Cranberry Orange Lavender Water Recipe

Cranberry orange lavender water is a chilled fruit-and-flower infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare and yields about 4 cups. For another combination, try the ai infused water generator.

What is cranberry orange lavender water?

Cranberry orange lavender water is plain water steeped with cranberries, orange slices and a small amount of culinary lavender. It has a tart citrus flavor and a light floral aroma, without added sugar in the base recipe.

Unlike a blended drink, the fruit is strained out after steeping. For more combinations featuring berries, see these berry infused water recipes.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

This recipe uses approximately 1 cup of cranberries and one small orange for 4 cups of water. A little dried lavender goes a long way, so start with the small amount listed below.

Ingredients

950 mL water (4 cups)
100 g fresh cranberries (about 1 cup)
100 g orange slices (about 2/3 cup, or approximately 1 small orange)
0.2 g dried culinary lavender (about 1/4 teaspoon, or 1/192 cup)

Use lavender labeled for culinary use, not lavender essential oil or flowers intended for fragrance or decoration. A small tea filter or reusable infuser makes the lavender easier to remove, but you can also strain it through a fine-mesh sieve.

Choose a pitcher that has enough room for the water and fruit. If you prefer less bitterness, peel the orange before slicing it; otherwise, wash the outside well and leave the peel on.

How do you make cranberry orange lavender water?

Active preparation: about 10 minutes
Refrigerated steep: 2 hours
Yield: about 4 cups

Rinse the cranberries and orange under running water. Cut the cranberries in half and slice the orange, peeling it first if you prefer.
Place the fruit in a clean pitcher. Put the culinary lavender in a tea filter or infuser, or add it directly to the pitcher.
Pour in the water and stir gently. Avoid squeezing the orange if you want a lightly flavored infusion.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Strain out the fruit and lavender, then serve the water chilled. Removing the orange helps keep its peel and pith from making the water bitter.

The color and intensity can vary with the fruit. For a stronger floral note, gently stir the pitcher during the steep rather than adding a large amount of lavender.

Why do cranberry, orange and lavender work together?

Cranberry brings a tart edge, while orange adds a brighter citrus flavor. Lavender gives the drink a floral finish; keeping its quantity modest lets the fruit remain noticeable.

The ingredients offer different directions for adjusting the flavor. Use more cranberry for tartness, or more orange for a more pronounced citrus taste. Explore the individual flavors in cranberry infused water, orange infused water and lavender water.

The main benefit of this drink is hydration: its flavor may make plain water more appealing. The fruit contains nutrients, but the amount transferred into the water during steeping is not known, so it should not be counted as a serving of fruit. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification; infused water does not cleanse the body.

How should you store cranberry orange lavender water?

Keep the strained water refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. If keeping it longer, discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or smells sour.

Do not leave the pitcher at room temperature for more than a few hours. Straining after the 2-hour steep also prevents the lavender from continuing to intensify and the citrus from becoming bitter.

What variations can you make?

Use frozen cranberries

Plain frozen cranberries can stand in for fresh ones in the same amount. Thaw them in the refrigerator before cutting them, then follow the same refrigerated steeping method.

Make the lavender lighter

Use less culinary lavender if you want the orange and cranberry to lead. You can also remove the lavender filter when the aroma suits you, while leaving the fruit to steep for the full 2 hours.

Add some sparkle

For a fizzy version, steep the fruit and lavender in 710 mL still water (3 cups). After straining, add 240 mL chilled sparkling water (1 cup) just before serving.