Infusions for Spring

As the days get longer and warmer, and we find ourselves becoming active with the budding Spring season, it's important to remember to stay hydrated. We need to nourish our bodies so we feel energized and refreshed to fully enjoy the beautiful weather ahead.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy water at the Wellhouse is utilizing delicious Farm flavors to create infused water. It adds a layer of taste that keeps you reaching for your water bottle and allows you to get creative with flavor combinations you enjoy.

If you don't have access to a garden, window herbs are a convenient way to supply your own fresh flavors for infusing. Perennial herbs, such as rosemary, oregano, thyme and mint, grow well indoors and create a beautiful windowsill garden. Make sure they get plenty of light!

Looking to play with pairings? Here are some of my favorite combinations:
Strawberry + Lavender
Basil + Grapefruit
Lavender + Meyer Lemon
Fir Needle Tips + Lime

What you'll need:
Quart-sized carafe, pitcher or vessel of your choice
3-4 sprigs of fresh herbs
Fruit of choice: 2 lemons or limes, 1 grapefruit, 6-7 strawberries

Add your fruit.
For lemons or limes, juice one into your container. Slice the other half to drop in. I like to squeeze/juice the ends and use a mandolin to get the prettiest slices from the middle! Use that same technique for grapefruit, juicing half your fruit and slicing the rest.
For strawberries, remove the leaves and slice them to release the flavor. I use the mandolin for strawberries too for a simple and beautiful cut.

Drop in herbs.
Use three to four green sprigs. Let them remain whole so the leaves aren't cumbersome. If you like more herb notes, muddle the sprigs with your ice before adding the water.

Top with water.
Fill your vessel to the top, making sure to cover all fruit and herbs.

Let your infusion steep for at least two hours to extract flavor. When you're ready, served chilled. You can strain the water when you pour, if you prefer. Be sure to put some of the fruit into the glass for flavor and color!

The beautiful thing about infusions if you can completely customize them to your personal taste. Experiment with your infusions to find the level of flavor you enjoy. Remember, there is no perfect combination. It's about picking a handful of something green to toss in your water and letting the surprise of the flavor remind you of the life-giving properties of plants – and obviously the benefits of hydrating more!

Hope Parks, Wellness Lifestyle Expert