Summer Flavor: 14 of my Favorite Infused Waters

By Lauren Scott, Arizona Farm Bureau Intern

If you are like me, drinking water is a chore; but here in Arizona, staying hydrated is pretty important. No matter how much I try, though, I just can’t seem to bring myself to enjoy water by itself. After I walk around outside or after I exercise, my body craves water, but my mind doesn’t. I want something with flavor, and typically I have to be strong-willed and force myself to drink water instead of juice or other drinks.

Recently I’ve seen some of my friends adding fruits or vegetables to their water, which I thought was kind of weird. When I asked them why they were doing this, they answered with: “Water is so bland! This way there is some flavor in there, which makes you want to drink it.”

Of course, fruit and veggies are also very good for you, so it doesn’t hurt to add them to your water and see how you like it! Ever since I learned about this water-enhancing technique from my friends, it would be hard to find me without a bottle of fruit-infused water! I make it at home in a large pitcher, or before I leave the house I put fresh fruit in a large water bottle and pour cold water over it.

With all the fruits and vegetables coming into season this summer in Arizona, the combinations of infused water you can make are endless! And the cool thing is, you can use however much or however little ingredients you want. Mix and match different fruits and veggies until you find a flavor you like, OR, use one of the mixes below to get started. Also, all the infusion examples below contain fruits and veggies that are in season in Arizona this summer.

1. Cucumbers and oranges
2. Strawberries, mint, and cucumbers
3. Blackberries, blueberries, and grapes
4. Watermelon, lime, and mint
5. Oranges, lemons, and cilantro
6. Grapefruit, lemons, limes, and oranges
7. Oranges and blueberries
8. Blueberries, basil, and lemon
9. Strawberries and lime
10. Mint, grapes, and cucumbers
11. Blueberries and strawberries
12. Peaches, nectarines, and oranges
13. Cinnamon sticks and pears
14. Grapefruit and rosemary

Remember, you can mix and match any ingredients to create unique flavors every time you make infused water. If you want to keep your water cold for a long time while you infuse, you can also freeze fruit in ice cubes and add them to your water. To see the full list of fruits and vegetables in season right now in Arizona, go to fillyourplate.org, and click on the ‘In Season’ tab.