8 natural ways to make water more flavorful
Posted
Jul 02 2008, 08:15 AM
by
Karen Datko
This post comes from Xin Lu at partner blog Wise Bread.
In a previous article about gasoline prices I noted that many packaged drinks are quite expensive and that the cheapest drink out there is water. The main reason people don't drink water is that it is tasteless and not very "fun" to drink.
On the other hand, water is definitely better for you than sodas, so now there is a entire category of packaged drinks like VitaminWater that are basically bottled water with coloring, vitamins and flavor.
Instead of buying those drinks, you can add many things to water at home to make it more exciting to drink.
Salt. I am sure you have heard the term "electrolytes" in the marketing for energy drinks. Actually electrolytes are just ions that can be found in common table salt. Adding a little bit of salt to water helps your body absorb the liquid more quickly. As long as you don't go overboard with the salt, the water should be very quenching, and it would be great for workouts since the body loses salt through sweat.
Ginger. If you like spices, ginger is a great way to add a zing to your water. If it is added to boiling water, it is also a great way to clear your throat and sinuses during a cold.
Citrus. My husband's family members often freeze a small citrus fruit called kalamansi in ice cube trays and then put the ice cubes in water for flavor. The same can be done with other citrus fruits, and the water produced will be infused with vitamin C.
Herbs. Mint, lemongrass and parsley are great for adding aroma and a hint of green to your water. If you want to release the flavor, you can crush the plants a little bit before putting them into your water.
Cucumber. I saw this at a spa I went to in Hawaii. A water dispenser was half filled with cucumber slices, and the water dispensed tasted very refreshing and smelled a bit like cucumber.
Wine. A favorite of mine to add to water is plum wine or umeshu. It is a very sweet Japanese liqueur made from green plums, so I drink it with a lot of water. The distinct sweet flavor still comes through when there is one part umeshu to 10 parts water. I am sure the same can be done with other syrupy liqueurs.
Berries. Blueberries and strawberries have distinct flavors that could be soaked up by water. All you have to do is cut or crush a few of the berries into your water.
Vinegar. Adding vinegar to water is similar to adding citrus. You will get sour water that has vitamin C. When I was a kid, I liked adding apple vinegar to water before drinking it. I do not recommend mixing in balsamic vinegar because it has oil, but any clear vinegar is good for flavoring your water.
Of course any of these things could also be added to soda water if you want to make your own lightly flavored soda. The possibilities are really endless because you can mix and match the ingredients any way you want. What do you think? Do you prefer flavored waters over plain tap? What do you do to make your water more palatable?
Other articles of interest at Wise Bread:
Why buy one get one free is usually a bad deal
Should you choose a Roth 401(k) or a regular 401(k)?
Strategic thrift store shopping
