Many of us are continually looking for ways to make our drinking water more interesting. You may have heard about the current trend for ‘infused water’. Maybe you’ve tried using citrus fruits and strawberries, but have you tried delicious veg and herb infused water? Here are some tips to get you started.

Ingredients

• Cucumber and mint: Combine five slices of peeled cucumber with three mint leaves. Gently press the leaves until they bruise to help release the flavour. Drop your ingredients into a glass of water and refrigerate for a few hours. For added flavour, you could include a sprig of fresh dill. Keep in mind that dill has a very strong flavour, so should therefore be used sparingly.
• Carrot: For some more colourful infused water, try adding carrot. Grate two carrots and add them to your glass of water. Infuse the water in the fridge for a few hours. When your water is ready, either drain out the carrot or keep it in your glass for decoration. Either way, the veg makes for a nice post-drink snack!
• Fennel and cucumber: Drop fives sliced of peeled cucumber into your glass of water along with two pieces of fennel frond. Refrigerate and infuse for a few hours, then drink at room temperature. This recipe doesn’t have a strong flavour but the water should taste very cool and refreshing.
• Ginger and mint: Use a pestle and mortar to crush two quarter-inch pieces of peeled ginger and a sprig of fresh mint. Place the pulp into your glass of water and infuse for an hour in the fridge. If you prefer a stronger taste, leave your water in the fridge for a few hours instead.

Containers

If you’re infusing a single glass of water, use fewer ingredients (as per the suggestions above). To mix things up, try using mason jars or vintage milk bottles instead of a traditional glass. You could even fill up a flask and drink your infused water on the go.

If you’re entertaining guests, use larger quantities of each ingredient and a pitcher of water. You could even choose ingredients that will compliment the meal you’re serving. Whatever ingredients you decide to use, always keep a fresh pitcher in the fridge for whenever anyone gets thirsty.

Don’t be afraid to experiment

Try combining different ingredients until you find your favourites. Herbs and veg that you enjoy eating are a good place to start. The great thing about infused water is that the main ingredient is available right from the tap.

A lot of people find that their tap water has a distinct taste depending on the geographic region. This can be caused by the different properties of the water, which vary depending on where you live. In order to make the most out of your infused drink, try using filtered water. Filtering will remove impurities, allowing the taste of your ingredients to really come through.

[Photo by kartynas]