Kiwi Passion Fruit Basil Water: Recipe and Tips

Kiwi passion fruit basil water is a chilled fruit-and-herb infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare and yields about 1 liter, or 4 servings. For another combination, try the ai infused water generator.

What is kiwi passion fruit basil water?

Kiwi passion fruit basil water is water steeped with sliced kiwi, passion fruit pulp and fresh basil. The fruit gives it a sweet-tart taste, while the basil adds a fresh herbal aroma.

Unlike a smoothie, the fruit is not blended into the water. It is one of many tropical fruit infused water recipes you can make in a pitcher and serve chilled.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about 1 liter, or 4 servings, gather:

Water: 1 liter (about 4¼ US cups)
Kiwi: 90 g peeled and sliced (about ½ cup)
Passion fruit: 60 g pulp and seeds (about ¼ cup)
Fresh basil: 5 g (about ¼ cup loosely packed, or 8–12 leaves)

This ratio uses about 150 g of fruit and 5 g of herbs per liter of water. Fruit sizes vary, so measuring the prepared fruit is more reliable than counting whole pieces. You can use a little more or less fruit to suit your taste without changing the method.

Use a clean pitcher with a lid and enough room for both the water and fruit. A fine-mesh strainer is useful if you prefer to serve the water without pulp or seeds.

How do you make kiwi passion fruit basil water?

Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Refrigerated steep: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 1 liter, or 4 servings

Wash the kiwi and passion fruit under running water before cutting them. Rinse the basil leaves as well.
Peel and slice the kiwi. Cut the passion fruit open and scoop out the pulp and seeds.
Place the kiwi, passion fruit pulp and basil in the pitcher. Gently press the basil leaves between your fingers to release their aroma without shredding them.
Pour in the water and stir gently. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours; steep for up to 4 hours if you prefer a stronger flavor.
Serve chilled, straining out the fruit and basil if you like. Stir before pouring if you want some passion fruit pulp in each glass.

The seeds are edible, but straining them makes a smoother drink. Avoid squeezing the fruit if you want a lighter infusion; pressing it releases more pulp and natural sugar into the water.

Why do kiwi, passion fruit and basil pair well?

Kiwi brings a mild sweetness and tang, while passion fruit contributes a more pronounced tart, tropical flavor. Basil rounds out both fruits with a fragrant herbal note. For simpler versions of those flavors, see kiwi water, passion fruit infused water and basil water.

The main benefit of kiwi passion fruit basil water is hydration. Whole kiwi and passion fruit contain vitamin C and fiber, but the amount that reaches the water depends on how much pulp you include; a strained glass is not nutritionally equivalent to eating the whole fruit. There is no need to add sugar for the infusion to develop flavor.

How should you store kiwi passion fruit basil water?

Keep the covered pitcher refrigerated, including while it steeps. Drink the infusion within 24 hours for the best flavor, and discard any remaining water after 2 days.

Discard it sooner if it becomes slimy or develops an unusual sour smell. Passion fruit pulp can make the water cloudy from the start, so cloudiness alone may be hard to judge; look for a change from its freshly prepared appearance. Avoid leaving the pitcher at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

How can you vary kiwi passion fruit basil water?

Make the basil lighter

Use fewer basil leaves if you want the fruit to stand out. You can also strain the leaves after the 2-hour steep and leave the fruit in the refrigerated pitcher until serving.

Adjust the fruit balance

Use more kiwi and less passion fruit for a milder, softer flavor, or reverse the balance for more tartness. Keep the combined prepared fruit close to 150 g, or roughly ¾ cup, per liter of water as a starting point.

Add a little sparkle

For a fizzy version, steep the fruit and basil in 710 ml of still water (about 3 cups). Add 240 ml of chilled sparkling water (about 1 cup) just before serving so it retains more bubbles.