Strawberry Apple Basil Water: Easy Recipe

Strawberry apple basil water is a fruit-and-herb-infused drink that takes 2 hours 10 minutes to prepare, including chilling, and yields about 4 cups (950 mL).

What is strawberry apple basil water?

Strawberry apple basil water is plain water steeped with sliced strawberries, apple and fresh basil. It has a light fruit flavor and a herbal aroma without added sweetener.

It’s one of many berry infused water recipes you can make in a pitcher. The flavor is subtler than juice because the fruit is steeped rather than blended or squeezed.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For approximately 4 cups (950 mL), use:

Water: 950 mL (4 cups)
Strawberries: approximately 75 g (1/2 cup), sliced
Apple: approximately 75 g (2/3 cup), thinly sliced
Fresh basil: approximately 5 g (1/4 cup loosely packed, or 8–12 leaves)

The fruit measures are approximate: slice size affects how much fits in a cup. Together, the strawberries and apple provide about 150 g of fruit for nearly 1 liter of water, while the basil adds aroma without overwhelming the fruit.

Choose ripe, firm strawberries and an apple you enjoy eating. A sweet apple makes the drink taste softer; a tart apple gives it a sharper edge. Use a clean, covered pitcher or large jar that can hold the water and fruit.

How do you make strawberry apple basil water?

Prep time: 10 minutes
Refrigerated steep: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield: About 4 cups (950 mL)

Rinse the strawberries, apple and basil under running water. Remove the strawberry tops and the apple core.
Slice the strawberries and apple thinly so their cut surfaces can flavor the water.
Add the fruit and basil to a clean pitcher. Gently press the basil leaves to release their aroma without tearing them into tiny pieces.
Pour in 950 mL (4 cups) of water, cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours. For a stronger flavor, steep for up to 4 hours.
Serve chilled, with or without the fruit and basil. Strain the pitcher after steeping if you prefer a clearer drink.

For another combination with ingredients you have on hand, try the ai infused water generator.

Taste the water after the first 2 hours. If the flavor is still too delicate for you, return the covered pitcher to the refrigerator for the rest of the steeping time. You can serve it over ice, though melting ice will gradually dilute the flavor.

Why do strawberry, apple and basil work together?

Strawberries contribute a familiar berry aroma, as they do in strawberry infused water. Apple adds a crisp, mild fruit note; see apple infused water for a simpler version centered on that flavor. Fresh basil gives the blend a fragrant herbal finish, similar to basil water.

The main benefit of strawberry apple basil water is hydration, especially if its flavor helps you enjoy drinking water. Plain water hydrates you too. Whole strawberries and apples contain fiber, but most of that fiber remains in the fruit rather than the water; the amount of other nutrients transferred during steeping is unknown.

No ingredient in the recipe has been shown to make the drink detoxify the body. The liver and kidneys do most of that work, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste.

How should you store strawberry apple basil water?

Keep strawberry apple basil water covered and refrigerated, including while it steeps. For best flavor, drink it within 24 hours of preparation. 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 2 hours. If serving it at a gathering, keep it chilled and return any remaining water to the refrigerator promptly. Straining makes serving easier, but it doesn’t extend the storage time.

What variations can you try?

Adjust the fruit balance

Use more strawberry and less apple for a berry-forward pitcher, or reverse the balance for a milder apple flavor. Keep the combined fruit quantity at approximately 150 g for 950 mL (4 cups) of water.

Change the basil intensity

Use fewer basil leaves for a subtle herbal note, or use the full 8–12 leaves for a more noticeable aroma. Remove the leaves after steeping if you like the first taste and don’t want the flavor to develop further.

Serve it with or without fruit

Leave a few slices in each glass for color, or strain them out for easier sipping. The drink stays unsweetened either way; eating the fruit adds the fruit’s nutrients and calories.