Ideas to flavor water

[Shel_B]

I try to drink at least a quart of water daily, and my doctor suggests that more can be helpful. Unfortunately, I don't care much for plain water, and to help increase my intake, flavor is added to the liquid. Usually, I make a slow-steeped tea and drink it from the fridge or at room temperature. Less frequently, a bit of fresh lemon juice is added to a bottle of water. I also drink sugar-free flavored mineral water, such as Trader Joe's.

Additional ideas for adding sugar-free flavor to water would be great. I'd like to stay away from the various "unsweetened" drinks that fill the market shelves ... TJ's mineral water (and another similar, local brand) is as far as I'll go in that direction.

 

[rijndael]

True Lemon, they also have non-lemon flavors.

 

[97prizm]

Spindrift is great with no sugar and only natural ingredients. I'm partial to their strawberry lemonade which is lemons, strawberries and carbonated water. If watermelon is in season sometimes I'll drain off the juice left in the plastic container after it's cut up into plain sparkling water.

 

[ripcord]

Well, you could do like my wife just now with her water... We got home from church and I went into my bedroom to hear a couple blood curdling screams from my wife from the other end of the house. Usually I don't get too excited about that kind of thing as she has a ridiculous startle response. Spiders, people walking up behind her, etc. can all set her off.

A second later, she walk in and says she needs help. Apparently, she brought her water bottle in from the car and poured it into the sink only to have a drowned mouse go into the sink. I guess feminism doesn't stretch quite far enough to relieve me of the duty of taking out the carcass so I scoop it up and turn around to take it outside only to have her scream in my face again because it was coming towards her.

All that to say, my wife said mouse flavored water tasted kind of funny. Personally, I think I would have been likely to puke but she didn't. Hope we don't end up in the ER later. Might not be too much kissing, either, LOL.

 

[Patman]

What about if you add a lot of ice to the water? I’m not a fan of room temperature water at all (like most restaurants seem to serve) but water straight out of the Brita in the fridge or filled with ice cubes is something I really enjoy drinking.

 

[Nyogtha]

I use Mio, particularly the Orange Vanilla and Lemonade flavors. The Orange Vanilla tastes like a Dreamsicle. No sugar, does contain Sucralose / Splenda. Quite portable for traveling.

https://www.kraftheinz.com/mio

 

[Shel_B]

What about if you add a lot of ice to the water? I’m not a fan of room temperature water at all (like most restaurants seem to serve) but water straight out of the Brita in the fridge or filled with ice cubes is something I really enjoy drinking.

We're on a similar page, here. Cold water is more palatable than tap or room-temperature water, although I don't always want cold water or tea. There's usually a quart or two of filtered water in the fridge at all times. I don't use ice.

 

[vavavroom]

I drink on average a liter tea per day, half a liter black, half a liter green. Hot or cold depending on how warm a day it is. Usually no more than one largish mug of coffee. On top of that I drink another 2 -3 liters spring water depending on activity level. Sometimes more. Spring water comes from a local spring that's free to use for anyone.

For lasting hydration and nutritional benefits, before running or sweat-inducing activities, I like to drink water with chia seeds mixed in. The chia seeds swell up and form a gelatinous mass that holds fluid for prolonged times. The Mayan hunters drank chia water before going on lengthy and strenuous hunting excursions.

Spring water tastes better than what come out of an R/O machine or filter. For flavor I'd add a little lemon or lime juice. Maybe add a bit rosewater if you want something fancy.

 

[supton]

I can't stand cold water, but will drink lukewarm tap water for most of the day. So I'm not much help. I alternate between that and coffee.

In the evening I switch to seltzer. We gave in and bought a seltzer maker, a Drinkmate I think, as it seemed like a real waste to keep making so much plastic waste. It's like 50 cents per liter for the CO2 so not huge cost savings, and perhaps not a great habit to get into. But I like about 1 to 2 oz of cran-raspberry juice with the remainder making a liter (?) of seltzer. Wife found some natural flavorings to put into hers that gets close to regular seltzer, so there is that.

