I’ve thrown a LOT of parties over the last decade, and I always make a big drink dispenser of infused water. After tinkering with a lot of different combinations over the years, we have one that’s our all-time favorite. I’ll share that with you along with a few other ideas to give your water a fun, tasty boost!

What is Infused Water?

Infused water is simply drinking water that has fruit or herbs added to create a subtle flavor. Usually it’s not sweetened, although there are flavor packets that add both flavor and sweetness. For this post I’m going to show you how to make unsweetened infused water using fresh fruit and herbs.

If you’ve stayed at a restaurant lately and noticed a water dispenser with slices of oranges or lemon floating around in it — that’s infused water.

Recommended tools for these Infused Water Recipes

The tools you need entirely depend on how much infused water you’re making. If you like drinking lemon water throughout the day, all you need to do is put a slice or two of lemon in your water tumbler.

If you’re wanting to make a batch of infused water for a party or event, you’ll need a large water dispenser. Some dispensers come with a perforated tube to add whatever infusions you prefer. This makes it easier to remove it when you’re finished.

The one you see in this post is from Target. I like this one because the dispenser tube is optional! I linked you to a couple of other ones I found online in the recipe card – both with a dispenser tube and without.

You don’t necessarily need the tube, though. I like the look of colorful slices of fruit and herbs mixed with the ice and water.

How to make Spa Water

Add water and ice to your drinking container or dispenser.
Add in whatever infusion flavors you like (citrus slices, mint leaves, cucumber rounds, etc.)
Let it steep for about 30-60 minutes to flavor the water thoroughly.
Replenish the water as needed. Discard the fruit/herbs after 24 hours.

What types of food can I add to infused water?

There a lot of different types of flavors you can add to water! Here’s a list to get you started:

Citrus fruit (lemon, lime, orange, rindless grapefruit)
Pineapple
Berries
Melon
Cucumbers
Jalapeno slices (yes, actually)
Fresh ginger
Fresh mint or basil

5 Flavored Water Recipes

One day I infused a dozen cups of water with different combinations and made my family try them all. These were the favorites!

If you’re making 1-2 gallons of infused water, plan on 1-2 whole fruits sliced or the equivalent if you’re using berries or another type of food.

Cucumber Mint Lemon – This is our favorite! I’ve made this more times than I can count and always get compliments.

Strawberry Orange – Love the sweetness of this one.

Strawberry Pineapple Basil – The basil adds a fun, different twist, but it’s also great without it.

Jalapeño Lime – Hear me out. I really liked this one. If you’re doing a 2-3 gallon dispenser, you’ll only need a few jalapeño slices. You can always add more if you want more kick. If it becomes too spicy, drain some of the water and add more to dilute it.

Melon ginger – This is such a stellar combination.

Pineapple ginger mint – Another favorite! Ginger and mint works beautifully with pineapple.

Infused Water tips

Slice the fruit thinly so there’s more surface area to release those yummy flavors.
Keep a container of sliced citrus and herbs in your fridge to quickly add flavor to your water bottle or tumbler!
Let the infused water sit for 30-60 before serving to get the flavors going.
If you use grapefruit, remove the rind. It adds a very bitter taste to the water.
Don’t let the infusion ingredients steep in the water for more than 24 hours. Some types of food will get slimy faster than others. (Looking at you, cucumber.) So keep an eye on them after the 12 hour mark.

FAQs for these Spa Water Recipes

What are the benifits of infused water?

Improving the flavor of the water encourages more water consumption and can be a healthier alternative to soda or juice. The fruit and herbs themselves add a small amount of nutrients to the water as well. Lemon water alone has a lot of great benefits including improved digestion, kidney stone prevention (from the citric acid), can improve skin quality and some say it has an alkaline effect when metabolized in the body.

How long should I infuse my water?

For best flavor, infuse for an hour or so before drinking. You can let the water infuse for up to 24 hours, though. If you have a large dispense, you can continue to refill with ice and water as needed for up to 24 hours.

Can infused water go bad?

Yes. The fruit in the water can go bad after a while. I recommend discarding any fruit/herbs after 24 hours at most.

Is too much infused water bad?

Nope! As long as the food you’re using to infuse the water has not turned bad you can drink as much as you like.

If you make one of my recipes, be sure to post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!

Infused Water Ideas

Yield: 1 gallon

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

I've thrown a LOT of parties over the last decade, and I always make a big drink dispenser of infused water. After tinkering with a lot of different combinations over the years, we have one that's our all-time favorite. I'll share that with you along with a few other ideas to give your water a fun, tasty boost!

Ingredients

Sliced fruit (citrus, berries, melon, cucumbers, etc.)
Fresh herbs (optional)

Instructions

Add ice and water to your dispener or pitcher.
Add whatever fruit or herbs you prefer.
Let it sit for 30-40 minutes and enjoy!

Notes

If you're making a gallon of infused water I'd suggest putting at least 1-2 whole sliced citrus fruits or the equivalent in cucumbers, berries, or melon.