Lime Ginger Water: Recipe and How to Make It

Lime ginger water is a chilled infusion of fresh lime, ginger and water that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare and yields about 1 liter (4¼ cups). It adds ginger’s warm bite to lime water without requiring a sweetener.

What is lime ginger water?

Lime ginger water is made by steeping sliced lime and fresh ginger in cold water. The lime gives the water a bright citrus flavor, while the ginger adds a mild, warming spice.

Unlike a blended drink, the finished infusion contains mostly water: the lime and ginger are strained out rather than pureed. Serve it chilled as an alternative to plain water when you want a little more flavor. Because the ingredients steep gradually, the flavor is generally gentler than it would be if you squeezed in the lime or blended the ginger.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about 1 liter (4¼ cups), use:

Water: 1,000 ml (4¼ cups)
Lime: 1 lime, about 100 g (approximately ¾ cup thin slices)
Fresh ginger: 10 g (about 1½ tablespoons, or a scant ⅛ cup, thin slices; approximately a 1-inch piece)

This ratio makes a gently flavored infusion. Lime sizes vary, so the cup measurement is approximate; use roughly one lime rather than worrying about matching the weight exactly. Ginger slices also vary in size and thickness, so the cup and tablespoon amounts are guides rather than exact measurements.

Choose a clean pitcher with enough room for the water and sliced ingredients. A cover helps keep the infusion protected while it steeps in the refrigerator.

How do you make lime ginger water?

Allow about 10 minutes for preparation and at least 2 hours for refrigerated steeping.

Wash your hands and rinse the lime and ginger under running water.
Slice the lime and ginger thinly. Leave the lime peel on, or remove it if you prefer a less bitter flavor.
Add the slices to a clean pitcher, then pour in the water.
Refrigerate for 2 hours. Taste the water and steep for up to 4 hours if you want a stronger flavor.
Strain out the lime by 4 hours to limit bitterness from the peel and pith. Remove the ginger as well if the flavor is strong enough, then serve chilled.

A fine strainer will catch small pieces, but a larger strainer is sufficient for slices. If serving without straining the whole pitcher, remove the lime pieces first and pour the water into glasses.

For another combination using this method, try the AI infused water generator.

Why do lime and ginger work well together?

Lime’s tartness brightens ginger’s earthy, peppery flavor. Thin slices expose more surface area to the water, helping both ingredients lend flavor during the refrigerator steep. If you want the ginger to stand out, use less lime rather than extending the citrus steep beyond 4 hours.

The main benefit of lime ginger water is hydration. Its ingredients add flavor, which may make water more appealing, but benefits associated with ginger in other preparations cannot be assumed to apply to this infusion. For a simpler ginger flavor, see ginger water.

Steeped lime ginger water is low in calories, but squeezing in lime juice or eating the slices adds calories from the fruit. Your liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste; this drink supports hydration rather than providing a special detox.

How should you store lime ginger water?

Keep lime ginger water refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Remove the lime slices by 4 hours, especially if they have peel attached, because the pith can make the water bitter. Strain the ginger too if you do not want its flavor to become more pronounced.

Discard any remaining water after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling. Use a clean, covered pitcher and return it to the fridge after serving rather than leaving it on the counter. Do not leave the infusion at room temperature for more than a few hours.

What variations can you try?

Milder ginger

Use fewer ginger slices for a softer taste. You can also strain the ginger when the water reaches a flavor you like, while still removing the lime by 4 hours. Start with the smaller amount if you prefer a citrus-forward drink.

Less bitter lime

Remove the lime peel before slicing, or strain the lime at the 2-hour mark. The flavor will be lighter than an infusion steeped for the full 4 hours. Taste before serving to decide whether you prefer the shorter steep next time.

Mint and lime ginger water

Add 8–12 fresh mint leaves, about 5 g (approximately ¼ cup loosely packed), to the pitcher. Rinse the leaves first and strain them with the lime before serving. The mint adds a fresh herbal note without changing the basic water, lime and ginger ratio.