5 Refreshing Herbal Waters to try this summer

On a blazing day in the garden there are few things more revitalizing than sipping an ice cold herbal water. Crafting hydrating waters infused with freshly clipped herbs, flowers, juicy berries, and spritzes of citrus quenches thirst and invigorates the senses. Floral and herb infused water can also offer medicinal benefits. As the plants soak in water in direct sunlight, they begin to solarize and release their oils. The water takes on the strong flavors, aromatics, and the medicinal chemical compounds of the plants. When the ice melts and the water becomes the same temperature as the environment it’s loaded with flavor and plant medicine. After the herbs have been solar-infused I like to sip the water non-chilled to take in all the benefits of the herbs. On especially hot days I’ll add ice cubes back to the drink and sip on it as I continue my garden work.

One way to express the oils of the herbs right away is to place the sprigs in the palm of one hand, then strongly clap your hands together before placing the herbs in the water. You can also rub the leaves with your fingertips to rough up the plant tissues. After clipping a few sprigs, give them a rinse just to make sure they are clean and free of dirt or bugs.

There are innumerable ways to enjoy herbal infused waters, especially when paired with berries, flowers or citrus. Let each concoction be a creative experiment. You can craft combinations based on flavors, the herbs and edible flowers you have growing in your garden, or based on the medicinal benefits that you’d like to utilize of a specific herb. When I’m working in the garden, I’m always turning to the herbs growing close at hand because it’s easy and because it’s a wonderful way to enjoy the plant when I’m working near it. On my patio herb garden I grow a variety of common culinary herbs such as sage, rosemary, basil, mint, lemon balm, cilantro, lavender, and thyme. My Bonnie Herbs are thriving on my patio and it’s become a daily joy experimenting with different herb infused water combinations. Each of these herbs provide a plethora of incredible flavor combinations both in the kitchen and in my ice water. Here are five of my favorite refreshing herb infused water combinations to try this summer.

Lemon + Thyme

Ice, purified water, 1 squeeze of lemon, 4 sprigs of thyme. I especially enjoy adding the lemon thyme variety for an extra zingy flavor. Thyme boosts immunity, lowers blood pressure, boosts mood and reduces coughing.

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Strawberry + Sweet Basil

Sweet basil pairs well with all sorts of berries and melons. In early summer I combine it with strawberries, in late summer I incorporate blackberries or honeydew. Crush a few berries, express the leaves of one sprig of basil and add it to ice water for a delightful drink. Basil has compounds that can help to alleviate anxiety and depression, increase your ability to think clearly, and lower the risk for age-related memory loss.

Lavender + Lemon

A classic and elegant combination inspired by a french summer al fresco. This is my favorite combination to enjoy and golden hour or at dinner when I'm winding down for the day. Be sure to rub the lavender stalk and flowers to express those soothing oils. Lavender helps reduce anxiety, stress, and insomnia.

Lime + Mint

This is a delightful and enlivening combination that I drink in the morning and throughout the day. Stir ice water with a squeeze of lime and expressed mint leaves. Any variety of mint is lovely, such as peppermint, lemon mint or orange mint, but spearmint is my favorite. Mint helps settle the stomach and nausea, boosts immunity, reduces acne, improves oral health, manages stress and helps with asthma and allergies.

Lemon Balm + Blueberry

Both lemon balm and blueberry offer mild flavor in ice cold water, but after a few hours solarizing in the sun, the flavors really reveal themselves. Lemon balm is truly a wonder herb that offers a host of medicinal benefits like boosting cognitive function, reducing stress, inflammation and pain, and aiding restful sleep. Paired with ripe blueberries, it’s a wonderful drink to sip anytime.