Spa Water
With Spring right around the corner, it is time to kick up our healthy habits! To get things started, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! But, let’s be honest, good ol’ water can be boring. Soda is evil. Tea and coffee are fine in moderation…but let’s get back to America’s favorite beverage…water.
A couple years ago, I was visiting Charleston, South Carolina…beautiful city, dripping with history, charm and sweat…we were there during one of the worst heat waves this city had ever experienced. I owe my well-being to whoever was responsible for filling a large dispenser filled with ice water that had strawberries, mint and citrus slices floating in it…right there in the lobby…calling me to drown my heated thirst…aah. Each day of my stay afforded me a little libation surprise…cool, crisp and calorie free!
No sooner did I get back to Groton, then I ordered a 3 gallon glass dispenser to use when we entertain…but recently, my chapped hands and lips have me questioning why reserve such a useful tool for guests only?
I pulled the glass dispenser out of my storage room and I have played around with various refreshing fruit, herb and spice combinations to help me consume my 6-8 glasses of water daily.
A few weeks ago, I sliced 2 lemons, 1 limes, 1 orange, peeled a 1 “x 2” strip of fresh ginger, roughed up a few sprigs of mint and tossed them all in with 2 cups of fresh ice and a couple gallons of water…after an hour of “infusing” time, I imbibed the water as is and later in the day use it to make a cup of green tea…yum!
Green tea…I have heard the virtues of this stuff…I drink it on occasion when the health bug bites, but it has not been a regular in my menu of beverages…until now. Much like the fruit water infusions, I wondered if I added green tea to the mix, could I amp up the benefits of my daily doses of H20…so I gave it a try. Look for this tasty tea in the recipe section of this blog.
There is no rhyme or reason to the mixtures other than flavor profiles I enjoy…but there are health benefits to certain herbs, spices and fruits that give our Spa water a leg up over good old tap water.
Using food grade herbs and spices in normal quantities can help the body fight inflammation, abdominal/digestive discomfort, boosts metabolism, and serves as a natural diuretic .
Listed below are some of my favorite fruits, herbs and spices and their benefits.
HERBS & SPICES
Metabolism boosters:
Green Tea Cayenne Pepper
MInt Cinnamon
Cumin
Hot Curry blends
Relieves Abdominal Discomfort/Bloating
Fresh Ginger Ground Ginger
Fennel Fennel Seed
Mint Star Anise
Parsley
Anti-inflammatories
Basil Cardamom
Chamomile Cayenne
Chives Cinnamon
Cilantro Cloves
Parsley Ginger (fresh and ground)
Rosemary Nutmeg
Turmeric
Fruits
The following fruits work well with many of the herbs and spices listed. More importantly, aside from their own nutritional benefits, they infuse well and don’t get yucky in the water!
Citrus fruits: Grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges/ blood oranges, tangerines; whether sliced or just the peel
Melons: Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon
Peach
Pineapple
Cherries
Berries: Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Strawberry
Carambola/ Star fruit and Kiwi
Miscellaneous: although not a fruit, Cucumbers are a very refreshing addition to our Spa Water
Spa Water Concoctions to make 1 gallon:
Citrus Cooler
Slice the following very thinly
2 lemons
1 Lime
1 Orange
1 Grapefruit
Add the fruit to 3 quarts of water and 4 cups of ice.
Drop in 3-5 sprigs of Spearmint and 4-6 sprigs of parsley and stir gently.
Allow the fruit and herbs to infuse for about an hour.
Enjoy.
You can replenish the ice one or two times more before needing to discard the fruits and herbs.
Springtime Splash
1 lime slice thinly
1 pint of strawberries, washed, hulled and halved
1 hothouse cucumber, sliced thinly
2 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced thinly
½ cup crushed mint leaves
Add the ingredients to 3 quarts cold water and 4 cups of ice.
Spiced Green Tea Spa Infusion
2 Green tea bags
2 cinnamon sticks
1 star anise
1 piece of peeled fresh ginger 1inch by 2inches
Steep the tea in 1 quart of boiling water for 5 minutes
Discard the tea bags.
Add the spices and ginger to the tea and steep for at least 30 minutes.
Remove the star anise pod and discard.
Add 2 more quarts of cold water and 4 cups ice to the tea mixture.
Raspberry Lime Cooler
1 pint fresh raspberries, rinsed
1 lime, sliced thinly
½ cup mint leaves
2 quarts sparkling water
1 quart cold water
4 cups of ice
Combine all the ingredients in a gallon container and let sit for at least 15 minutes.
Tropical Cooler
1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
1 orange thinly sliced
2 tbsp. fresh ginger, grated
¼ cup cilantro leaves
2 quarts sparkling water
1 quart cold water
4 cups of ice
Combine all the ingredients in a gallon container and let sit for at least 15 minutes.
Cheers and Bon Apetit!
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| Raspberry Lime Cooler with Blackberry Garnish |
