Cranberry Watermelon Mint Water Recipe

Cranberry watermelon mint water is a fruit-and-herb-infused drink that takes 2 hours 10 minutes, including chilling, and makes about 4 1/4 cups (1 L). For another combination, try the ai infused water generator.

What is cranberry watermelon mint water?

Cranberry watermelon mint water is cold water steeped with fresh cranberries, watermelon and mint. The cranberries add tartness, the watermelon gives it a mild fruity flavor, and the mint lends a cool aroma.

Unlike juice, this drink is steeped rather than blended or squeezed. It is one of many berry infused water recipes you can make without adding sugar.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For one pitcher, use about 1 cup of chopped fruit and 1/4 cup of loosely packed mint leaves for every 4 1/4 cups of water. This ratio gives the flavors room to develop without making the drink too tart.

Water: 4 1/4 cups (1 L)
Watermelon: 2/3 cup (about 100 g), diced, rind removed
Fresh cranberries: 1/2 cup (about 50 g), halved
Fresh mint leaves: 1/4 cup (about 5 g), loosely packed

Choose plain, unsweetened cranberries rather than sweetened dried cranberries. Seedless watermelon is convenient; if yours has seeds, remove them before adding the fruit to the pitcher.

How do you make cranberry watermelon mint water?

Wash the cranberries and mint under running water, and rinse the outside of the watermelon before cutting it.
Cut the watermelon into small cubes and halve the cranberries. Discard the watermelon rind and any seeds.
Bruise the mint leaves gently between your fingers to release their aroma without tearing them into tiny pieces.
Add the fruit and mint to a clean pitcher, pour in the water, and cover.
Refrigerate for 2–4 hours. Taste after 2 hours; leave it longer if you prefer a stronger infusion.
Strain through a clean sieve if you prefer a clear drink, or serve with the fruit and mint still in the pitcher.

The 2 hours 10 minutes total includes about 10 minutes of preparation and the minimum 2-hour steep. Serve chilled, with ice if you like. The flavor will be gentler than that of a blended fruit drink, so avoid squeezing the fruit if you want a light infusion.

Why do cranberry, watermelon and mint pair well?

Cranberries bring a sharp note that contrasts with watermelon’s mild sweetness. Mint adds a fresh finish without covering up the fruit, making the combination taste lively even though the water is not sweetened.

Halving the cranberries helps expose their cut surfaces to the water. If you enjoy their tart flavor, explore cranberry infused water; for a softer fruit flavor, try watermelon infused water. A mint water infusion puts the herb’s aroma first.

The main benefit of this drink is hydration. The fruit contains nutrients, but the amount that transfers into steeped water is not established; eating the fruit provides more of its fiber. Infused water is not a detox treatment: the liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification.

How should you store cranberry watermelon mint water?

Keep the pitcher covered and refrigerated during steeping and storage. Drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor, and discard it after 2–3 days or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

Do not leave the pitcher at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Use a clean glass or ladle when serving, and return the pitcher to the refrigerator afterward.

How can you vary cranberry watermelon mint water?

Make it less tart

Use fewer cranberries and a little more watermelon, keeping the total amount of fruit close to 1 cup. This gives the watermelon more influence without adding a sweetener.

Bring out more mint

Gently bruise the leaves before steeping, or add a few extra leaves. For a milder herb flavor, use fewer leaves or strain them out once the water tastes good to you.

Adjust the fruit flavor

Taste the water after the minimum steep. If you want a more pronounced flavor, return the covered pitcher to the refrigerator for the rest of the 2–4-hour steeping period.