Crushing mint for Lemon Mint Water, by Beautiful Ingredient
vegan | wfpb | easy | quick | gluten-free | refined sugar-free | ready in 15 minutes or less | 5 ingredients or less
Lemon Mint Water, by Beautiful Ingredient
If you're looking for ways to get more water into your life, here's a tasty one. It can be surprising just how easy it is to turn plain old water into something delicious. This is a drink that is simple yet so satisfying any time of day, especially through the warmer part of the year, and if you drink it instead of lemonade - well, think of all that sugar you're saying goodbye to. I know I don't miss it.
I love lemon water, and I also enjoy mint water now and then. There's just something extra spa-like special about
Lemon Mint Water
If you make it at home, you can make all three! While single-serve bottles of flavored waters can be pricey at the grocery store, a day's worth of homemade lemon mint water can be had for just a little coin.
You just need:
-
filtered water
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a lemon
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a few mint sprigs
Water filtration sources: I'm hearing good things about a few water filtration systems, especially Berkey and Santevia.
For the lemon and mint, choose organic if you'd prefer pesticide-free water. These days, pesticides are so prominent in some areas that they find their way to organic crops, so I recommend washing even with organic.
Lemon & Mint for Infused Water, by Beautiful Ingredient
Pineapple Mint, easily Homegrown - by Beautiful Ingredient
Mint can be expensive in the refrigerated herb section at the grocery store, so in the spring I like to buy a little pot of organic mint for under $5 at my local garden shop and plant it myself. (Sometimes, my grocer will offer this, too.) Mint requires little care; in fact it grows so well that it tends to take over garden beds so I plant mine in a pot, which will keep me in mint all spring and summer. Yes, months and months of lemon mint water (and mojitos!).
This year's variety:
pineapple mint
which has a slightly fruity flavor. I love it!
Pineapple Mint is so easy to grow for infused water, mojitos, salads - and so delicious! By Beautiful Ingredient
Lemon mint water can be served in lovely glass carafes at the swankiest parties or in a basic pitcher at the family table - either way, it elevates mere water to something special that cleanly quenches thirst and calls people back for more just because it tastes so good.
At home, I like to keep infused water in a 64-ounce (basically a 2-liter) mason jar. That way, I have plenty of water for the whole family waiting in the fridge.
64 ounce Jar
Jar Cap for Pouring:
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Some people like a punch of flavor in their water, others prefer a subtle infusion. For subtle flavor, I recommend at least one large sprig of mint, crushed to bring out the flavor, and two lemon slices or wedges per 64-ounces. My personal preference is at least two sprigs of mint and three lemon slices or small wedges. You can start drinking right away, though flavors will become stronger the longer they mingle.
Which makes better lemon water, lemon slices or wedges? Well, I'll start by saying that if you were to just squeeze lemon into water, the result is pretty much just bitter water. The bright yellow part of the lemon rind - the part used to make zest - is important because it's what gives lemon that lemony flavor. It's why we zest, right? It seems by my own taste-testing that my water has a little more lemony flavor and a little less bitterness with unsqueezed wedges. Is that because there's more exposed yellow rind? Maybe. Slices are so pretty though, and the difference is minimal, so I will use either slices or wedges, usually depending on the occasion. Remember, if the lemon becomes too bitter in your water, simply remove the pieces from the water. The lemon flavor will still be there.
Lemon Mint Water, so easy to make and sure to add more water to your day, by Beautiful Ingredient
Lemon Mint Water
vegan | wfpb | easy | quick | gluten-free | refined sugar-free | ready in 15 minutes or less | 5 ingredients or less
Lemon Mint Water, by Beautiful Ingredient
YIELD: 64 ounces
PREP TIME: 5 minutes
COOK TIME: 0 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes
RECIPE CATEGORY: Beverages
PRIMARY TOOLS: water container, small knife
COOKING METHOD: infusing
My goal is to provide recipes that are easy and relatively quick; doable during a busy week. Kitchen times are approximate and will depend on various factors, like your personal kitchen speed and how many hands you have working with you. Cooking can become a centering experience that brings family together. I hope you enjoy the ride!
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