So, I’ve been wanting to share this little routine I’ve gotten into, something I call my “clear water beverage.” It’s nothing fancy, really, but it’s made such a difference in my day-to-day, and I figured, why not talk about it?
It all started because, honestly, I was getting a bit tired of plain water all the time. And I’m not a huge fan of super sugary drinks either. I wanted something refreshing, something clean, you know? That’s how I stumbled upon making my own. Well, “making” is a strong word, it’s more like “preparing.”
My Simple Setup
First things first, I had to figure out what I needed. It wasn’t a long list, thankfully!
- Good Water: This is key, obviously. I started using filtered water from my fridge pitcher. Makes a difference, I think.
- A Nice Container: I found this glass pitcher I had tucked away in a cupboard. Anything works, really, a large jar, whatever you’ve got.
- The “Flavor” Bits: This is where the fun starts. I like to keep it simple.
The Actual Doing Part
Okay, so here’s what I actually do. Let me walk you through my usual process. It’s become a bit of a morning ritual for me.
I usually start by grabbing my pitcher. Cleanliness is important, so I give it a quick rinse, even if it looks clean. Then, I pick my ingredients for the day. My go-to combination, the one I really landed on after a bit of trying things out, is cucumber and a tiny bit of mint. Sometimes a sliver of lemon, but not too much, or it gets too tart for my liking.
So, I’ll wash the cucumber really well. I don’t peel it, I like the green bits in there. I just slice a few thin rounds, maybe five or six for a decent sized pitcher. Then, for the mint, I just grab a small sprig, give it a wash, and sometimes I’ll gently bruise the leaves a little bit – just roll them between my fingers – to help release the flavor. I learned that trick after my first batch tasted like, well, just water with some leaves floating in it.
Then, I just pop the cucumber slices and the mint into the pitcher. After that, I fill it up with my cold, filtered water, right to the top. I give it a gentle stir, nothing too vigorous. And that’s pretty much the “active” part done.
The Waiting Game (and the Reward)
Now, this is where the patience comes in, or as I like to think of it, the “brewing” time. I stick the pitcher in the fridge. I’ve found that it needs at least a couple of hours to let those subtle flavors really meld with the water. Sometimes I make it the night before, so it’s perfect and chilled for the next day. Leaving it overnight seems to be the sweet spot for me.
And the result? It’s just incredibly refreshing. It’s not a smack-you-in-the-face kind of flavor. It’s subtle, it’s clean, it makes drinking water feel a bit more special, a bit more intentional. It’s still clearly water, but just… better. It’s amazing how such simple things can make a difference. I pour myself a glass, and it’s just a nice, crisp, hydrating drink. No sugar, no artificial anything, just good old water with a hint of freshness.
I’ve played around with other things too – a few berries, a slice of orange – but I always come back to the cucumber and mint. It’s my trusty favorite. It’s such a simple practice, but one I really enjoy. It helps me drink more water, and it just feels good. So yeah, that’s my clear water beverage. Nothing revolutionary, but it’s a small thing that brings a bit of simple joy to my day.
