I’m a pretty lazy water drinker. It’s terrible to admit, especially when I spend so much time outside and need the hydration. But sometimes water is just boring, and some fancy flavored thing in a bottle seems so much nicer on a hot summer day.
But since we were swigging beers all day yesterday (anyone else have a little too much fun on July 4?), it’s a fine day to get those vitamins back in our bodies so we can keep swigging more beers this weekend. Here’s how.
Not-so-fun fact: Did you know that Vitamin Water — the bottled stuff in the store that claims to be full of life-giving vitamins and minerals — actually isn’t? It shouldn’t be any surprise since Coca-Cola owns the brand, and considering the second ingredient on its label — crystalline fructose — is just a euphemism for corn syrup. So, what you’re really getting is a bottle of sugar water fortified with dubious vitamin supplements.
But just as easily as you can run down to the store for a case of Vitamin Water, you can make your own vitamin water at home. The real stuff. The good stuff. And best of all, you can make many more flavors than you could ever find in the store (without those strange technicolors attached to them) using just fruits and herbs.
Fresh, ripe, in-season fruits provide your vitamins and antioxidants in a refreshing sip. And ounce for ounce, herbs contain more phytonutrients than almost all the produce sold in your supermarket. They’re especially high in anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties, and can even lower blood pressure (basil), promote digestion (mint), improve memory (rosemary), relieve bloating (sage), prevent blood clot formation (tarragon), and even protect brain cells from free radicals (thyme). All that in a little sprig of herb. Who’d a thunk?
Citrus-Basil-Mint Vitamin Water
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients
9 cups water
1 lime, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 small grapefruit, sliced
1 small orange, sliced
2 tablespoons minced mint
2 tablespoons minced basil
Method
I used orange mint to complement the citrus water, but feel free to use any variety you have. I also used my African Blue basil, but a sweeter basil (like Genovese) would be delicious as well.
Since you’ll be infusing the citrus with their rinds, be sure to wash and scrub them thoroughly.
Lightly muddle the citrus slices in a pitcher, toss in the fresh herbs (minced as finely as you can — you’ll be drinking this stuff), then add water. Stir well and let the vitamin water infuse in the fridge overnight.
I often drink an entire pitcher in one day, so as the weather gets warmer and I’m in the mood for something refreshing, I’ll infuse a new pitcher of vitamin water every day. I usually infuse the fruits and herbs twice, then compost the mixture and make a new batch. (After refilling the original pitcher, I find that the fruits and herbs start to lose their flavor once I’ve made two pitchers with them.)
Here are a few more of my favorite recipes… You can infuse almost any fresh fruits and herbs together, so give a hand at your own combinations and go crazy with it! This is a really fun way to use some of those fancy herbs in your garden too. I grow ginger mint, apple mint, pineapple sage, perilla, lime balm, lemon verbena, lemon thyme, and several types of basil from spicy to sweet, and find that they’re perfect for making infused waters and teas.
With all fruit, muddle them a bit before adding the herbs and water so you get all those good juicy benefits!
Day at the Spa Vitamin Water
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients
9 cups water
1 small cucumber, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
2 tablespoons minced mint
Citrus-Rosemary Vitamin Water
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients
9 cups water
1 small grapefruit, sliced
1 small orange, sliced
1 tablespoon minced rosemary
Pineapple-Mint (or Perilla) Vitamin Water
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients:
9 cups water
1 cup cubed pineapple
2 tablespoons minced mint (or if you can get your hands on perilla — also known as Japanese shiso or Vietnamese tÃa tô — which is part of the mint family, use that instead for a fragrant twist!)
Berry-Sage Vitamin Water
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients
9 cups water
1 cup whole berries (blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, or a mix)
1 tablespoon minced sage
Strawberry-Kiwi-Basil Vitamin Water
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients
9 cups water
1 cup halved strawberries
1 cup cubed kiwi (or use 1 lime, sliced)
2 tablespoons minced basil
Watermelon-Lime-Mint Vitamin Water
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients
9 cups water
1 cup cubed watermelon
1 lime, sliced
2 tablespoons minced mint
Cherry-Lime-Tarragon Vitamin Water
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients
9 cups water
1 cup pitted and halved cherries
1 lime, sliced
1 tablespoon minced tarragon (or use 2 tablespoons minced mint)
Blueberry-Peach-Thyme Vitamin Water
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients
9 cups water
1 cup whole blueberries
1 cup cubed peaches
1 tablespoon minced thyme
Minty Peach Vitamin Water
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients
9 cups water
1 cup cubed peaches
2 tablespoons minced mint
34 Comments
Lisa Hardi
July 9, 2013 at 12:08 pmLisa Hardi liked this on Facebook.
