Raspberry Plum Basil Water: Easy Infused Water Recipe

Raspberry plum basil water is a fruit-and-herb infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare and yields about 4 cups (950 ml).

What is raspberry plum basil water?

Raspberry plum basil water is chilled water flavored with fresh raspberries, sliced plum, and basil leaves. The fruit gives it a gently tart, sweet taste, while the basil adds a fresh herbal aroma.

It is one of many berry infused water recipes you can make without blending or adding sweetener. The flavor is subtler than juice and develops as the ingredients steep in the refrigerator.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about 4 cups (950 ml), use:

Raspberries: 1/2 cup (60 g)
Plum: 1/2 cup (75 g) sliced, about 1 small plum
Fresh basil: 1/4 cup (5 g) loosely packed, about 8–12 leaves
Cold drinking water: 4 cups (950 ml)

The combined fruit amounts to about 1 cup per pitcher. Use a ripe but firm plum that slices easily, and choose fresh basil leaves without slimy or damaged spots. The exact number of plum slices and basil leaves will vary with their size.

You will also need a clean pitcher or large jar, a knife and cutting board, and a strainer if you prefer to serve the water without the fruit. A lid helps protect the infusion from picking up other flavors in the refrigerator.

How do you make raspberry plum basil water?

Active prep: 10 minutes
Refrigerator steep: 2 hours
Yield: About 4 cups (950 ml), or 4 servings of roughly 1 cup (240 ml)

Rinse the raspberries, plum, and basil gently under running water. Drain them well.
Slice the plum and discard its pit. Measure about 1/2 cup (75 g) of slices.
Add the raspberries, plum slices, and basil to a clean pitcher. Lightly press the basil leaves between your fingers before adding them to release their aroma.
Pour in 4 cups (950 ml) of cold drinking water and stir gently. Avoid crushing the raspberries if you want a clearer infusion.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours. Taste the water; for a stronger flavor, continue steeping in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours.
Strain if desired, then pour into glasses and serve chilled.

To create another combination using the same method, try the ai infused water generator.

Why do raspberry, plum, and basil pair well?

Raspberries contribute a bright, tart berry flavor. Their delicate texture also means they can break apart easily, so stirring gently helps keep the finished drink clear. For a simpler berry flavor, see raspberry infused water.

Plum adds a softer, rounded fruit flavor that balances the raspberry's tartness. Slicing it exposes more of the flesh to the water; plum infused water uses the same idea with fewer ingredients.

Basil brings a fragrant, slightly sweet herbal note. Lightly pressing the leaves is enough to release their aroma without shredding them. Learn more about the herb in basil water.

The main benefit of raspberry plum basil water is hydration. Whole raspberries and plums contain nutrients and fiber, but the amount that transfers into steeped water is uncertain; most of the fiber remains in the fruit. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste.

How should you store raspberry plum basil water?

Keep raspberry plum basil water covered and refrigerated, 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.

Refrigerate the pitcher promptly rather than leaving it at room temperature for more than a few hours. If you strain out the fruit, keep the strained water refrigerated too; straining does not reset its storage time.

How can you vary raspberry plum basil water?

Make it more berry-forward

Use a little more raspberry and a little less plum, keeping the total fruit close to 1 cup (about 135 g). This gives the infusion a brighter, more tart flavor without changing the basic method.

Emphasize the plum

Use more plum and fewer raspberries, again keeping the total fruit close to 1 cup (about 135 g). Cut the plum into thin slices so its flavor can infuse while the water chills.

Adjust the basil

For a milder herbal taste, start with fewer leaves. For a more noticeable basil aroma, use up to 12 leaves and lightly press them before adding them to the pitcher.