Cherry Lime Mint Water: Recipe and Storage

Cherry lime mint water is a refrigerated fruit-and-herb infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes total and makes about 1 litre (4¼ cups). For another combination, try the ai infused water generator.

What is cherry lime mint water?

Cherry lime mint water is plain water steeped with pitted cherries, sliced lime and fresh mint. The fruit gives the water a subtle tart-sweet taste, while the mint adds a fresh herbal note.

Unlike a blended drink, the fruit stays in pieces and can be strained out before serving. It is a variation of cherry infused water with lime for acidity and mint for aroma.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

This recipe uses approximately one cup of cherries, one lime and a small handful of mint per litre of water. The quantities are flexible: start here, then adjust the next batch to suit your taste.

Water: 1 litre (4¼ cups), cold
Cherries: 150 g (about 1 cup), pitted
Lime: 1 lime, about 70 g (approximately ½ cup sliced)
Fresh mint: 8–12 leaves, about 5 g (approximately ¼ cup loosely packed)

Use a pitcher or jar large enough to hold the water and fruit without overflowing. Fresh, ripe cherries give the water flavor without added sugar; both sweet and tart cherries work. Slice the lime thinly so more of its surface contacts the water.

How do you make cherry lime mint water?

Prep time: 10 minutes
Refrigeration time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 1 litre (4¼ cups)

Wash your hands, then rinse the cherries, lime and mint under running water.
Pit the cherries and cut them in half. Slice the lime into thin rounds.
Lightly press the mint leaves between your fingers to release their aroma, then add them to a clean pitcher with the cherries and lime.
Pour in the cold water, cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours. For a stronger infusion, leave it for up to 4 hours.
Strain out the fruit and mint, or remove at least the lime slices by 4 hours to limit bitterness from the peel and pith. Serve chilled.

The water will taste lighter than juice. If you prefer a stronger cherry flavor, gently press a few cherry halves against the side of the pitcher before adding the water. Squeezing or eating the fruit adds more of its calories than simply steeping it.

Why do cherry, lime and mint work together?

Cherries add a mild fruity sweetness, lime brings a tart edge, and mint makes the finish taste fresh. Chilling gives those flavors time to mingle without making the drink heavy or syrupy.

Cherry lime mint water is primarily a way to enjoy water. Staying hydrated supports normal body functions, including the work of the liver and kidneys; the infusion does not perform a special cleanse. Steeping fruit is also not nutritionally equivalent to eating it, because the water does not contain all of the fruit’s fiber and nutrients.

How should you store cherry lime mint water?

Keep the pitcher covered in the refrigerator and drink the water within 24 hours for the best flavor. Remove the lime by 4 hours, even if you plan to keep the remaining infusion longer, because the peel and pith can make it bitter.

Discard the water after 2 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling. Refrigerate it promptly rather than leaving it at room temperature for more than a few hours. Use a clean pitcher and serving glass to help keep the batch fresh.

How can you vary cherry lime mint water?

Use frozen cherries

Replace the fresh cherries with 150 g (about 1 cup) of unsweetened, pitted frozen cherries. Add them directly to the pitcher; they may make the water look slightly cloudier as they thaw.

Make the lime flavor gentler

Start with half the sliced lime and add more next time if you want a sharper taste. Remove the slices by 4 hours just as you would in the standard recipe.

Adjust the mint

Use fewer leaves for a softer herbal flavor, or add a few extra leaves for a more noticeable mint aroma. Press the leaves lightly rather than shredding them, so they are easier to strain out.