Blackberry Orange Thyme Water: Easy Recipe

Blackberry orange thyme water is a fruit-and-herb infused water that takes 2 hours 10 minutes total and yields about 1 liter (4¼ cups), or 4 servings.

It combines juicy berries, citrus and fresh thyme without requiring a blender or added sweetener. It is one of many berry infused water recipes you can make in a pitcher.

What is blackberry orange thyme water?

Blackberry orange thyme water is plain water steeped with blackberries, orange slices and thyme. The berries lend a mild fruit flavor and a little color, while the orange adds citrus aroma and the thyme provides a savory herbal note.

The fruit is steeped rather than blended, so the drink is lighter in flavor than juice. It can make water more appealing to drink, but it does not cleanse the body: the liver and kidneys do most of that work, with the lungs and gut also helping eliminate waste.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For approximately 4 servings, use:

Water: 1,000 ml (4¼ cups), cold
Blackberries: 150 g (about 1 cup)
Orange: 100 g (about ¾ cup sliced, or 1 small orange)
Fresh thyme: about 5 g (2 sprigs, or roughly 2 tablespoons or ⅛ cup loosely packed)

This ratio gives the fruit room to flavor the water without making the thyme dominant. Choose a pitcher large enough to hold both the water and the ingredients; a 2-liter pitcher has room for stirring.

Use an orange with a sound, unbroken peel and fresh-looking thyme. If your orange is especially large, weigh or measure the slices rather than adding the entire fruit. You can save any extra for another use.

How do you make blackberry orange thyme water?

Allow about 10 minutes for preparation, followed by 2 hours of refrigerated steeping.

Rinse the blackberries, orange and thyme under running water. Gently drain the berries and herbs.
Slice the orange into thin rounds or half-rounds. Remove any seeds you see.
Add the blackberries, orange slices and thyme to the pitcher. Lightly press a few berries with a spoon if you want a little more color.
Pour in the cold water and stir gently to distribute the ingredients.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate it for 2 hours.
Strain out the fruit and thyme, then serve the water cold. Refrigerate any remaining water.

For another combination or batch size, try the ai infused water generator.

The orange peel can become bitter with a longer steep, so strain the infusion by 4 hours. For a cleaner-looking drink, pour it through a fine strainer; a few berry particles may still remain if you have pressed the fruit.

Why do blackberry, orange and thyme pair well?

Blackberries bring a soft, slightly tart berry flavor. The orange makes the water smell brighter, and a small amount of thyme balances the fruit with an earthy note. The result is subtle rather than intensely sweet.

If you prefer a simpler berry flavor, blackberry infused water focuses on the fruit. For a more citrus-forward pitcher, see orange infused water; for the herb on its own, see thyme water.

The main benefit of blackberry orange thyme water is hydration. Whole blackberries and oranges contain nutrients and fiber, but the amount that transfers into steeped water is uncertain; do not count the nutrients in the whole fruit as those in the strained drink. Eating the fruit adds its nutrients and calories.

How should you store blackberry orange thyme water?

Keep the pitcher covered in the refrigerator, including while it steeps. For the best flavor, drink the water within 24 hours of preparation. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

Straining after the initial steep helps prevent the orange peel from making the water bitter. Serve only what you need and return the rest to the refrigerator rather than leaving the pitcher at room temperature for more than a few hours.

What variations can you make?

A stronger berry flavor

Lightly press more of the blackberries before adding the water. This releases more color and fruit solids, so the finished drink may look cloudier and contain more of the fruit than a gently steeped version.

A gentler citrus flavor

Remove the orange peel and white pith before slicing the fruit. The flavor will differ from the peel-on recipe, but this can be useful if you find citrus pith bitter.

A softer herb flavor

Start with 1 thyme sprig instead of 2. Taste the water after the refrigerated steep; you can use the full amount in your next batch if you want a more noticeable herbal note.