Water is life. A basic human body has more than 70% water content. Drinking ample amount of water regularly boosts up our overall metabolism, by flushing out toxins from our body, keeping us hydrated, and so on. But you’ve got to admit, drinking plain water is BORING. Of course, when you have a parched throat, even the idea of water is so soothing. But, what if you could enhance the flavor as well as nutrient content of this tasteless entity that has been rightly dubbed by someone as, “the world’s most boring drink”? You guessed right! I am talking about the wide variety of wondrous, naturally infused water concoctions. It’s time for something refreshing…

What exactly is this? I know, it sounds all fancy (which it truly is…) and complex to make (which it definitely is not…). It is basically just water, infused with fresh and seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and botanicals that result in a concoction that has an enhanced flavor as well as all the nutrition from the infusion. Speaking for myself, I do love plain water, obviously, but it’s just so refreshing, summery and enjoyable to drink infused water instead. Plus, these preparations look so vibrantly beautiful sitting in their pitchers that I always end up drinking more. So far, so good.

Infused water is one of the best fool-proof ways to spark up your mundane water naturally in terms of flavor, without having to compromise your health for it. It is, literally, the greatest alternative to all those store-bought drinks and juices that, more often than not, contain added sugars and other potentially harmful substances. Infused water is actually the easiest way to drink more water. Additionally, due to infusion, these drinks have all the goodness of the fruits and veggies well soaked up in the water. It is an adorable summer drink that not only keeps you well hydrated, helping you beat the summer heat, but is also beneficial for weight-loss and metabolism boost.

Alright then. Enough about the goodness of infused water. Let’s have a look at a list of all the fruits, veggies, botanicals, herbs and spices that can be used for the concoctions:

• Herbs, spices and botanicals: Mint, thyme, basil, cilantro, parsley, rosemary, sage, lemongrass, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, hibiscus, lavender, chamomile, rose petals, lilacs, orange blossoms and many more.
• Fruits and veggies: Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, kiwi, lime, lemon, cucumber, oranges, grapefruit, blood orange, apples, honeydew, watermelon, cantaloupe, mango, pineapple, cherries, pear, peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes, fennel, beets, carrots, celery – pretty much whichever tickles your fancy.
• To flair up the flavor even more, you can also use, coconut water, honey or sparkling water.
• Also you can add some chia seeds to turn your water into a nutritional powerhouse

Now to the procedure of this elegant, fancy, yet ridiculously easy-to-make drink:

• Choose fresh and organic fruits, veggies and herbs.
• Wash them nicely.
• Muddle the herbs while adding them to the water. This will release their oils and enhance the flavor. Also, slightly mash or press the fruits for quick infusion and stronger taste.
• At times, citrus fruits can make the water bitter so be sure to remove the rinds off.
• Add the fruits to cold or room temperature water.
• Let the water sit in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours for infusion. Overnight infusion gives the best results. Avoid letting the produce sit in the water for more than two hours if not refrigerated.
• Eat the produce for extra nutrient boost or just sip the water.
• To store; strain to remove the produce and store in the refrigerator. Keeps good for 3 days.
• Choose a mason jar, glass bottle, jug, pitcher or BPA free bottle for storage.

Though any combination of infused water is awesome, but it always does good to have particular flavor notes in mind while concocting these. Use as many variations and have all the more fun with your own choice of infused water. As for the combinations that I have tried, here’s the list:

• Sliced oranges + blueberries + mint

• Cherries + lime + mint

• Grapefruit + strawberries + blueberries + lime + parsley

• Cucumber + lemon + ginger + mint

Note that certain fruits like kiwi and apple won’t give as much flavor as compared to citrus fruits, berries, mangoes, mint or pineapples.

These drinks have both appetizing as well as visual appeal, with all its colors and flavors. So, what are you waiting for? Make your own versions of this amazing infused water, and stay refreshed and hydrated. Happy Summer!