Spa Water at home feels a little extra-fancy, but it’s incredibly delicious and so easy to make. Infusing your water with fruits, veggies, and herbs makes staying hydrated much more tasty and fun!
We drink a LOT of water around here. And it’s much more enjoyable when we’re drinking Spa Water — you know, the infused waters you find at spas and hotel lobbies? My favorite combo of sliced cucumbers, lime, and fresh mint is super refreshing (kind of like a non-alcoholic Cucumber Mojito!); it’s the one you’ll find most often in our fridge. But there are endless flavor options…let me inspire you with a few beautiful, delicious possibilities!
Reasons to Make Spa Water at Home
Since our family has (mostly) cut out sodas and other sugary drinks, our spa water consumption has been on the rise. Here’s why we love to make it + drink it:
- Fun way to stay hydrated. A pretty pitcher of spa water serves as a great motivator for drinking more water throughout the day. If you have trouble drinking straight water, you’ll appreciate the added flavor from fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. And even if you do like plain water, I’m betting you’ll welcome the opportunity to change up your routine!
- Endlessly customizable. You can choose your own adventure with spa water! I share some of my favorite ingredient combinations below, but the possibilities are endless. Use what YOU like!
- Great way to use odds-and-ends. If you often end up with stray packages of rosemary or too many lemons rolling around in your fruit drawer, infused water is a fantastic way to put them to use.
My Personal Drink-More-Water Story
I learned a very important life lesson back in 2002, when I was 7 months pregnant with our first daughter. Blake and I had just returned from Las Vegas to attend the wedding of some close friends. With all the miles we had walked + the drying effect of flying, I ended up spending the next month on full bed rest. I was dehydrated, and the much-too-early contractions were coming hard. I was instructed to only get out of bed to use the bathroom and take a (short) shower, and to drink LOTS of water.
The inactivity and hydration did keep the contractions at bay (and Hatti was born right on time – thank you, God!). But I also realized other benefits. I had much less back pain and my prenatal migraines had dissipated completely.
These benefits continued on to my non-pregnant life as well, I’m so happy to share. I had suffered from back aches and head aches for many, many years. And the advice I received while on bedrest, to simply drink more water, helped me so much. It was life-changing!
What You’ll Need
Generally speaking, juicy and/or stronger-flavored fruits are best for infusing spa water. An apple, for example, isn’t going to add a whole lot of flavor, but citrus and berries are fantastic. Any herb will work too, but use ones that complement the flavors of fruit—dill or oregano might be tricky! Scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact ingredient amounts.
For All Flavors:
- Water – I recommend using cold, filtered water.
Flavor Combinations:
- Grapefruit + Orange + Lemon + Rosemary – Woodsy rosemary pairs so well with citrus, and we’ve got 3 different citrus fruits here!
- Cucumber + Lime + Mint – Cucumber and mint is the most common spa water flavor. I like to add some lime too, which adds a bit of acidity.
- Watermelon + Kiwi + Lime – Peel the kiwi first to keep the little bits of fuzz out of your water. This combination is summery and extremely kid-friendly.
- Blueberry + Lemon + Basil – Basil adds a fresh, herbaceous flavor and lemon is bright and citrusy — two big flavors to perk up the simple sweetness of blueberry.
- Strawberry + Raspberry + Thyme – Be sure to use ripe, juicy, sweetly-scented strawberries for this one — local, in-season berries are best! They pack in much more flavor than pale, firm grocery store berries.
- Pineapple + Blackberry + Jalapeño – Close your eyes and you can pretend this is a Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita — okay, maybe not. But it does pack some (non-alcoholic) punch!
How to Make Spa Water
You’re just 3 simple steps away from refreshing fruit-infused water. Scroll to the recipe card for printable instructions.
- Prep the fruits, veggies & herbs. Be sure to wash all ingredients well. Add the fruits, vegetables, and herbs to a large jar or pitcher. (You can use one of those fancy infuser pitchers, but you don’t need it — any pitcher or jar will work.)
- Infuse the water. Add water to fill the jar/pitcher and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight to infuse even more flavor.
- Serve. Pour into glasses – with or without the fruits, veggies, and herbs. Add a straw, if you like.
