Five on Friday: 5 Ways to Make Your Own Flavored Water

As we enter the dog days of summer, it’s important to stay hydrated, especially with the recent spate of record-breaking high temperatures. But let’s face it–while drinking water is the easiest and most efficient way to stay hydrated, it’s also the most boring.

Short of drinking your water from a cool reusable bottle or cleverly-designed mug, there isn’t too much that can be done to liven-up the experience. But with a little digging, we’ve unearthed five ways to get wild and crazy with your water by flavoring it. (Ok, maybe it’s not wild and crazy, but it beats the dull, flavorless stuff that comes out of the tap!) Not only can you use flavorings you probably have on-hand, but you can pat yourself on the back for not spending extra money on specialty water.

1. Add Pickle Juice. It sounds crazy, but it works! When you sweat, you not only lose water, but you lose precious electrolytes. A little bit of salt in your water via pickle juice can help restore the electrolyte balance. Don’t add too much–a little goes a long way!
2. Add Fresh Herbs. A sprig of mint, basil, sage, or rosemary can give just enough kick to your water to make it interesting. Paired with fruit (like blackberry-sage water), you have a healthy alternative.
3. Make “Sassy Water”. If you’re on Pinterest, you’ve probably seen the “Sassy Water” pin floating around. This recipe supposedly helps boost your metabolism and aid in weight loss. Whether it does or not, we can’t say. But we do agree it’s a tasty recipe.
4. Add homemade “Simple Syrup”. Simple Syrup is exactly that–syrup simply made. There are several ways you can make a simple syrup, but the basic chemistry for use as a base in cold beverages is one part water to one part sugar. (You can find a basic recipe here.)  Add the simple syrup to your water for a natural, sweetened drink. Play around with different flavorings and the amount you add to your beverages to get just the right taste. Try some of these recipes for a unique twist.
5. Add Jell-O. A little bit of powdered, sugar-free Jell-O mix is a quick way to get that sweet, fruity taste by the glass. Freeze it and you have a simple popsicle!

Have any other suggestions? Share your favorite method or recipe in the comments below.

Stay cool and hydrated this summer!