Plum Lime Ginger Water: Recipe and How to Make It

Plum lime ginger water is a chilled fruit-and-ginger infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes total and yields about 1 liter (4 servings).

What is plum lime ginger water?

Plum lime ginger water is plain water flavored with sliced plum, lime and fresh ginger. The ingredients steep in the refrigerator, giving the water a gently fruity, tart and spicy taste without blending the fruit.

It is one of many stone fruit infused water recipes you can make with ripe seasonal fruit. Drink it as an alternative to plain water when you want a little flavor without adding a sweetener.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For a pitcher that makes approximately four 250 ml servings, use:

Ingredient	Metric amount	US amount
Cold drinking water	1 liter	About 4¼ cups
Ripe plum, pitted and sliced	About 150 g	About 1 cup
Lime, thinly sliced	About 100 g	About ¾ cup, or 1 lime
Fresh ginger, thinly sliced	About 10 g	About 2 tablespoons, or a 1-inch piece

Use a pitcher that holds at least 1.5 liters, or about 6¼ cups, so there is room for the fruit and water. Choose a ripe plum that yields slightly to gentle pressure; a very firm plum will give the water a subtler flavor. You can leave the plum and lime skins on after washing them.

Prep time: 10 minutes. Refrigerated steep: 2 hours. Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes. Yield: About 1 liter, or 4 servings.

How do you make plum lime ginger water?

Wash the plum, lime and ginger under running water, rubbing their surfaces to remove visible dirt.
Slice the plum and remove its pit. Thinly slice the lime and ginger; peel the ginger first if you prefer.
Add the plum, lime and ginger to the pitcher, then pour in the cold water. Stir gently and cover.
Refrigerate for 2 hours. For a stronger infusion, steep for up to 4 hours, but strain out the ingredients by then to limit bitterness from the lime pith.
Strain into a clean container or pour through a strainer into glasses. Serve chilled, with ice if you like.

For another combination, try the ai infused water generator. If the first pitcher tastes too subtle, adjust the amount of fruit or ginger in your next batch rather than leaving the lime in indefinitely.

Why do plum, lime and ginger pair well?

Plum gives the water a soft fruit flavor, while lime adds tartness and ginger brings a warming, peppery note. Slicing each ingredient exposes more surface area to the water; the result is lighter than juice and will vary with the ripeness of the plum.

Each ingredient can also stand on its own: plum infused water is fruit-forward, lime water is more tart, and ginger water emphasizes ginger’s spice.

The main benefit of this drink is hydration. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste; this infusion does not cleanse the body. Steeped water without squeezed or eaten fruit is usually under 10 kcal per glass, but its exact calorie and nutrient content depends on what transfers into the water.

How should you store it?

Keep plum lime ginger water refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Strain out the ingredients after no more than 4 hours, since lime pith can make the infusion bitter.

Discard refrigerated leftovers after 2–3 days, or sooner if the water becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling. Do not leave the pitcher at room temperature for more than a few hours. Use a clean container and avoid returning water from a used glass to the pitcher.

If acidic drinks aggravate reflux or irritate your mouth, use less lime or choose plain water instead. Avoid any ingredient to which you are allergic.

How can you vary plum lime ginger water?

Make it fruitier

Use a little more sliced plum and slightly less lime for a softer, fruit-forward pitcher. Ripe plums contribute more flavor than very firm ones, but they may also soften and cloud the water.

Adjust the ginger

Use fewer ginger slices for a milder drink, or add a few more for a sharper finish. Keep the slices large enough to strain out easily before storing the water.

Serve it over ice

Pour the finished infusion over ice for a colder drink. The melting ice will gradually dilute the flavor, so taste it before adding more water.