If you find it difficult or often reluctant to drink more water every day, try making lemon water. Just add lemon, lime, or both to the water to make a refreshing and delicious drink. Lemon and lime juice can also add a touch of elegance to a dinner party, as well as make a delicious drink that can be enjoyed throughout the day.
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time (brewing): 2-4 hours
- Total time: 2-4 hours, 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 lemons or 3 large limes
- 2 liters of water
For 2 liters of drink
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Lemon or Lime Water
Step 1. Cool the teapot or glass jug
Place a large glass jug in the freezer for a few hours or up to a day before you plan to make lemon or lime juice. With a cold jug, the freshness and cold temperature of the drink can last longer. If you want to serve water in a plastic jug, you don't need to cool the storage medium first.
- Once cooled, the jug will appear frozen, making it perfect for cooling off guests in hot weather.
- You can also place the glass in the freezer so guests can enjoy a refreshing drink.
Step 2. Wash and cut the fruit
Clean 2 lemons or 3 large limes. Remove the sticker from the fruit and place the fruit on a small cutting board. Use a small knife to cut the fruit into thin slices. You will also need to remove the ends and seeds of the fruit.
Step 3. Squeeze the lemon and put it in the jug
Carefully squeeze the lemon (and lime if using) to let the juices and essential oils out and collect in the cooled jug. Don't squeeze it too hard so the fruit doesn't lose its round shape. After that, put all the fruit slices into the jug.
Step 4. Fill the glass jug with water
If you want to use fresh water, add 2 liters of cold filtered water. If you want to use sparkling water, pour 1 liter of seltzer water. Use a long spoon to stir the fruit pieces with the water.
For sparkling water, add the remaining 1 liter of water before serving
Step 5. Cool the fruit water
Place a glass jug of fruit juice in the refrigerator. This process will bring out the lemon and lime flavors while making the drink colder and refreshing. Cool the water for 2-4 hours.
Keep in mind that fruit flavors become stronger the longer the water is cooled
Step 6. Remove the fruit pieces and serve the lemon juice
Take a lemon wedge and strain the drink using a gauze strainer if you see any seeds left behind. If you want to make sparkling lemon water, add the remaining 1 liter of seltzer water to a glass jug. Pour the lemon juice into the glass. Add a few slices of lemon or lime and ice before serving the drink.
- Store lemon juice for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
- You can add lemon wedges previously removed from a glass jug to fresh, fresh water, but this second mixture may not taste as strong as the first.
Method 2 of 2: Trying Drink Variations
Step 1. Add other fruits
Add a "cheerful" color and flavor to lemon juice by placing a handful of fresh berries in a glass jug. Wash the fruit thoroughly and remove any stalks. You can also chop up the fruit and add it to the jug. If you want, you can add:
- Strawberry
- Pineapple
- Fresh berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
- Orange
- Peach or plum
- Melon (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew)
Step 2. Add vegetables
You can make cucumber lemon juice by cutting a cucumber into thin strips and putting it in the juice. Cucumber slices will remain crunchy for several hours and can add freshness to the drink. For a touch of spiciness, slice the jalapeno peppers and add them to the lemon juice mixture.
Step 3. Add fresh herbs to the mixture
Make the lemon water even more appealing by adding a bit of fresh herbs before the water cools down. Take a handful of fresh herbs and rub them with your fingers. This process can remove the delicious oil from the herbs. Don't forget to wash the herbs before use.
- Try using mint, basil, lavender, thyme, or rosemary.
- You can also add hibiscus which can turn the water color pink.
Step 4. Sweeten the lemon juice
If you don't like the lemon flavor to be too strong, you can sweeten the mixture before drinking. Keep in mind that the addition of certain types of fruit (eg strawberries or pineapple) can naturally sweeten the lemon juice. Add a little honey to taste and mix.
