Infused water is something I absolutely adore. It's such a lovely way to enjoy some of the benefits and flavors of fresh fruit, berries, herbs, and even veggies in the form of a hydrating and refreshing drink. I make infused water lots throughout the summer, usually with whatever I can find in my garden, forage, or any fruit or berries I've got on hand, and I can get pretty adventurous with my flavor combos... but this time when I threw basil into the mix I was blown away by the lovely flavor of basil and rose together.

Basil Rose and Berry Infused Water

Some other absolutely favorite combos of mine are cucumber mint, lemon basil, raspberry rose, any combination of fresh berries, watermelon lime, peach lavender... throw some warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, or a vanilla bean to the mix... the list truly seems infinite! And while my combo here might seem a bit on the wild side for some, feel free to simply use fresh fruit or anything of this list that's in your fridge or pantry, and save the wilder and more exotic combos for a special occasion.

There's no special formula to making infused water. The basic premise is to use a particular combination of ingredients, cover it with water and let the ingredients lend their mild and aromatic flavor to the water. You can use more ingredients or less ingredients to water based on how strong you want the flavor to be. You can also reuse the combination multiple times by simply topping up the water.

Basil Rose and Berry Infused Water

I normally make mine in a large mason jar, but you can use anything like a jug or decanter. This time I made it in an infuser bottle, the benefit of which is the ability to take the bottle with you on the go to stay hydrated, and also there's a build in strainer, so that takes out the straining into a glass business out of the equation.

I also normally don't sweeten my infused water -- the mild fruity or citrusy flavor is nice enough on its own. But something in this combo inspired me to add a hint of maple and I loved it so highly recommend. It takes the edge off of the slightly unexpected basil flavor.

If you're not already a fan of infused water, hope this will encourage you to play around with this type of super simple recipe with ingredients you've got on hand. I remember falling in love with fruit-infused water after my very first try with just a simple combo of berries and lemon slices. Who needs sodas and flavored drinks when you can making something so simple and flavorful so easily...

P.S. I linked to edible rose flowers in the recipe so you can easily find some online. But if you're more of an in-person type you can usually find organic rose buds in tea shops.