SueKnisely
July 9, 2013 at 4:16 amRT @theGardenBetty: 10 delicious recipes packed w/ vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients: Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/2dpc89R37v < TY f…
theGardenBetty
July 9, 2013 at 4:02 am10 delicious recipes packed w/ vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients: Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/2dpc89R37v < TY for RT! @ChristyDalby
kln_
July 8, 2013 at 9:45 pmHomemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/Zia2bJ4mMG via @zite
theGardenBetty
July 8, 2013 at 5:02 pmHomemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/lJ45yasjeo #recipe < TY for RT! @maureencoert @193burgers @YourBestRecipes
jcgolfing
July 8, 2013 at 11:33 amIt’s infinitely healthier than anything you can buy in the store. Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/znR1W9sYGv via @theGardenBetty
theGardenBetty
July 8, 2013 at 11:31 amIt’s infinitely healthier than anything you can buy in the store. Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/lJ45yasjeo < TY for RT! @xVictoria787x
RtRecipe
July 7, 2013 at 9:08 pmRT @theGardenBetty: Better than the store-bought stuff, and with actual vitamins and minerals! Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/5HW0OH0n6…
theGardenBetty
July 7, 2013 at 9:05 pmBetter than the store-bought stuff, and with actual vitamins and minerals! Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/5HW0OH0n69 #recipe
Nx8
July 7, 2013 at 6:30 pmLook them attractive too. It is true that the useful knowledge. Thank you for sharing
Blue Strong
July 7, 2013 at 11:53 amBlue Strong liked this on Facebook.
theGardenBetty
July 6, 2013 at 3:07 pmHad one too many drinks yesterday? Make this to rehydrate and rejuvenate! Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/WRikG6DR9y #recipe
EstherMaria Weeks
July 6, 2013 at 11:38 amEstherMaria Weeks liked this on Facebook.
Maileilani Sueko Kealoha
July 6, 2013 at 11:38 amMaileilani Sueko Kealoha liked this on Facebook.
theGardenBetty
July 6, 2013 at 9:05 am10 delicious recipes packed with vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients: Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/2dpc89R37v #itsgoodforyou
Cindy M. Gailey Vasquez
July 6, 2013 at 2:36 amWhat does it mean to “muddle?”
Garden Betty
July 6, 2013 at 3:21 amTo mash the fruits a bit (using a spoon or similar) and make the juices come out. It’s a bartending term. 🙂
Don Eddy
July 5, 2013 at 11:23 pmDon Eddy liked this on Facebook.
jo
July 5, 2013 at 7:22 pmHow long does it need to steep before drinking?
Linda Ly
July 7, 2013 at 2:08 amI like to let mine sit in the fridge overnight for the fullest flavor, but if you muddle your fruits well, you can drink it right away.
Chaydaree
July 5, 2013 at 3:53 pmI just made your Kimchi. WOW! My wife was crazy for it. I’m dying to try it on a grilled cheese sandwich. Thank you for the inspiration.
xVictoria787x
July 5, 2013 at 1:16 pmRT @theGardenBetty: It’s infinitely healthier (and better tasting) than anything you can buy in the store. Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.…
maureencoert
July 5, 2013 at 12:30 pmRT @theGardenBetty: It’s infinitely healthier (and better tasting) than anything you can buy in the store. Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.…
193burgers
July 5, 2013 at 12:20 pmRT @theGardenBetty: It’s infinitely healthier (and better tasting) than anything you can buy in the store. Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.…
YourBestRecipes
July 5, 2013 at 12:09 pmRT @theGardenBetty: It’s infinitely healthier (and better tasting) than anything you can buy in the store. Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.…
theGardenBetty
July 5, 2013 at 12:04 pmIt’s infinitely healthier (and better tasting) than anything you can buy in the store. Homemade Vitamin Water http://t.co/lJ45yasjeo #recipe
Esther Van de Klundert
July 5, 2013 at 11:09 amEsther Van de Klundert liked this on Facebook.
Kathy Sharman
July 5, 2013 at 11:09 amKathy Sharman liked this on Facebook.
Janie Hummel
July 5, 2013 at 11:09 amJanie Hummel liked this on Facebook.
Diana Heffernan-Schrader
July 5, 2013 at 9:08 amDiana Heffernan-Schrader liked this on Facebook.
Kate Bauer
July 5, 2013 at 9:08 amKate Bauer liked this on Facebook.
Cary Bradley
July 5, 2013 at 8:52 amWhat terrific ideas for many different tastes! You just inspired me to make a quickie with onhand ingredients, lime, basil and crushed blueberries as well as icy cold well water. Thanks for the terrific ideas!
Matt Powers
July 5, 2013 at 7:08 amMatt Powers liked this on Facebook.
Becky Page McGill
July 5, 2013 at 7:08 amBecky Page McGill liked this on Facebook.