Cherry Honeydew Water: Easy Infused Water Recipe

Cherry honeydew water is a chilled fruit-infused drink that takes at least 2 hours 10 minutes to make and yields about 4 cups (950 mL).

For more combinations, try the AI infused water generator.

What is cherry honeydew water?

Cherry honeydew water is drinking water infused with pitted cherries and cubes of honeydew melon. The cherries add a fruity, slightly tart note, while the melon gives the water a mild, mellow flavor.

The fruit is steeped rather than blended, so the finished drink stays light. For more fruit-forward ideas, browse these berry infused water recipes.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

Use about 1 cup of chopped fruit for a pitcher containing approximately 1 liter of water. This recipe divides the fruit between cherries and honeydew, but the ratio is flexible.

Cherries: approximately 75 g (about 1/2 cup), pitted and halved
Honeydew: approximately 75 g (about 1/2 cup), peeled and cubed
Water: approximately 950 mL (4 cups)

Choose ripe honeydew for the best flavor, and use either sweet or tart cherries. The fruit measurements are approximate because the size of the pieces affects how much fits in a cup. You can add ice when serving, but use cold water for the infusion itself.

How do you make cherry honeydew water?

Prep time: 10 minutes
Chill time: 2–4 hours
Yield: About 4 cups (950 mL), or four 1-cup servings

Wash the cherries under running water. Scrub the outside of the honeydew under running water before cutting it.
Prepare the fruit by removing the cherry stems and pits, then halving the cherries. Remove the honeydew rind and seeds and cut the flesh into small cubes.
Add the fruit to a clean pitcher and pour in the water. Stir gently to distribute the pieces.
Refrigerate for 2–4 hours, until the water has the flavor you like.
Serve chilled, with ice if desired. Strain the fruit out or leave it in the pitcher when pouring.

Smaller fruit pieces expose more surface to the water. If the flavor is too mild after 2 hours, leave the pitcher in the refrigerator for the rest of the steeping time rather than adding sweetener immediately.

Why do cherries and honeydew pair well?

Cherries bring a stronger fruit flavor, while honeydew softens it without making the drink heavy. The combination falls between the more pronounced taste of cherry infused water and the delicate flavor of honeydew infused water.

The main benefit is hydration: flavor can make plain water more appealing to drink. Whole cherries and honeydew contain nutrients and fiber, but the amount that transfers into the water during steeping is uncertain. Eat the fruit if you want its fiber rather than relying on the water to provide it.

Unsweetened, steeped infused water is usually under 10 kcal per glass. Blending the fruit, squeezing it or eating it adds fruit calories. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification; cherry honeydew water supports hydration rather than flushing out toxins.

How should you store cherry honeydew water?

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

Return the pitcher to the refrigerator after serving, and don't leave it at room temperature for more than a few hours. If you strain out the fruit, keep the water chilled rather than assuming it will stay fresh longer.

How can you vary cherry honeydew water?

Make it more cherry-forward

Replace some of the honeydew with more pitted cherries, keeping the total amount of fruit at about 1 cup. Tart cherries will give the water a sharper flavor than sweet cherries.

Let the melon stand out

Use more honeydew and fewer cherries for a gentler pitcher. Cut the melon into small cubes so its flavor has more opportunity to infuse.

Add mint or bubbles

Add 2 fresh mint sprigs, approximately 5 g, to the pitcher before refrigerating. For a sparkling version, infuse the fruit in still water first, then add chilled sparkling water to each glass just before serving.