Strawberry Lime Cucumber Mint WaterStrawberry, Cucumber, Lime & Mint Flavored Water

There is something about warmer weather that makes me want to drink all the flavored beverages ever. Somehow, it seems like plain ole water just doesn’t do the trick when it’s 75 degrees like it did when it was blizzarding back in January. If I’m being totally honest, what I really want is a really cold gin and tonic, heavy on the lime, that I sip on while swinging on our front porch swing as the sun goes down, but I’ll have to wait for that kind of beverage until June.

strawberries, cucumbers, lime, mint

For now, I’m getting my fill of fun, flavorful drinks by consuming a ton of naturally-flavored infused water. I know, I know. You can buy flavored waters (both regular and sparkling) at the grocery store for almost nothing, and it’s so much easier than making your own. You’re right, it is so much more convenient to just snag a bottle or two off the shelf, but I love being able to customize my own combinations. I love knowing exactly what I’m drinking. And I love seeing this beautiful jar of deliciousness sitting in the fridge. It’s like a work of art!

strawberry lime infused water

Even though I was a water-drinking expert pre-pregnancy, I’ve struggled a lot with staying hydrated throughout my pregnancy because the taste of water (even filtered water) really didn’t agree with my pregnancy tastebuds. Flavored waters have been a lifesaver over the past eight months.

Water is important all the time. And it’s important throughout an entire pregnancy. But it’s especially important in the third trimester, when dehydration has been shown to trigger preterm labor. If I can keep Baby J growing inside for a bit longer just by getting my fill of water each day, I’m going to do it! Plus, staying property hydrated during the third trimester helps keep me from retaining waterโ€”no swollen feet or ankles for me (yet).

strawberry lime infused water

What I’ve been doing is filling up a half-gallon Mason jar (we inherited ours, but I’ve seen these at craft storesโ€”check Michael’s and Hobby Lobby) with my water flavorings, ice and water in the morning, with a goal of getting through it twice in a day. That’s roughly 120 ounces of water, or 15 glasses, a day. The flavoring fruits, veggies and herbs will easily get me through two jar fill-ups and still keep their flavor. And in fact, I usually use them for two or more days. Basically, when they lose their flavor, I toss them in the compost and start over with a new combo. But until then, I just keep on filling it up!

strawberry lime infused water

In this jar, I used cucumbers, lime, strawberries and fresh mint. The cucumber, mint and lime make the water taste so refreshing and bright! And the strawberries just add a tiny touch of natural sweetness. If you wanted even stronger flavor, you could also muddle the mix-ins (mush them up) before pouring in your water. If you do that, I recommend straining the infused water before drinkingโ€”unless you like to chew chunks of cucumber and pick out lime seeds from your water.

This combination is one of my favorites, not only because it tastes yummy, but also because it just looks so darn pretty! I’m (obviously) a visual person, and I really think there is something in my noggin that says, “Hey, that’s pretty, I want to drink that!” and makes it more appealing to me than just regular ole water.

Enjoy!

 
Strawberry, Lime, Cucumber, and Mint Infused Water

Strawberry, Lime, Cucumber, and Mint Infused Water

Yield: 2 quarts
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Jazz up your daily hydration with this infused water. Strawberries add a little sweetness, while cucumber, mint, and lime make the water taste so refreshing and bright!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sliced strawberries
  • 1 cup sliced cucumbers
  • 2 limes, sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
  • Ice cubes
  • Water

Instructions

  1. In a half-gallon jar, or a 2 quart pitcher, layer the strawberries, cucumbers, lime slices, and mint leaves with the ice cubes. Fill jar or pitcher with water. Let chill for 10 minutes, and then enjoy!

Notes

I can get 2-4 fill-ups out of one batch of flavorings, but you might want to change out your flavorings sooner for stronger flavor.

Feel free to use sparkling water instead of still water.

Obviously, the longer the water sits, the stronger the flavor. It's mild at first, but after a few hours (or overnight) it's quite strong.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 14Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 0g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

 

Do you drink enough water? What’s your favorite way to make sure you stay hydrated?

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75 Comments

  1. this drink looks so refreshing that I am putting it on my to-do list this weekend. can someone also tell me a good subsitute for sugar. I am currently using ORGANIC BLUE AGAVE.

  2. This would be great with cleaner/clear ice cubes. Perhaps the water would taste a lot better and not make people “hurl” as “Brittany” exclaimed in her post. I recall trying home made ice cubes that were clouded years ago and they totally distort the flavor of whatever you are drinking. Those cubes tend to draw out all the funk & weird stuff n the freezer, then you put them in your lovely water?? No wonder you have trouble drinking water.

  3. Hi just a quick question – how long will it stay good for in the fridge? I usually take a thermos filled with chilled green tea or similar to drink at work instead of hitting the vending machines – how long do i have if i make the full 1/2 gallon?
    Thanks and love the site ๐Ÿ™‚ Have printed all your planners too – love love love them!!!

  4. I am looking forward to making this today, looks like a great complement to a raw food feast I am having with friends!

  5. So beautiful. I’m going to try this. Question: after you’ve finished the flavored water, can you use the fruit/cucumbers in any way (like a smoothie), or is it best to dispose of them?

    1. I suppose you could, but almost all of the flavor has been absorbed into the water, so there isn’t much left to them!

    2. As a Chef, when I have cooked in peoples homes, I understand that folks want to use things that I would not serve that were used to create flavor, but were now left over at the end of the process. Once they provided their essence to the dish, it seemed a waste to get rid of them, but they are not quality food.

      I recommend composting for this kind of thing…

  6. Has anyone tried this with sparkling water? I wonder how well the fruit, veggies and herbs hold up…

    1. Delicious. I’m using sparkling water. I haven’t had soda in a long time as it is so bad for you, but I like soda,so this is how I get the sparkle without drinking soda.

  7. I love Cel-ray celery soda; and Mr Q Cumber cucumber soda. And I don’t drink sodas otherwise. So I am definitely going to try this.

  8. Whath a lovely idea. I made it following the recipe and the result was completely refreshing. Beautiful images.