Cherry Orange Thyme Water: Easy Infused Water Recipe

Cherry orange thyme water is a fruit-and-herb infused water that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare, including chilling, and yields about 4 cups.

What is cherry orange thyme water?

Cherry orange thyme water combines pitted cherries, orange slices and fresh thyme in cold water. The fruit lends a gentle sweetness and citrus aroma, while thyme adds a subtle herbal note.

It is one way to make plain water more appealing without adding sweetener. For more combinations, see these berry infused water recipes.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

Use roughly 1 cup of cherries, 1 orange and 2 thyme sprigs for each litre of water. The amounts are flexible: use a little less thyme if you prefer the fruit flavors to stand out.

Water: 1,000 ml (about 4¼ cups)
Cherries: 150 g (about 1 cup), pitted and halved
Orange: 100 g (about ¾ cup sliced, or 1 small orange)
Fresh thyme: 2 sprigs, about 5 g (roughly 1 tablespoon or 1/16 cup loosely packed, including stems)

You will also need a covered pitcher or jar, a knife and a strainer. The yield is approximate because some water clings to the fruit when it is strained.

How do you make cherry orange thyme water?

Active prep: 10 minutes
Chill time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 4 cups, or 4 servings of roughly 1 cup each

Rinse the cherries, orange and thyme under running water.
Pit the cherries and cut them in half. Check carefully for any remaining pits or fragments.
Slice the orange into thin rounds or half-rounds. Leave the peel on for convenience, or remove it to reduce the chance of bitterness.
Add the cherries, orange and thyme to a clean pitcher, then pour in the water.
Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. For a stronger infusion, refrigerate for up to 4 hours before straining.
Strain out the fruit and thyme, then serve chilled. Remove the orange by 4 hours, especially if the peel and white pith are still attached.

To build another combination from ingredients you have, try the AI infused water generator.

Why do cherry, orange and thyme work together?

Cherries give the water a mellow fruit flavor; halving them exposes more of their flesh to the water. The result is lighter than juice, with a flavor related to simple cherry infused water.

Orange adds a brighter citrus note that balances the cherries. As with orange infused water, the peel can contribute aroma but may make a long infusion taste bitter.

Thyme brings a savory, fragrant edge without overwhelming the fruit. If you are curious about its flavor on its own, see thyme water.

The main benefit of this drink is hydration. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification; cherry orange thyme water does not provide a special cleanse. Steeped water is generally very low in calories, usually under 10 kcal per glass, but squeezing or eating the fruit adds its calories. Whole-fruit nutrient values do not tell you how much transfers into the water.

How should you store cherry orange thyme water?

Keep cherry orange thyme water covered and refrigerated. For the best flavor, drink it within 24 hours. Straining after 2–4 hours helps prevent the orange from becoming bitter while the drink is stored.

Discard the 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 2 hours. Use a clean glass each time rather than drinking directly from the storage pitcher.

How can you vary cherry orange thyme water?

Make the cherry flavor stronger

Gently press a few pitted cherry halves with the back of a spoon before adding the water. This makes the drink fruitier and cloudier than a simple steep and may add more of the fruit’s calories.

Make the citrus flavor gentler

Remove the orange peel and white pith before slicing, or use fewer slices. Taste the infusion after 2 hours and strain it once the citrus flavor is where you like it.

Adjust the thyme

Start with 1 sprig for a lighter herbal taste. For a more noticeable thyme flavor, use the full 2 sprigs and steep for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.