Blueberry Lemon Thyme Water: Recipe & How to Make It

Blueberry lemon thyme water is a chilled fruit-and-herb infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare and yields about 4 cups, or 4 servings. For another combination, try the ai infused water generator.

What is blueberry lemon thyme water?

Blueberry lemon thyme water is plain water steeped with blueberries, sliced lemon and fresh thyme. The berries lend a subtle fruity flavor, the lemon adds brightness, and the thyme gives the drink a mild herbal aroma.

It is one of many berry infused water recipes you can make without a blender or added sweetener. The fruit is steeped rather than blended, so the finished drink is lighter in flavor and does not contain the same amount of fiber as eating the berries.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about 4 servings, use:

• Water: 1,000 ml (about 4 1/4 US cups), cold
• Blueberries: about 150 g (1 cup)
• Lemon: about 100 g (1 lemon, or approximately 1/2 cup sliced)
• Fresh thyme: about 5 g (2 sprigs, or roughly 1/8 cup of loosely packed leaves)

This ratio gives the fruit and herbs room to infuse without making the lemon or thyme overpowering. Use a pitcher with a lid and enough extra space for the ingredients. The recipe takes about 10 minutes of hands-on preparation followed by 2 hours in the refrigerator.

How do you make blueberry lemon thyme water?

1. Wash the blueberries, lemon and thyme under running water. Discard any damaged or spoiled pieces.
2. Slice the lemon into thin rounds, removing any visible seeds. Leave the peel on for steeping, or remove it if you prefer less bitterness.
3. Press the blueberries gently with the back of a spoon in the pitcher. Break a few skins without turning the berries into a puree.
4. Add the lemon slices and thyme, then pour in the cold water. Stir gently and cover the pitcher.
5. Refrigerate for 2 hours; steep for up to 4 hours for a fuller flavor. If the lemon peel is still in the pitcher, remove the slices or strain the drink after 4 hours to limit bitterness.
6. Serve the water chilled. Strain it into glasses if you prefer a clear drink, or leave the fruit and herbs in the pitcher until serving.

The yield is approximately 4 cups after allowing for a little water held by the ingredients. Use clean utensils when removing fruit or pouring servings.

Why do blueberry, lemon and thyme pair well?

Blueberries contribute a soft, rounded fruitiness rather than a strong juice flavor. Gently pressing some of them helps their flavor reach the water; for a simpler berry flavor, see blueberry infused water.

Lemon brings a tart note that keeps the berries from tasting flat. Its peel can add aroma, but the white pith may become bitter with a longer steep, which is why this recipe limits the time before removal. See lemon water for more on that citrus component.

Thyme adds a savory herbal edge, so a small amount is enough. Fresh sprigs are also easy to lift out; learn more about the ingredient in thyme water.

The main benefit of the finished drink is hydration, especially if its flavor makes water more appealing. It does not detoxify the body: the liver and kidneys do most of that work, with help from the lungs and gut.

How should you store blueberry lemon thyme water?

Keep the covered pitcher refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Remove the lemon slices or strain the infusion after 4 hours to reduce bitterness from the pith.

Discard the drink 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 plan to eat the berries, keep them refrigerated with the drink and discard them on the same schedule.

How can you vary blueberry lemon thyme water?

Make it more lemon-forward

Press a lemon slice gently against the side of the pitcher before steeping. This adds more juice and tartness; it also adds some of the lemon's calories to the drink.

Soften the herbal flavor

Use one thyme sprig instead of two, and taste the water after 2 hours. You can remove the thyme then while leaving the fruit to steep a little longer in the refrigerator.

Make the berry flavor stronger

Press more of the blueberries before adding the water, or steep the covered pitcher for the full 4 hours. More pressure releases more fruit into the drink, so expect a less clear infusion and slightly more of the berries' calories.

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