Tips for Success
I also have a few helpful hints when it comes to flavoring water:
- Don’t over-infuse the water. I prefer to drink my spa water within 48 hours of making it. When they sit too long, the water can become cloudy. And it sometimes turns bitter, especially when using citrus, as the water has more time to take on the flavor of the rind.
- Muddle the berries. I add fruits and veggies in either slices or chunks. But with blueberries and other small berries, I recommend adding them whole and then slightly crushing, or muddling, them to release their flavorful juices.
- Adjust the flavor. If you want a more intense flavor, I encourage you to also squeeze in the citrus and gently crush or muddle any fruits, veggies, and herbs.
- Garnish for that spa experience. To make your glass pretty, and to feel like you’re on a little vacation, always have some extra ingredients on hand for garnish. Actually, I think this is more of a necessity than a helpful hint! 🥰
How to Store
Refrigerate spa water in a sealed jar or pitcher. As mentioned above, the flavors can start to go south after sitting too long. If I can’t finish the water in a day or two, I usually remove the herbs and fruits with a slotted spoon – this will keep the water tasting fresh for another couple days or so.
More Spa Recipes
Supplement your spa water with some spa-like foods. These fresh, flavorful salads are the kinds of recipes you’d find at a spa – but they’re simple to make at home!
Spa Water
Ingredients
Grapefruit + Orange + Lemon + Rosemary
- ¼ grapefruit, sliced
- ½ naval orange, sliced
- ½ lemon, sliced
- 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 quart cold water
Cucumber + Lime + Mint
- ¼ English cucumber, sliced
- ½ lime, sliced
- 2-3 sprigs fresh mint
- 1 quart cold water
Watermelon + Kiwi + Lime
- 6 small watermelon wedges
- 2 small kiwis, peeled and sliced
- ½ lime, sliced
- 1 quart cold water
Blueberry + Lemon + Basil
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ lemon, sliced
- 1-2 sprigs fresh basil
- 1 quart cold water
Strawberry + Raspberry + Thyme
- 6 strawberries, sliced
- ½ cup raspberries
- 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 quart cold water
Pineapple + Blackberry + Jalapeno
- 6-8 large chunks peeled pineapple
- ½ cup blackberries
- ½ jalapeno, sliced with seeds removed
- 1 quart cold water
Instructions
- Pick a flavor combo and add it to a quart jar or pitcher. Place in refrigerator to infuse for at least 2 hours. Infuse overnight for more flavor.
Notes
This post was originally published in 2013, then updated in 2024.
Any of the new lunch bags/totes!
I love the new insulated picnic basket!!
I love Pampered Chef! I usually drink my water plain with ice. However, I drink so much water that I have to water down other things or they are too sweet, like Gatorade, even Orange Juice!
I like water simple with some added in mint. I’ve never tried pineapple, I’m not wondering why!
I love Pampered Chef, and I absolutely LOVE cooking outside. The BBQ Corn and Skewer Rack is on my list of stuff to try and love.
We spent our honeymoon in Vegas and definitely ate our way through the strip, too! Great water tips =)
The tea infuser looks great, but I love all things Pampered Chef!!
I really want the deep dish baker! I’ve had my eye on it for over a year now!
Boil over no more for sure! I Always have that problem!
Love Pampered Chef. My favorite long standing items are the bamboo spoons. Have had them for years and they still look just like new.
Definitely that tea infuser because I love flavored waters that aren’t sweetened.
I would love that tea infuser to make citrus waters.
I like it ice cold with a hint of lemon. Oh i would definitely love to try the the tea infuser.
I am mildly obsessed with flavored waters. They are practically all I drink! Love a dash of citrus or some fresh mint water especially. :)
Love Pampered Chef stuff, and would love to try the infuser.
The Grill It! Barbecue Pizza Set looks like fun!
Silicone prep bowls. I never have enough, or maybe I need to wash dishes more often. But either way I want more.
Oh my, I NEED this tea pitcher! I drink a lot of infused water too, but I hate fishing out all of my add-ins.
Love pampered chef products. The tea infuser, and the boil over no more are a couple I would love to try. Tendency to have things boil over.
Most definitely the tea infuser! So neat!