Apricot Orange Thyme Water: Recipe and Storage

Apricot orange thyme water is a chilled fruit-and-herb infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare, including steeping, and yields about 1 liter (4¼ cups). For another combination, try the ai infused water generator.

What is apricot orange thyme water?

Apricot orange thyme water is drinking water infused with fresh apricot, orange and thyme. It has a gently fruity taste rather than the stronger flavor of juice: the ingredients steep in the water, then are strained out.

It is one of many ways to use ripe summer fruit in stone fruit infused water recipes. The recipe below makes a small pitcher without added sugar; serve it chilled on its own or over ice.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For approximately 1 liter (4¼ cups) of apricot orange thyme water, use:

1 liter (4¼ cups) cold drinking water
150 g (about 1 cup) sliced fresh apricots, pits removed
100 g (about ½–⅔ cup) sliced orange flesh, peel and white pith removed
2 sprigs fresh thyme (about 5 g, or roughly 2 tablespoons, ⅛ cup, loosely packed)

This ratio gives the fruit room to flavor the water while keeping the thyme subtle. Measurements for the sliced fruit and thyme are approximate; the size of the pieces affects how they fit in a cup or spoon.

Choose ripe, firm apricots and a fresh orange. Use a clean, covered pitcher large enough to hold the water and fruit without overflowing. The final amount of strained water may be slightly less than the amount added because the fruit retains some liquid.

How do you make apricot orange thyme water?

Active prep: 10 minutes
Refrigerated steep: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 1 liter (4¼ cups)

Rinse the apricots and orange under cool running water, and gently rinse the thyme. Use clean hands, a clean knife and a clean pitcher.
Slice the apricots and discard the pits. Peel the orange, remove the white pith and slice the flesh.
Add the apricots, orange and thyme to the pitcher. Pour in the cold drinking water and cover.
Refrigerate for 2 hours, then taste. For a stronger infusion, steep for up to 4 hours total.
Strain out the fruit and thyme. Serve the water chilled, or return it to the refrigerator in a covered container.

Avoid squeezing the orange if you want a lighter infusion. Squeezing fruit or eating it adds the fruit’s calories; the calories in the whole fruit should not be counted as if they all transferred into the water.

Why do apricot, orange and thyme work together?

Apricot brings a soft, mellow fruit flavor that balances orange’s brighter citrus taste. The fruit in apricot infused water can taste delicate, so orange helps make this combination more noticeable without sweetener.

Removing the orange peel and pith keeps the citrus flavor gentle. If you prefer a more citrus-forward pitcher, orange infused water is another way to explore that flavor.

Thyme adds a savory herbal note behind the fruit rather than making the water taste like juice. Use fresh sprigs for this recipe; thyme water puts the herb at the center instead.

The main benefit of apricot orange thyme water is hydration. Raw orange and apricot contain nutrients, but the amount that transfers into the water during steeping is not known. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification; drinking water supports normal hydration, not a special cleanse.

How should you store apricot orange thyme water?

Keep the pitcher covered and refrigerated while it steeps and after straining. For the best flavor, drink apricot orange thyme water within 24 hours. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

Do not leave it at room temperature for more than a few hours. If you leave orange peel or pith in a variation, strain it out after about 4 hours because it can make the water bitter. Adding fresh water to the used fruit does not restart the storage clock.

How can you vary apricot orange thyme water?

Make the herb flavor lighter

Use fewer thyme sprigs, or remove the thyme when the water reaches a flavor you like. Keep the pitcher refrigerated for the rest of the steep.

Make the citrus flavor milder

Use less orange and keep the apricot amount the same. The resulting water will have a softer citrus taste, though its exact flavor will depend on the ripeness of the fruit.

Add a little fizz

After straining, top individual glasses with chilled sparkling water just before serving. This keeps the infusion process the same and lets each person choose how much fizz to add.