Cherry Cantaloupe Mint Water: Easy Pitcher Recipe

Cherry cantaloupe mint water is a chilled fruit-and-herb infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare and yields about 4 cups.

What is cherry cantaloupe mint water?

Cherry cantaloupe mint water is drinking water steeped with cut cherries, cantaloupe and fresh mint. The fruit flavors the water without being blended into it, so the finished drink is lighter than juice or a smoothie.

For more fruit combinations, browse these berry infused water recipes. Serve this recipe chilled on its own or alongside a meal.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

This pitcher uses roughly equal amounts of cherries and cantaloupe, plus a small handful of mint. The quantities below make about four 1-cup servings:

Water: 950 mL, or about 4 cups
Cherries: 75 g, or about 1/2 cup, pitted and halved
Cantaloupe: 80 g, or about 1/2 cup, peeled and cubed
Fresh mint: about 5 g, or approximately 1/4 cup loosely packed leaves

Use fresh, ripe fruit and drinking water you enjoy on its own. A pitcher or covered jar large enough to hold the water and fruit will make mixing and serving easier.

How do you make cherry cantaloupe mint water?

Wash the cherries and mint under running water. Scrub the outside of the cantaloupe under running water before cutting it.
Prepare the cherries by removing their stems and pits, then halving them. Cut away the cantaloupe rind and seeds and cube the flesh.
Place the cherries and cantaloupe in a clean pitcher. Gently bruise the mint leaves with your fingers and add them to the pitcher.
Pour in the water, cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours. For a stronger infusion, steep for up to 4 hours.
Strain the water if you prefer, or leave the fruit and mint in the pitcher. Pour into glasses and serve chilled.

Want to adjust the combination? Try the ai infused water generator for another pitcher idea.

Why do cherries, cantaloupe and mint pair well?

Cherries

Cherries add a sweet or tart fruit flavor, depending on the variety. Halving them exposes more of their flesh to the water without turning the drink into juice. For a simpler infusion, see cherry infused water.

Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe brings a mellow melon flavor that balances the cherries. Ripe melon will generally give the pitcher a more noticeable aroma than underripe fruit. Find another way to use it in cantaloupe infused water.

Mint

Mint adds a fresh herbal note without requiring sweetener. Gently bruising the leaves releases their aroma; tearing or crushing them heavily can leave small pieces in the drink. For a fruit-free option, try mint water.

The main benefit of cherry cantaloupe mint water is hydration. The amount of fruit nutrients that transfers into the water is uncertain; eating the fruit provides its fiber, while strained water does not provide all the nutrients in the whole fruit. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification—this drink is not a detox treatment.

How should you store cherry cantaloupe mint water?

Keep the covered pitcher refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

Do not leave the pitcher at room temperature for more than a few hours. If you strain the fruit out, refrigerate the strained water as well; straining does not make it shelf-stable.

How can you vary cherry cantaloupe mint water?

Make it fruitier

Lightly press a few cherry halves against the side of the pitcher before adding the water. This can make the flavor more pronounced and the water cloudier; pressing or eating the fruit also adds more of the fruit's calories than steeping alone.

Make the mint milder

Use fewer mint leaves, or remove them after the initial steep. You can also strain the entire pitcher once the flavor is to your liking.

Use frozen fruit

Unsweetened frozen cherries or cantaloupe can stand in for fresh fruit. Add them directly to the pitcher and refrigerate as directed; their texture may be softer after thawing.