Strawberry Water

Cool down and hydrate with a glass of Strawberry Water. This easy, flavored spa water has a light lemon and berry flavor that’s oh-so-refreshing. Enjoy it on a warm day or make a big batch for a party, where it’s sure to be a showstopper.

About this Strawberry Water recipe

Confession: I don’t drink enough water. I feel guilty when I don’t even come close to the eight recommended glasses a day. Drinking more water is something I’m working on all the time, and I know I’m not alone in this. (Right?!)

One of my favorite ways to dress up a glass of water is by infusing it with fresh produce from the garden or the farmer’s market. One of my favorites is this citrus spa water made with winter citrus like blood orange and grapefruit. But in the summer, I crave fresh berries and herbs.

This recipe for strawberry water uses lemon slices and fresh berries, but infused waters can take on so many different flavor combinations. There are many ways to make this recipe your own, and you can even make it in big batches to serve at parties and events.

More refreshing recipes: Strawberry Agua Fresca • Cold Brew Iced Tea • Strawberry Lemonade

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Strawberry water is super simple to make with fresh ingredients.
• It’s easy to customize with whatever fruit you have on hand.
• The infusion makes drinking plain water so much more flavorful, refreshing and fun.

What is infused water?

Infused water, also called spa water, is essentially plain water that’s been cold-steeped with fruit, herbs, spices and even vegetables. It’s different from agua fresca — although it translates to “fresh water” in Spanish, it’s a drink from Mexico made with fruit, citrus, a sweetener and water made in a blender.

To make infused water, you place a blend of cut fruits and herbs in a pitcher of water for a couple of hours. The liquid soaks up the aromas of the fruits and herbs, leaving you with a refreshing glass of water that has just a hint of flavor. It’s a great way to get a serving of water and a serving of fruit (if you eat it from your glass, that is).

Tools & equipment

You don’t need a whole lot of equipment to make infused water. You can honestly do it in your drinking glass or in a jar! But a pitcher makes it a lot easier for serving.

You’ll also want to prepare your fruit. A cutting board and sharp knife is all you really need, but a strawberry huller ^* makes things easier.

Ingredients

You can shop for strawberry water ingredients at your local grocery store and/or liquor store, or simply use what you have at home — it’s very customizable! Here’s what you’ll need to make the recipe:

Water: It’s best to use the purest water that you have access to. If you have a water purifier or fridge filter, use that. Distilled water is also great.

Fresh strawberries:

Lemon slices: The lemon slices are totally optional, but their zesty juices and essential oils give this recipe a little bit of strawberry lemonade flavor.

Substitutions & variations

Add more berries: Try adding combinations of cherries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. This berry water has some ideas for combinations.

Try other fruits: Mix up the citrus by adding slices of lime, orange or grapefruit. You can also add watermelon, mango, kiwi or cucumber. At the holidays, cranberries are wonderful in this Christmas spa water as are apples in this Thanksgiving spa water.

Add herbs: Throw in some fresh mint, basil, cilantro, rosemary, sage or lavender for an earthy flavor and fragrant floral aroma as you sip.

Make it sweet: If you have a sweet tooth, stir in a little fruit juice, agave nectar ^*, honey or Splenda, but I find that the infusing fruits sweeten the water just enough for my tastes.

Add supplements: Fruit infusions are a great way to mask any supplements you may like to add to your water, such as mineral drops or electrolyte powder.

Instructions

In a large pitcher filled with ice, add sliced strawberries and lemon slices. Top with water. Stir together.

Refrigerate for 1 hour, or serve immediately, over ice. The longer the water infuses, the stronger the flavor will be. However, leaving the lemon slices in too long can result in a bitter flavor.

Tips & tricks

• You can refrigerate it for one day, but be sure to remove the lemon slices
• The water can keep for 2-3 days when stored in the refrigerator, but it will taste the freshest the first couple of days. The strawberries can lose their color and break down, so feel free to strain them out.
• Spa water is a great way to re-purpose fruit that’s about to go bad, that you’d otherwise throw away. Even though it may look bruised or may have a weird texture, it still has a delicious flavor that can be imparted into your drink.

Food pairings

Serve this recipe with fresh spring and summer flavors. Lemon bars and lemon cookies would be great party pairings.

Make strawberry water with any leftover strawberries from treats like chocolate-covered strawberries or luscious strawberry cupcakes. It would also be great with other berry treats, like blueberry muffins.

And of course, this refreshing drink is great with summery dinners like grilled chicken with cilantro crema for a cookout or pulled pork tacos for taco night.

FAQ

More non-alcoholic recipes

• Blueberry Lemonade
• Limeade
• Cold Brew Coffee
• Pink Drink