except me).
That sounds great Cindy, and super cheap too. But you’re not a fan?
No – I don’t really like water either, bit as long as it is COLD – lots of ice – I manage.
COLD! Cold water tastes so much better than room temp! I have a pitcher in the fridge for me and Jolly has his on the counter since he hates cold water! I’ve been wanting to flavor it more lately!
The jars are so pretty! I am not a fan of water either, though I’m very lucky to live in a city where the tap water tastes pretty good on it’s own and I’ve trained myself to keep a reusable sports bottle handy and to just keep sipping throughout the day. This idea is much more pleasant 🙂
I can do pretty good with the sports bottle if I remember to keep it close by, but it’s true, the pretty jars are more pleasant!
Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!! I love you and I love this recipe!!! I’m gonna do this because you are so right especially in your 1st paragraph! Thank you! I’m even going to make some water adding frozen berries. I’ll stay cold for a few hrs and it should be tasty.
Hi…I am so looking forward to trying this recipe. I am equally in love with the jars. Can you share the link or tell us where you purchased them? Thanks for sharing.
Respectfully
Melanese
Hi Melanese, I got them in a thrift shop! You can find them all over the internet though, even on Amazon.
I love the flavor water but my cucumber and lime and mint water is so bitter
It’s possible that the lime peels left it bitter, especially if they are not organic. I’d suggest trying just lime juice instead, or drinking it sooner. A bitter taste can develop after it sits for a while.
I do the same thing but I squeeze one lime and use the peels off one cucumber in one pitcher of water. This way I can eat the cucumber in my salad!
Great idea Edith!
Really nice tasting recipe, makes a change to plain water or lemon flavoured water. Its also nice that your making your own flavoured water because it is waaaaay more healthy than store flavoured water which contains loads and loads of sugar.
Thanks James. I agree. Even the sugar free flavor add ins contain preservatives and/or dyes. Love natural choices!
I have put on a lot of weight this past year after finding out that I have Hypothyroidism I went back to my old ways of drinking fruit juices instead of water or water infused with fruits. I have gained 40 lbs! It’s not just the juice, I eat late at night and don’t manage my portions. I know what I need to do, I just chose not to do it. But! I have changed my thinking habits and my eating and drinking habits are following. I am happy to say that I made my first pitcher of cucumber lime water last night and have been drinking it over ice and I am really enjoying it. I am going to add some mint and see if that does anything for me. I am also going to try adding whole frozen strawberries to water as well. Anything to get me back on track and drinking water instead of juice!
Good for you Suzi!!! I love strawberry mint water too. Keep playing with different flavors in your water and keep up the new healthy habits.
I have palpitation and this helps it reduce it.
How much advanced time does it take to infuse the water to get the optimal taste? I don’t want it to taste bitter but I do want to taste the flavors. I am making it in a larger dispenser for 20 people.
I would suggest making it a couple hours before serving. Thanks for stopping be Sharon!