Blueberry Cranberry Thyme Water Recipe

Blueberry cranberry thyme water is a chilled fruit-and-herb infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes total, including 10 minutes of preparation, and makes about 4 cups (960 mL). Try the ai infused water generator for another combination.

What is blueberry cranberry thyme water?

Blueberry cranberry thyme water is plain water steeped with blueberries, cranberries and fresh thyme. It has a mild berry flavor, a tart edge and a subtle herbal aroma rather than the strong sweetness of juice.

It’s one of many berry infused water recipes you can make ahead and keep chilled. Serve it strained or leave the fruit in the pitcher while pouring.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about 4 servings, start with approximately 1 cup of berries and 2 sprigs of thyme for 4 cups of water:

Water: 960 mL (4 cups), cold and safe to drink
Blueberries: 75 g (about 1/2 cup), fresh
Cranberries: 55 g (about 1/2 cup), fresh
Fresh thyme: about 5 g (2 sprigs, or approximately 2 tablespoons of loosely packed leaves)

Measure the berries before cutting them. The berry amounts are approximate because fruit size varies; the balance of roughly equal volumes gives the infusion both blueberry flavor and cranberry tartness.

Choose fresh, unsweetened cranberries rather than cranberry sauce or sweetened dried cranberries. Use a clean, covered pitcher large enough to hold the water and fruit without overflowing.

How do you make blueberry cranberry thyme water?

Wash the blueberries, cranberries and thyme under cool running water. Use a clean cutting board and utensils.
Pierce the blueberries with a fork and cut the cranberries in half so their flavors can reach the water.
Add the berries and thyme to the pitcher, then pour in the 960 mL (4 cups) of cold water.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours. For a stronger flavor, steep for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
Taste the water, then strain it or pour it into glasses with the fruit left in the pitcher. Keep any remainder refrigerated.

The total time is 2 hours 10 minutes when you use the shorter steep. The yield is about 4 cups (960 mL), although some water may remain with the fruit if you strain it.

Why do blueberries, cranberries and thyme work together?

Blueberries bring a soft, fruity flavor that balances the sharper cranberries. If you prefer a milder berry taste, blueberry infused water puts that fruit at the center.

Cranberries add tartness without making the drink as intense as juice. For a more pronounced tart flavor, see cranberry infused water.

Thyme adds a savory, aromatic note; a small amount keeps it from overpowering the fruit. Learn more about its flavor in thyme water.

The main practical benefit of blueberry cranberry thyme water is hydration. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste; this drink is not a special cleanse. The whole berries contain nutrients, but the amount that transfers into the water is uncertain, and there is no direct evidence that this particular infusion treats or prevents a health condition.

How should you store it?

Keep the covered pitcher refrigerated and drink the water within 24 hours for the best flavor. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy or slimy or develops an off smell.

Don’t leave the pitcher at room temperature for more than a few hours. If you remove the fruit or top up the pitcher with fresh water, use the original preparation time to judge storage; adding water does not reset the clock.

Use clean glasses and utensils when serving. If you have an allergy to any ingredient, leave it out rather than relying on straining to remove it.

How can you vary the flavor?

For a fruitier, less tart infusion, use more blueberries and fewer cranberries while keeping the combined fruit close to 1 cup. For a sharper drink, reverse the balance. Start with the same 2-hour refrigerated steep, then taste before leaving it longer.

For a subtler herbal note, use 1 thyme sprig instead of 2. You can also remove the thyme after the first taste and let the berries continue to steep, keeping the total steep between 2 and 4 hours.

For a lighter flavor, serve the strained infusion with a little more cold water. If you eat the fruit or crush it into the drink, its calories and nutrients count too; the whole fruit’s nutrition figures are not the same as those of the strained water.