Cherry Infused Water: Recipe, Ratio and Steeping Time

Cherry infused water is chilled water steeped with pitted cherries; this recipe takes 2 hours 10 minutes in total and yields about 1 litre (4¼ US cups).

Use the ai infused water generator to adjust the recipe to your preferences.

What is cherry infused water?

Cherry infused water is a type of fruit infused water made by letting cherries flavour drinking water in the refrigerator. The result has a mild fruit taste, which varies with the cherries and steeping time.

Unlike a blended drink, the cherries are left in pieces and can be strained out before serving. No sweetener is needed for the basic recipe.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

Use approximately 1 cup of pitted cherries for every 1 litre of water. This ratio makes a lightly flavoured batch; cutting the fruit helps expose more of its flesh to the water.

Ingredients

150 g (about 1 US cup) fresh cherries, weighed after pitting
1 litre (about 4¼ US cups) cold drinking water

Time and yield

Active preparation: about 10 minutes
Refrigerated steep: 2–4 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes for the shortest steep
Yield: about 1 litre (4¼ US cups)

Choose cherries that are in good condition, and use a clean pitcher with a lid. Sweet or sour cherries both work; their flavour will affect the finished water.

How do you make cherry infused water?

Wash the cherries under running water and remove their stems.
Pit the cherries, then cut them in half. Discard the pits rather than crushing or chewing them.
Place the cherry halves in a clean pitcher and pour in the cold drinking water.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2–4 hours.
Serve the water chilled, straining out the cherries if you prefer. Keep any remaining water refrigerated.

You can leave the cherry pieces in the pitcher while serving, provided all the pits have been removed. For a clearer drink, pour it through a strainer before serving.

How long should cherry infused water steep?

Steep cherry infused water in the refrigerator for 2–4 hours for full flavour. Taste it after 2 hours and leave it longer within that range if you want a more noticeable cherry flavour.

The flavour depends on the fruit as well as the time: ripe cherries may give a different result from tart ones. Keep the pitcher chilled throughout the steep rather than leaving it on the counter.

How should you store cherry infused water?

Keep cherry infused water covered in the refrigerator at 4°C (40°F) or below. Drink it within 24 hours for the best flavour, and discard any remainder after 2–3 days.

Discard it sooner if it becomes slimy or sour-smelling, and do not rely on appearance or smell alone to decide whether it is safe. Refrigerate it promptly and discard it if it has been left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

What variations can you make?

Cherry and mint

Add 8–12 washed mint leaves to the pitcher before refrigerating. The mint adds a fresh flavour without changing the basic cherry-to-water ratio.

Cherry, lime and mint

For a citrus-and-herb combination, try cherry lime mint water.

Cherry and orange

Add a few thin orange slices for a citrus note. Remove the slices after about 4 hours, since citrus pith can make infused water bitter.

What are the benefits of cherry infused water?

Cherry infused water can make drinking water more appealing, helping you stay hydrated. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste; infused water does not cleanse the body.

Cherries contain nutrients, but the amount that transfers into steeped water is unknown and should not be assumed to equal the amount in the whole fruit. Eating the cherries adds their nutrients and calories. Read more about cherry infused water benefits.

Who should be careful with cherry infused water?

Avoid cherry infused water if you are allergic to cherries. If a drink causes trouble breathing or swelling of the lips or tongue, seek emergency medical help.

Remove every pit before serving, particularly to children, because pits are a choking hazard. People who find cherries upset their stomach may prefer a small amount or avoid the drink; see a clinician if symptoms are persistent or concerning. For more detail, see cherry infused water side effects.

What else should you know about cherry infused water?

Can you use frozen cherries?

Yes. Use pitted frozen cherries and follow any preparation instructions on the package. Add them to the water and steep the pitcher in the refrigerator.

Should you mash the cherries?

You do not have to: halving them is enough for this recipe. Mashing can add more pulp and natural fruit sugars to the water, so strain it if you prefer a clearer drink.