So every time I do this Whole30 thing, one of my strongest cravings is for an ice cold can of pop. Cola is my preferred poison, but just about anything sweet and bubbly will do. Any form of added sugar is out for 30 days though, so pop is not an option. This is definitely one habit I’d like to break.
But I still haven’t developed a taste for plain water, so I’ve been trying to mix it up with herbal teas and with my newly discovered love for infused water. Today I want to share my current favourite recipe: raspberry and basil infused water. The raspberries add flavour, colour, and a hint of sweetness, and the basil leaves add freshness. I like to add a couple of slices of lime for a touch of tartness too, and the citric acid also acts as a natural preservative. Together, they make a delicious, refreshing drink that’s so much better for you than any sugary drink. Now there’s no reason not to drink your water!
(I really wish it were a sunny summer day so I could take a picture of this in the sun on my patio, but it’s a wet and gray January day instead, and this is the best I could do.)
Infused water is simple, delicious, and so much fun to make! Just drop some fruit and/or herbs into a water pitcher, smush the flavourings up a bit with the end of a wooden spoon (the fancy term for this is “muddling”), and pour in fresh, filtered water. Allow it to steep in the fridge overnight. The fun part is coming up with your own combos – the only limit here is your imagination!
Things to remember:
- Make sure you thoroughly wash any herbs and fruit going into your water.
- Citrus rinds will add bitterness after a few hours, so cut them off before muddling and infusing.
- If you’re in a hurry, infusing with room temperature or even hot water will speed up the process, but it will also make the fruit disintegrate and go off faster.
- It’s best to drink your infused water within 24 hours. If you want to keep it a couple of days longer, strain out the fruit and herbs with a cheesecloth to keep the water fresher longer. 3-4 days should be fine.
Raspberry and Basil Infused Water
Ingredients
- large handful of raspberries
- 2-4 fresh basil leaves
- 2 lime slices rinds removed
Instructions
- Wash raspberries and basil thoroughly and add to a glass pitcher.
- Muddle the fruit and basil with a wooden spoon.
- Fill pitcher with filtered water and leave to infuse in the fridge for at least four hours or overnight.
- Stir gently before serving.
This sounds so good! I love to infuse water but have not moved much beyond lemon, or oranges. This would be a great way to start. These are also fantastic for summer refreshers. You can even freeze a raspberry in cubes to keep the summer drink cold.
I love the idea of freezing the fruit. Thanks!
Mmm I love infusing water! I think Cucumber is my favorite
I haven’t tried that – I guess it’s a more subtle flavour?
I havent tried much infused water. I think this would be yummy!
Love this, Olivia! I’ve tried infused water with citrus fruits and melon, but haven’t experimented with herbs (other than mint). The more I think about this combination and look at your pictures, the more I like it. Featuring at tonight’s party…thanks for linking!
Thanks so much, Michelle! Basil and mint are both nice, even a touch of thyme.
This is a great recipe! I’d love it if you would share it on my new corn-free link party. http://www.creatingsilverlinings.com/corn-free-everyday-jan-20-15/
Thanks, Jillian! I stopped by. 🙂
We call those “sassy water”, which I can never say in public. I like berry and lemon ones.
Sassy water sounds more fun!
My kids love filling a jug with mixed frozen fruits and water, they drink it all up every time!
I enjoy infused water so much! Not only is it healthy but tastes great and it so healthy for me, not only because I’m not ingesting tons of sugar, but because I drink more water this way. I love it most on those hot humid lazy days of summer (those days can’t come quick enough!) Thanks for the recipe. I will definitely try it.
We Planted raspberry bushes last spring so hopefully there will be plenty to eat and infuse water with this year!
I love infusing water. When I was pregnant it made drinking water less of a chore
The raspberry part sounds delicious but I would have to be a little more daring to add the basil.
I drink water through out the day but not yet tried to flavour it with anything before
I’ve been trying to increase my water consumption…will definitely try this!!!
I love the flavor combo idea! I am really bad about drinking enough water in the day – I find I will drink MORE if I add some fruit to it to make it a little less dull.
This is looks so refreshing, I’m getting thirsty! I love infused water (my favourite–lemon water), but I need to mix it up a bit.