Cherry Lime Thyme Water: Recipe and Storage

Cherry lime thyme water is a fruit-and-herb-infused drink that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare and yields about 1 liter (4 1/4 cups). Find more combinations with the ai infused water generator.

What is cherry lime thyme water?

Cherry lime thyme water is chilled water steeped with pitted cherries, lime slices and fresh thyme. The cherries lend a fruity note, the lime adds tartness, and the thyme gives the drink an herbal finish.

It is an unsweetened option for anyone who finds plain water less appealing. For more fruit combinations, browse these berry infused water recipes.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For approximately 1 liter (4 1/4 cups), use:

Water: 1 liter (4 1/4 cups), cold
Cherries: about 150 g (1 cup), pitted and halved
Lime: 1 lime, about 100 g (roughly 1/2 cup sliced)
Fresh thyme: 2 sprigs, about 5 g (roughly 1/4 cup loosely packed sprigs)

This ratio gives the fruit and herbs room to infuse without making the drink overly concentrated. The cup measures for sliced produce are approximate; fruit size and how tightly it is packed will affect the measurement.

Use a pitcher or jar large enough to hold the water and produce comfortably. Fresh sweet or sour cherries both work; sour cherries will make the finished drink more tart.

How do you make cherry lime thyme water?

Active prep: 10 minutes
Refrigerated steep: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 1 liter (4 1/4 cups)

Rinse the cherries, lime and thyme under cool running water.
Remove the cherry stems and pits, then halve the cherries. Slice the lime into thin rounds.
Place the cherries, lime slices and thyme sprigs in a clean pitcher. Press the thyme gently to release its aroma without shredding it.
Pour in the cold water and stir gently. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Taste the water and serve it chilled. For a stronger infusion, refrigerate it for up to 4 hours total, then remove the fruit and thyme or strain the water.

Avoid squeezing the cherries or lime if you want a lightly flavored infusion. Pressing or squeezing the fruit makes the flavor stronger and adds more of its juice to the water.

Why do cherry, lime and thyme pair well?

Cherries bring a rounded fruit flavor that balances the sharpness of lime. Their contribution is subtler than it would be in juice: steeping pieces in water is different from blending or squeezing the fruit. For a simpler version of that flavor, see cherry infused water.

Lime adds a bright, tart edge that keeps the drink from tasting too heavy. The peel also contributes flavor, although leaving the slices in too long can make the water bitter. Learn more about lime water.

Thyme contributes an aromatic, slightly savory note. Using whole sprigs makes it easy to remove the herb once the flavor suits you; thyme water explores the herb on its own.

The main benefit of cherry lime thyme water is hydration, especially if its flavor helps you drink water regularly. There is no established evidence that this particular infusion has special detox effects: the liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste.

Steeped water is very low in calories, usually under 10 kcal per glass when the fruit is not squeezed or blended. Eating the fruit or squeezing its juice into the drink adds calories from the fruit.

How should you store cherry lime thyme water?

Keep the pitcher refrigerated and drink the water within 24 hours for the best flavor. Remove the lime slices or strain the infusion after no more than 4 hours to limit bitterness from the peel and pith.

Discard any remaining water 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. Use a clean pitcher and utensils whenever you make a fresh batch.

How can you vary cherry lime thyme water?

Make the lime milder

Use fewer lime slices for a softer citrus flavor, or remove the peel before steeping. The cherries will be more noticeable when the lime is less prominent.

Adjust the thyme

Start with fewer thyme sprigs if you prefer a fruit-forward drink. Alternatively, remove the sprigs as soon as the herbal flavor is strong enough for you.

Change the cherry flavor

Choose sweet cherries for a gentler fruit note or sour cherries for a sharper one. Halve either kind after removing the pits so the cut surfaces can infuse the water.