6 Not-So-Boring Flavored Water Recipes
There’s no two ways about it – the best way to hydrate your body is with good ol’ H2O. Save on high-calorie, overly sweetened supermarket beverages and instead replace them with these fun, water-based drinks.
By sipping on these low-calorie waters, you’ll quench your thirst and give your body the fluid it needs to perform essential cell, organ and tissue-related functions. You’ll notice that in each of our 8fit recipes below, we don’t provide a recommended measure of water. Start with 8 ounces of water to optimize the taste, then add more to dilute, adjusting according to your preferred level of flavor intensity. (Note: Each recipe serves one.)
Herb, Berry & Lemon Iced Tea
If you constantly find yourself stopping at the vending machine or convenience store for an iced tea, maybe we can inspire you to make your own. This ingredient combination tastes great and boasts powerful antioxidants and key vitamins that help combat high cholesterol, heart disease and poor concentration.
Herb, Berry & Lemon Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 1 tea bag of your choice
- ¼ cup mixed berries, frozen
- 4 basil or mint leaves
- ½ lemon
Method
- In a mug, add your tea bag. Then, add just enough boiling water to cover. Let it steep.
- Add the zest and juice of the lemon to the steeped tea and mix.
- In a tall glass (or pitcher if making more than 1 serving), add the berries and herbs.
- Now pour the tea and lemon concentrate over.
- Finally, add ice-cold water.
Lemon, Ginger & Turmeric Tonic
Drink this turmeric elixir every morning to fight inflammation and help promote overall health. “Elixir” is a fancy word for a drink used for medicinal purposes. The lemon is loaded with vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants your body needs, and combined with ginger provides added digestive power.
Lemon, Ginger & Turmeric Tonic
Ingredients
- 1 lemon
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- 1 thumb ginger
Method
- Peel and thinly slice the ginger and place in a glass (or pitcher if making more).
- Add the turmeric, juice of the lemon and fill halfway with water.
- Mix and let your glass sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to allow the turmeric to dissolve.
- When you’re ready to drink, top off your glass with water., Finally, add ice-cold water.
Strawberry & Basil Cooler
This strawberry and basil cooler has everything you need: color, fresh flavor and a whole bunch of antioxidants. Boost the basil’s potency by muddling it to release its essential oils.
Starwberry & Basil Cooler
Ingredients
- 3 strawberries
- 5 basil leaves
- 1 lime
Method
- Place washed, sliced strawberries in a glass (or pitcher if making more).
- Add the basil leaves, tearing them with your hands before you add them.
- Add enough water to cover the berries and basil, then chill in the refrigerator overnight.
- Top with water and keep refilling.
Orange & Rosemary Infusion
Drink your stress away by adding cortisol-lowering rosemary to your orange water. Coupled with the orange’s healing vitamin C, you’ve got a powerful pairing that’s sure to spark a whole new desire for refills.
Orange & Rosemary Infusion
Ingredients
- ½ orange
- 2 rosemary sprigs
Method
- Cut your orange into slices and place it in a glass (or pitcher if making more).
- Add rosemary sprigs, fill with water and stir to combine.
- For best results, let your flavored water sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
- Tip: For slightly more bitterness, add some orange peel to the mix.
Moscow Fuel
Introducing the Moscow Fuel, a twist on the classic “mule” cocktail, made with cucumber, ginger and lime. Thanks to its 95% water content, cucumber keeps you hydrated. At the same time, vitamins found in the ginger and lime soothe the body, specifically the stomach and digestive tract. Use sparkling water to kick this drink up a notch.
Moscow Fuel
Ingredients
- 3 ribbon slices cucumber
- 1 thumb of ginger
- 1 lime
- sparkling water (optional)
Method
- Use a peeler to create ribbon-shaped slices of cucumber.
- Arrange them in a glass (or pitcher if making more).
- Thinly slice the ginger and add.
- Halve the lime -- juice one half, then slice the other half thinly and add to your glass.
- Add the water and let your flavored water infuse in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Tip: Use sparkling water for a fancy twist and a hit of bubbles.
Virgin Mary
The Virgin Mary flavored water has all of the same great flavors as the savory Bloody Mary cocktail, but without any of the unpleasant side-effects (i.e. hangovers). You can even add a touch of Tabasco or Worcestershire sauce for a little edge.
Virgin Mary
Ingredients
- ½ celery stick
- 3 cherry tomatoes
- ½ lemon
Method
- Use a peeler to create ribbon-shaped slices of cucumber.
- Roughly slice the celery stalks and them to a glass (or pitcher if making more).
- Halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the lemon and add to the drink.
- Top with water and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours before serving.
- Tip: After infusing, you can save the strained water and replace the veggies with fresh ones.
