Watermelon Plum Ginger Water: Easy Infused Water Recipe

Watermelon plum ginger water is a chilled fruit-and-ginger infusion that takes 2 hours 10 minutes in total and makes about 1 liter (4¼ US cups).

What is watermelon plum ginger water?

Watermelon plum ginger water is drinking water infused with fresh watermelon, plum and sliced ginger. The fruit gives the water a mild sweetness and tartness, while the ginger adds a gentle warming note.

The ingredients steep in the refrigerator rather than being blended, so the finished drink is lighter than juice. It’s one of many melon infused water recipes you can make in a pitcher without a juicer.

What ingredients and ratio do you need?

For about four servings, use:

Water: 1 liter (4¼ US cups)
Watermelon: 80 g (about ½ cup), diced, rind removed
Plum: 70 g (about ½ cup), sliced, pit removed
Fresh ginger: 10 g (about 2 tablespoons), thinly sliced

The watermelon and plum together make about 1 cup of chopped fruit per liter of water. Measurements for the fruit and ginger are approximate because the size of the pieces affects how much fits in a cup.

Choose ripe fruit for the most flavor. A firm plum is easier to slice, and thin ginger slices expose more of the root to the water than a single large piece.

How do you make watermelon plum ginger water?

Active prep: 10 minutes
Refrigerator steep: 2 hours
Yield: About 1 liter (4¼ US cups), or four servings

Wash your hands, pitcher and cutting tools. Rinse the watermelon, plum and ginger under running water; scrub the watermelon rind and ginger before cutting.
Cut the watermelon into small cubes. Slice the plum and discard its pit, then thinly slice the ginger.
Add the watermelon, plum and ginger to the pitcher. Pour in the water and cover the pitcher.
Refrigerate for 2 hours. For a stronger flavor, steep for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
Strain the water if you prefer, or serve it with the fruit and ginger still in the pitcher. Pour into glasses and keep any remaining water refrigerated.

To explore another combination after making this recipe, try the AI infused water generator.

Why do watermelon, plum and ginger pair well?

Watermelon provides a soft, sweet base that keeps the other flavors from becoming too sharp. Its mildness also makes it useful in simpler watermelon infused water.

Plum adds a brighter, slightly tart fruit flavor and may give the water a subtle color, depending on the variety. For a plum-forward drink, see plum infused water.

Ginger adds a contrasting spicy note. Thin slices give you a gentler infusion than crushed or blended ginger; for a simpler preparation, see ginger water.

The main benefit of this drink is hydration. There is no direct evidence that watermelon plum ginger water provides a special detox effect: the liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste.

The whole fruit contains nutrients and fiber, but the amount that passes into the water during steeping is not known. Eating the fruit is different from drinking only the strained infusion, so don’t count the fruit’s full nutrition as belonging to the water.

How should you store it?

Keep watermelon plum ginger water covered in the refrigerator, including while it steeps. Drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor, and discard it no later than 2 days after preparation. Discard it sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

Don’t leave the pitcher at room temperature for more than a few hours. If you prefer a milder ginger flavor, strain out the slices after steeping and refrigerate the strained drink in a clean, covered container.

How can you vary the recipe?

For a fruitier pitcher, use a little more watermelon and a little less plum while keeping the combined fruit close to 1 cup per liter of water. Reverse the balance for a tarter drink. Keep the ginger in thin slices so its flavor can infuse evenly.

For less ginger warmth, remove the ginger after the initial 2-hour steep. For a stronger infusion, leave it in for up to 4 hours. You can also add a splash of sparkling water to each glass just before serving for a fizzy finish.