RhubarbInfusedWater1

Flavor Infused Water

We’ve used fresh rhubarb in this recipe, but you can use any fruit you like. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, try strawberries or watermelon. Feeling lazy and need a lift…try lemon or lime – or a both!

Although fruits may be the first thing that comes to mind when choosing what to infuse your water with, don’t forget about vegetables. Rhubarb and cucumber are two perfect choices when you want something a bit tart and refreshing tasting.

RhubarbInfusedWater1

How to Choose Rhubarb: the stalks range in color from red, to pink, to speckled green. Color is not an indication of ripeness (or sweetness), as a general rule the younger and thinner the stalks the sweeter they are. Just make sure to discard the leaves, they are poisonous.

How to Store Rhubarb: cut, unwashed stalks can be kept in a sealed bag in the fridge for up to five days.

 Infusion Basics

  1. Prepare fruits/vegetables/herbs by washing well. Slice or coarsely chop and place in a large pitcher – filling with 1/4 to 1/3 of your chosen infusers.
  2. The amount you use is all up to you, play around with different amounts until you find the ratios you like best. If you are making a large pitcher that will last for a few days, coarsely chop the fruit. If you are making a single portion thinly slice everything so the flavors infuse quicker. Try using a vegetable peeler for firmer vegetables like rhubarb or carrot – it allows the flavor to diffuse quicker into the water, and it also has a beautiful curly effect.
  3. If desired, gently muddle (crush) the ingredients using a wooden spoon. Don’t overdo it, you want clear water not a cloudy haze filled with pulp.
  4. Top pitcher up with water and some ice and chill at least 2 hrs (store in fridge to prevent premature spoilage). It will keep for 3 to 5 days chilled.

 

See also
Peppermint Vodka

Flavor Combinations to Try

  • Orange + Lemon + Fresh Ginger
  • Cucumber + Raspberry + Grape
  • Rhubarb + Apple + Cinnamon
  • Strawberry + Lime
  • Pineapple + Mint
  • Rhubarb + Rosemary + Strawberries
  • Jalapeno Pepper + Lime + Mint
  • Fresh Ginger + Mint + Cantaloupe
  • Watermelon + Rosemary

Notes on Ingredients….

  • For citrus, keep on all rind/skin for added flavor
  • Too much, or too little – herbs like rosemary can very overpowering, so use sparingly. Melons and cumbers are quite mild, so use more to intensify their flavor.
  • Keep it simple – one flavor can be enough, or choose a combination. But using any more than 3 ingredients can muddle the taste, and the flavors are lost.

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5 Comments

  1. Apples and cinnamon stick is a nice combo. And when you are done drinking the water the apples make a nice snack and have a wonderful cinnamon infused flavor to them. Just remeber a little cinnamon goes a long way.

  2. Hi Marla… love your gluten free recipes…now I need recipes that are in addition sugar free with gluten free. Thank you so much. Really appreciate your help.

  3. We have a new tool you can use to customize the recipes you see on our site. Once you log in, go into the ‘My Account’ tab, then under ‘Do Something’, click on ‘My Preferences’. Check off the box for sugar free – or any other ingredients (allergens) you don’t want in recipes. Then hit save. Now only recipes that we have identified with those labels will appear. That should help narrow down your recipe choices! It can narrow your choices down too much though (since a recipe that only calls for 1 tsp of sugar would not appear in your future searches), so you may want to become familiar with the different types of sugar substitutes out there, and what works for you. Check out this article for some more information: How to Substitute Sugar in Recipes.

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