Wellness 08/17/2020

Infused water for summer: flavoured, fruity or iced?

Water, Mason jars and a multitude of flavours: refreshing infused water beverages are all the rage this summer. From classic to festive and colourful recipes, there is something for everyone! Infused water is ideal for effectively refreshing and hydrating the body. But not only that! By carefully choosing your ingredients, you will be able to enjoy specific benefits, while still enjoying the taste. Discover our infused water recipes and their health benefits.

The classic: water flavoured with lemon and mint

Everyone knows this delightful beverage! And everyone has already tried it.

This recipe is a true classic: water and citrus fruit. But which is better, lemon or lime? This is a question of taste and a blend of both lemon and lime is an absolute delight! There are many ways to enjoy this fruit-infused drink: you can add zest, pulp, juice, slices or wedges. The choice is yours! Some like to use a few pieces of zest, while others prefer to squeeze the entire fruit and add its tart juice to the water. For enhanced sweetness, allow the wedges of fruit to infuse.

Lemon is a citrus fruit that is packed with health benefits. It is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and minerals, particularly potassium and iron. Moreover, lemon juice is known for its capacity to cleanse the liver and ensure the proper functioning of the digestive system and stomach, by promoting the secretion of enzymes.

For those who enjoy adding flavour, lemon and mint water is a classic. Not only does mint, peppermint in particular, intensify the sensation of freshness, it also provides the body with many health benefits. Pain-reducing, decongesting, diuretic and antioxidant, it helps our bodies deal with a myriad of ailments. So, added to lemon or lime, it not only enhances the flavour, it also improves our health.

Fruit flavours: fruit-infused water

Add colour and delicious flavour to your water with your favourite fruit!

Again, these recipes are quite simple to make: an orange wedge, a few blueberries or pieces of strawberry.

Choose your favourite seasonal fruit. Wash it, cut it up into pieces and leave it for at least 30 minutes in the water before drinking it. Select a variety of different fruit to vary your tasting experience, as well as enjoying the specific benefits that each fruit offers.  

By choosing specific fruit, you provide your body with targeted benefits in addition to healthy hydration. Please note that drinking fruit-infused water does not necessarily mean you will reap the benefits of the vitamins each fruit contains as they are not very soluble in water. However, you can always enjoy the pieces of fruit once you have finished sipping the water!

You can also use antioxidant-rich fruit to protect your body from free radicals. For an exotic touch, add a few pomegranate seeds or slices of kiwi fruit to your water. Pomegranate is a powerful antioxidant, as it is brimming with punicalagins, polyphenols that are specific to this fruit. Moreover, pomegranate is rich in vitamins A, B and C, folic acid and urolithin A, which give it powerful anti-ageing properties, while boosting the immune system. As for kiwi fruit, with its pretty green colour, it is rich in antioxidants, fibres and vitamins C. It is also known for its high potassium content, highly beneficial for the health of the cardiovascular system.

So, don't delay any further: infuse your water now with a wide variety of colourful, savoury and beneficial fruit! And why not nibble on a few pieces while preparing your fruit-infused water?

Iced beverage: water and flavoured ice cubes

For a touch of flavour and a nice dose of freshness, play with flavoured or scented ice cubes. Fruit, vegetables or herbs, the possibilities are endless.

To make ice cubes with fruits and vegetables, the most classic are cucumber and raspberry but it is also possible to put watermelon, blueberries or citrus fruits. Antioxidant and rich in vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables in your ice cubes bring targeted benefits and maximum freshness to your water. Even more so if you take advantage of the fact that you can eat some of them.

Any aromatic herbs growing in your garden or bought at the market may be used for your ice cubes. Basil, mint, sage, lemon balm, coriander, rosemary thyme and lemongrass: you can use different flavours to create surprises in your ice cubes. Moreover, aromatic herbs, particularly thyme and rosemary, are known to be natural anti-depressants, as well as natural anti-stress agents, particularly basil, which has sedative properties (https://www.jardiner-malin.fr/sante/basilic-bienfaits.html). Each aromatic herb growing in the garden has a specific health benefit. From anti-inflammatory action to beneficial effects on the digestive system, simply find out how to choose the aromatic herbs you like best and which are best for your body.

What type of ice cubes should you choose? Why not mix fruit and aromatic herbs together? Select a few fruit or vegetable ice cubes and add them to your water with aromatic herb ice cubes. Not only will you enjoy the dual flavours, you will also double the benefits. Strawberry–basil, raspberry–rosemary or blueberry–lemongrass: just a few fruit-herb blends that we particularly enjoy.

Are you looking for something more than infused water?

Why not try chilled home-made tea? Refreshing and much healthier than manufactured iced teas, home-made iced tea is extremely simple to make. Begin by choosing the type of tea you want: black tea, green tea, white tea or Oolong, each one has a specific flavour.

We can recommend the perfect recipe that will help you feel refreshed, maintain your waistline, and enjoy the benefits of an abundance of antioxidants: Green tea with honey.

Green tea is considered to be an effective ally in draining and eliminating toxins from the body. In fact, it is widely recognised for its many antioxidant substances from the catechin family, EGCG in particular. These catechins also help boost the body’s fat burning process and have a powerful diuretic action. Moreover, green tea is generally known for its revitalising and anti-stress effects, two great reasons for drinking it.

The honey allows you to sweeten chilled home-made tea without using refined sugar, which is not good for the body. Moreover, honey is an important source of antioxidants, which help reinforce the immune system.