 

[Shel_B]

In the evening I switch to seltzer. We gave in and bought a seltzer maker, a Drinkmate I think, as it seemed like a real waste to keep making so much plastic waste. It's like 50 cents per liter for the CO2 so not huge cost savings, and perhaps not a great habit to get into. But I like about 1 to 2 oz of cran-raspberry juice with the remainder making a liter (?) of seltzer. Wife found some natural flavorings to put into hers that gets close to regular seltzer, so there is that.

I enjoy sparkling water, both seltzer and mineral water. I've been mulling over the idea of getting a seltzer machine for a while. Space is at a premium in my kitchen, though. Drinking more water has lessened the need for such a device. Still, it's not off the table ...

 

[supton]

I enjoy sparkling water, both seltzer and mineral water. I've been mulling over the idea of getting a seltzer machine for a while. Space is at a premium in my kitchen, though. Drinking more water has lessened the need for such a device. Still, it's not off the table ...

I do like mine. It's less space than a coffee maker, but we're not pressed for space on our counter, and we were spending like $5 per day on seltzer when we finally made the switch.

 

[Cujet]

Unfortunately, I don't care much for plain water, and to help increase my intake, flavor is added to the liquid.

Funny, I was going to post this very same question this AM. I dislike drinking water all day and need some form of tasty flavor to make it tolerable.

I was using the Gatorade Zero packets, but they are too expensive. Don't like Crystal Light at all. Unsweet tea is OK in moderation.

 

[ripcord]

I've tasted tap water from various places around the country and I wouldn't like plain water if I lived there, either. Hard, mineralized, alkali water is yucky.

 

[skyactiv]

Kava makes a reduced acid decaf instant coffee. Sounds gross but it exists so someone likes it.

 

[vavavroom]

The best tasting water I ever drank came out of the spigot in the backyard of our house when I was a kid. Tasted very much like iron. Had to flush out the rust for ten seconds before guzzling it. Mom scolded me for doing that. She said it would kill me and my friends. We were all hooked on spigot water. Then we got on our skateboards and rode into oncoming traffic without helmets and pads. We also ate roadside ice plant leaves and other plants that I'm pretty sure dogs had watered. Mom always warned me of tapeworms and other parasites. Only mu friend Benny came down with a tapeworm that one summer. I still won't shake his hand.

 

[supton]

I've tasted tap water from various places around the country and I wouldn't like plain water if I lived there, either. Hard, mineralized, alkali water is yucky.

Hmm, true... I have it easy, my well water tastes just fine to me. Not even a sediment filter here. When I go into the office and drink the city water I can tell the difference. I usually take a 1L Nagalene bottle of water with me to work, I'll drink the water from home but often don't refill while at work.

 

[Rand]

I like 50-65f water from my RO filter.
regular city water tastes like drinking from a swimming pool by comparison.

 

[Shel_B]

Kava makes a reduced acid decaf instant coffee. Sounds gross but it exists so someone likes it.

It's the instant part that's gross, IMO.

Just for perspective, my sister drinks this, and when she comes for a visit after January, I'll ive it a try.

 

[Shel_B]

I drink on average a liter tea per day, half a liter black, half a liter green. Hot or cold depending on how warm a day it is. Usually no more than one largish mug of coffee. On top of that I drink another 2 -3 liters spring water depending on activity level. Sometimes more. Spring water comes from a local spring that's free to use for anyone.

For lasting hydration and nutritional benefits, before running or sweat-inducing activities, I like to drink water with chia seeds mixed in. The chia seeds swell up and form a gelatinous mass that holds fluid for prolonged times. The Mayan hunters drank chia water before going on lengthy and strenuous hunting excursions.

Spring water tastes better than what come out of an R/O machine or filter. For flavor I'd add a little lemon or lime juice. Maybe add a bit rosewater if you want something fancy.

Gosh, it's been ages since I've enjoyed fresh spring water. Enjoyed it frequently back in the '80s and '90s when we spent a lot of time in the Trinity Alps.

I'll look into the chia seeds as a hydration aid.

 

[ripcord]

Some people put a pinch of baking soda in their coffee to cut down some of the acid.