If you have difficulty drinking the amount of water recommended by your doctor daily, flavoring it with lime or lemon can make it more desirable, tasty and refreshing. Flavoring water is a great way to keep yourself hydrated every day, or to add a touch of elegance to a picnic or summer party.
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time (infusion): 2-4 hours
- Total time: 2-4 hours, 10 minutes
Ingrediants
- 2 lemons or 3 large limes
- 2 liters of water
For 2 liters of flavored water
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Flavor the Water with Lemon or Lime
Step 1. Cool the carafe
Place a large glass jug in the freezer for several hours or a full day before making the flavored water. The iced carafe will keep the water cold longer. If you intend to serve the flavored water in a plastic jug, there is no need to put it to cool in advance.
- The iced carafe will make the flavored water even more inviting for you or your guests during the hot summer days.
- Consider putting the glasses in the freezer as well so that each guest will have a drink that will keep fresh even longer.
Step 2. Wash and slice the citrus fruits
Wash two lemons or three large limes, remove any adhesive labels and place the fruit on a small cutting board. Take a small knife and cut them into thin slices. You can throw away the fruit ends as well as the seeds.
Step 3. Squeeze the lemons or limes and pour the juice into the jug
Gently squeeze the lemon or lime slices so that they release some juice and essential oils directly into the frozen jug. Don't squeeze them too hard to prevent the slices from losing their round shape. Put all the slices in the jug.
Step 4. Pour two liters of cold water into the jug
You can use bottled water, still or sparkling, or filtered.
If you want to use sparkling water, it is best to pour one liter into the jug now and one liter just before serving, to prevent it from losing its fizz. Stir the water with a long spoon to distribute the juice
Step 5. Cool the flavored water
Put the jug in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours. During the infusion, the juice will cool and transfer its aromas and fragrances to the water.
The water will gradually acquire an increasingly intense taste
Step 6. Remove the lemon or lime slices from the jug
Take them out of the pitcher and consider filtering the water using a colander if you notice any seeds in it. If you used sparkling water, pour another liter into the jug. Place ice and a few slices of freshly cut lemon or lime in the glasses before pouring in the flavored water.
- You can keep the flavored water in the refrigerator for up to two days.
- You can reuse the lemon or lime wedges you removed from the jug by pouring cold water over them, but keep in mind that it won't taste as intense.
Method 2 of 2: Try Variations
Step 1. Add more fruit to the water
You can add a touch of color and flavor to the water for example with a handful of berries. Wash them carefully, remove the inedible parts and place them in the jug along with the lemon or lime slices. You can use any variety of thinly sliced fresh fruit, for example:
- Strawberries;
- Pineapple;
- Berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries);
- Oranges
- Peaches or plums;
- Watermelon or melon.
Step 2. Use the vegetables
For example, you can thinly slice a cucumber and add them to lemon-flavored water. The cucumber will stay firm and crunchy for hours, while releasing a refreshing taste to the water. For a little extra boost, you can also think about adding a jalapeño pepper cut into very thin slices.
Step 3. Add some fresh herbs
You can make the flavored water even more inviting by putting fresh herbs in the pitcher before putting it in the refrigerator. Take a handful of herbs and rub them gently between your hands so that they release their essential oils that are rich in taste and fragrance. Remember to wash the herbs before using them.
- For example, you can use mint, basil, lavender, thyme or rosemary.
- You can also add hibiscus flowers to give the water a pinkish tinge.
Step 4. Sweeten the flavored water
If you don't like the sour taste of lemon, you can mask it with a sweet ingredient. If you have added other fruits that are naturally very sweet, such as pineapple or strawberries, the acidity of the lemon will already be very low. If that's not enough, you can add some honey to your taste.
