Pineapple Cantaloupe Ginger Water: Easy Recipe

Pineapple cantaloupe ginger water is a chilled fruit-and-ginger infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes, including steeping, and yields about 1 liter (4¼ US cups). For another combination, try the AI infused water generator.

What is pineapple cantaloupe ginger water?

Pineapple cantaloupe ginger water is plain water steeped with pineapple, cantaloupe and fresh ginger. The fruit stays in pieces rather than being blended, so the finished drink is lightly flavored and less pulpy than a smoothie.

This combination is one of many tropical fruit infused water recipes. Serve it cold on its own or over ice, without adding sugar.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about 1 liter (4¼ US cups), use:

Water: 1,000 ml (4¼ US cups)
Pineapple: about 75 g (½ cup), peeled and cut into small chunks
Cantaloupe: about 75 g (½ cup), peeled, seeded and cut into small chunks
Fresh ginger: about 10 g (1 tablespoon or 1/16 US cup, thinly sliced), roughly a 1-inch piece

The fruit totals about 150 g (1 cup) per liter of water. Equal amounts of pineapple and cantaloupe give the drink a balance of tangy and mellow flavors; the ginger adds a gentle warmth.

Use ripe, firm fruit for the best flavor. The measurements are flexible: fruit pieces vary in size, so weigh them if you want a more consistent batch. A clean, covered pitcher large enough to hold the water and fruit will make straining easier.

How do you make pineapple cantaloupe ginger water?

Prep time: 10 minutes
Refrigerated steeping time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 1 liter (4¼ US cups), depending on how much water remains after straining

Wash the outside of the pineapple and cantaloupe under running water before cutting; scrub the cantaloupe rind with a clean produce brush. Rinse the ginger.
Cut the peeled pineapple and peeled, seeded cantaloupe into small chunks. Thinly slice the ginger, peeling it first if you prefer.
Add the fruit and ginger to a clean pitcher, then pour in the water.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours. For a stronger flavor, steep for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
Strain out the fruit and ginger when the flavor suits you, using a clean strainer.
Serve the water chilled, or pour it over ice.

Keep the pitcher refrigerated while the ingredients steep. Small pieces expose more fruit surface to the water, but there is no need to mash or squeeze them.

Why do pineapple, cantaloupe and ginger pair well?

Pineapple provides a tart, tropical note, while cantaloupe softens it with a mild melon flavor. Fresh ginger adds a peppery finish that keeps the combination from tasting overly sweet. For a simpler fruit-forward infusion, see pineapple infused water or cantaloupe infused water.

The main benefit of the finished drink is hydration. Pineapple and cantaloupe contain nutrients when eaten, but the amount that transfers into steeped water is uncertain. For a closer look at the spicy ingredient on its own, see ginger water.

There is no need to treat this infusion as a detox treatment. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification; the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste, while sweat removes only trace amounts.

How should you store pineapple cantaloupe ginger water?

Keep the infusion covered and refrigerated, and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Discard any remainder after 2 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

Use clean utensils when handling the cut fruit and return the pitcher to the refrigerator promptly after serving. Straining after steeping helps keep the flavor consistent, but it does not extend the storage time.

How can you vary pineapple cantaloupe ginger water?

Make it fruitier

Use a little more pineapple and a little less cantaloupe, keeping the combined fruit amount close to 150 g (1 cup) per liter of water. This makes the pineapple flavor more noticeable without changing the basic recipe.

Make it milder

Use fewer ginger slices or strain the pitcher after the initial 2-hour steep. Taste it cold before deciding whether to add more ginger to your next batch.

Make a larger pitcher

Double each ingredient, including the water, and use a pitcher with enough room for the fruit. Keep the same refrigerated steeping and storage times; a larger batch does not keep longer.