Cherry Mint Water: Recipe & How to Make It

Cherry mint water is a chilled infusion of cherries and fresh mint that takes about 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare and yields about 1 liter, or 4 servings.

What is cherry mint water?

Cherry mint water is plain water flavored by steeping cut cherries and fresh mint leaves. The result is lightly fruity and refreshing rather than as sweet or concentrated as cherry juice.

It is a variation of cherry infused water with mint added for a cool herbal note. The fruit and leaves remain in the pitcher while the water chills, then can be strained out before serving.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For one pitcher, use about 1 cup of fruit and a small handful of mint for every 1 liter of water. You’ll need:

• Cherries: 150 g, about 1 cup, pitted and halved
• Fresh mint leaves: about 5 g, or 1/4 cup loosely packed, roughly 8–12 leaves
• Water: 1,000 mL, about 4 1/4 cups

Use sweet or tart cherries according to your preference. Ripe cherries give the water a fuller fruit flavor, while tart cherries make a sharper-tasting infusion. Either way, the finished drink will be much milder than the fruit itself.

Choose fresh mint with clean, unwilted leaves. The measurements are flexible: a little more mint makes the herbal flavor more noticeable, while fewer leaves let the cherry flavor stand out.

How do you make cherry mint water?

Allow about 10 minutes to prepare the ingredients, followed by at least 2 hours of refrigerated steeping.

1. Rinse the cherries and mint under running water.
2. Remove the cherry stems and pits, then cut the fruit in half.
3. Lightly bruise the mint leaves by pressing them between your fingers.
4. Add the cherries and mint to a clean pitcher, then pour in the water.
5. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours; steep for up to 4 hours for a fuller flavor.
6. Strain if desired, then pour into glasses and serve chilled.

To adjust the fruit and herb combination for another pitcher, try the ai infused water generator.

<script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Recipe","name":"Cherry Mint Water","description":"A chilled water infusion made with cherries and fresh mint.","prepTime":"PT10M","totalTime":"PT2H10M","recipeYield":"About 1 liter, or 4 servings","recipeCategory":"Beverage","recipeIngredient":["150 g (about 1 cup) cherries, pitted and halved","5 g (about 1/4 cup loosely packed) fresh mint leaves","1,000 mL (about 4 1/4 cups) water"],"recipeInstructions":[{"@type":"HowToStep","text":"Rinse the cherries and mint under running water."},{"@type":"HowToStep","text":"Remove the cherry stems and pits, then cut the fruit in half."},{"@type":"HowToStep","text":"Lightly bruise the mint leaves by pressing them between your fingers."},{"@type":"HowToStep","text":"Add the cherries and mint to a clean pitcher, then pour in the water."},{"@type":"HowToStep","text":"Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours, or up to 4 hours for a fuller flavor."},{"@type":"HowToStep","text":"Strain if desired, then pour into glasses and serve chilled."}]} </script>

Why do cherry and mint work well together?

Cherries contribute a gentle fruit flavor and a little color, while mint adds a fresh, cooling aroma. Halving the cherries exposes more of their flesh to the water; gently bruising the mint helps release its aroma without turning the leaves into small pieces that are difficult to strain.

Like mint water, this drink is primarily a way to make plain water more appealing. Drinking it can help you stay hydrated, but there is no established evidence that cherry mint water has a special detoxifying effect. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification.

Whole cherries contain nutrients, but the amount that transfers into steeped water is uncertain. Eating the fruit adds its nutrients and calories; don’t count the nutrition of the whole cherries as the nutrition of the strained drink.

How should you store cherry mint water?

Keep cherry mint water covered in the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. You can strain out the fruit and mint after the 2–4 hour steep if you prefer a lighter flavor or want a ready-to-pour pitcher.

Discard the drink 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 when making each batch.

What variations can you make?

Make the cherry flavor stronger

Halve or lightly press a few more cherries before adding them to the pitcher, and use the longer end of the 2–4 hour steep. Pressing the fruit may make the water cloudier and add more fruit juice than a simple steep.

Adjust the mint

Use fewer leaves for a subtle herbal note, or increase the mint slightly if you prefer it more prominent. Bruise the leaves gently rather than chopping them so they are easy to remove.

Add a little citrus

Add a few thin slices of lemon or lime for a sharper flavor. If the slices include pith, remove them or strain the pitcher after about 4 hours to limit bitterness.