Pear Lemon Rosemary Water: Recipe and How to Make It

Pear lemon rosemary water is a chilled infusion of pear, lemon and fresh rosemary that takes 2 hours 10 minutes in total and yields about 4 cups (950 ml). For another combination, try the ai infused water generator.

What is pear lemon rosemary water?

Pear lemon rosemary water is plain water infused with sliced fruit and a fresh herb. The pear gives it a mild, fruity flavor, while lemon adds brightness and rosemary contributes an aromatic, woodsy note.

The ingredients are steeped rather than blended, so the finished drink is lighter in flavor and texture than juice. For more combinations featuring the same fruit, see these apple and pear infused water recipes.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

This recipe starts with approximately 1 cup of sliced pear and half a lemon for 4 cups of water. One rosemary sprig adds fragrance without overwhelming the fruit. Use a ripe, firm pear that is easy to slice and fresh rosemary with green, fragrant leaves.

Water: 950 ml (4 US cups)
Pear: about 150 g (1 cup thinly sliced), cored
Lemon: about 50 g (1/4 cup thinly sliced), approximately half a lemon
Fresh rosemary: about 2.5 g (1 sprig, or approximately 1/16 cup—1 tablespoon—loosely packed leaves)

You will also need a clean pitcher with a lid and a strainer. The yield is approximate because some water may remain on the fruit when you strain it.

How do you make pear lemon rosemary water?

Prep time: 10 minutes. Chilling time: 2 hours. Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes. Yield: about 4 cups (950 ml).

Wash the pear, lemon and rosemary under running water. Rub the fruit gently to remove surface dirt.
Core the pear and cut it into thin slices. Slice the lemon thinly, leaving the peel on if you like.
Place the pear, lemon and rosemary in a clean pitcher. Gently press the rosemary sprig between your fingers first to release its aroma.
Pour in the water, stir gently and cover the pitcher.
Refrigerate for 2 hours, then taste. For a stronger infusion, continue steeping in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours.
Strain out the fruit and rosemary before serving or storing. Remove the lemon by 4 hours to help prevent bitterness from the peel and pith.

Serve the water cold. If you prefer a subtler rosemary flavor, remove the sprig at the first taste and leave the fruit in for the rest of the steeping time.

Why do pear, lemon and rosemary pair well?

Pear has a gentle sweetness that rounds out lemon's tart flavor. Thin slices expose more of the fruit to the water, though the result will still be delicate compared with pear infused water made with more pear.

Lemon gives the blend a crisp finish, much as it does in lemon water. Rosemary adds a savory contrast; use a light hand if you prefer the fruit to be the dominant flavor, since rosemary water can taste distinctly herbal.

The main benefit of this drink is hydration, especially if its flavor makes plain water more appealing. Whole pears contain fiber, but that does not mean the strained water provides the same fiber or nutrients as eating the fruit. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste; this infusion does not need to cleanse them.

How should you store pear lemon rosemary water?

Keep pear lemon rosemary water covered in the refrigerator throughout steeping and storage. Strain it by 4 hours, particularly if the lemon peel is still attached, and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor.

Discard it after 2 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling. Don't leave the pitcher at room temperature for more than a few hours. If serving it at a gathering, keep it chilled rather than relying on the fruit or lemon to preserve it.

How can you vary pear lemon rosemary water?

Make the lemon flavor gentler

Remove the lemon peel before adding the slices, or use fewer slices. The drink will still have some citrus brightness, with less peel flavor. Taste after the initial chill before deciding whether to add more lemon next time.

Adjust the rosemary

Use part of the sprig for a softer herbal note, or remove the sprig after the first 2 hours while leaving the fruit to steep longer. Keep the remaining rosemary refrigerated for another recipe.

Change the pear texture

Slice the pear a little thicker for a more restrained infusion, or cut it thinly for more exposed surface. Choose a firm, ripe pear so the slices hold together and are easy to strain.