Apricot Plum Thyme Water: Easy Infused Water Recipe

Apricot plum thyme water is a chilled fruit-and-herb infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare and yields about 1 liter, or 4 glasses.

For another combination, try the ai infused water generator.

What is apricot plum thyme water?

Apricot plum thyme water is drinking water steeped with sliced apricots, sliced plums and fresh thyme. The fruit gives it a gently sweet, tart flavor, while the herb adds a savory note without making the drink taste like tea.

It is one of many stone fruit infused water recipes you can make with ripe seasonal fruit. The recipe below uses no added sugar and is served cold.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

Use approximately equal amounts of apricot and plum, plus two thyme sprigs, for 1 liter of water. The combined fruit comes to about 1 cup, enough to flavor the water without crowding the pitcher.

Water: 1,000 ml (4¼ cups) cold drinking water
Apricot: approximately 75 g (½ cup) sliced, pitted fresh apricot
Plum: approximately 75 g (½ cup) sliced, pitted fresh plum
Fresh thyme: about 5 g (2 sprigs, or approximately ⅛ cup loosely packed sprigs)

Choose ripe fruit that smells fragrant and gives slightly when pressed. The cup measurements are approximate: slices vary in size, so weighing the fruit is useful if you want to repeat the same ratio. Use a clean pitcher with a lid or cover.

How do you make apricot plum thyme water?

Allow about 10 minutes for preparation and at least 2 hours for the water to infuse in the refrigerator.

Rinse the apricot, plum and thyme under running water. Wash your hands and use a clean knife, cutting board and pitcher.
Slice the fruit and remove the pits. Leave the skins on for color and flavor; discard the pits rather than crushing or eating them.
Bruise the thyme gently between your fingers to release its aroma. Keep the sprigs intact so they are easy to remove later.
Add the fruit and thyme to the pitcher, then pour in 1,000 ml (4¼ cups) of cold drinking water.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2–4 hours. Taste after 2 hours and leave it longer if you prefer a more pronounced flavor.
Strain the water or remove the fruit and thyme when the flavor suits you. Serve chilled, over ice if you like.

The flavor will be subtler than juice because the fruit is steeped rather than blended or squeezed. If you want a clearer drink, pour it through a fine strainer before serving.

Why do apricot, plum and thyme work together?

Apricot brings a soft, sweet aroma, while plum adds a brighter, slightly tart fruit flavor. Thyme balances both with a woodsy, savory note; gently bruising the sprigs helps release their aroma without breaking them into small pieces.

For a simpler fruit flavor, see apricot infused water or plum infused water. For an herb-forward option, see thyme water.

The main practical benefit of apricot plum thyme water is hydration, especially if its flavor encourages you to drink water. The amounts of fruit nutrients that pass into this infusion are not established, so it should not be treated as equivalent to eating the fruit. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste.

How should you store apricot plum thyme water?

Keep apricot plum thyme water covered in the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. You can remove the fruit and thyme after the initial 2–4-hour steep and keep the strained water chilled.

Discard any remaining infusion after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy or slimy or develops an unusual sour smell. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than a few hours.

How can you vary apricot plum thyme water?

Make the apricot flavor more prominent

Use a little more apricot and a little less plum, keeping the total sliced fruit at about 1 cup per 1 liter of water. This keeps the same basic ratio while emphasizing the softer fruit note.

Make the plum flavor more prominent

Reverse the proportions, using more plum and less apricot. Taste the infusion after 2 hours; if you like its flavor, strain it then rather than waiting the full 4 hours.

Adjust the thyme

Use one sprig instead of two for a lighter herbal taste. You can also remove the thyme before the fruit if its flavor is strong enough, then let the fruit continue steeping in the refrigerator.