How to Make Blackberry Lemon Water

We all need to drink more water. We all hate to drink water. This is what you need. When we are home during the summer, I make a pitcher of this a day. (To be clear, this recipe isn’t sweet. The fruit is refreshing and delicious, but it’s just flavored water. You can add a little sweetener if you’d like, but I never do.)

This takes me literally five minutes to throw together and looks so pretty in the pitcher that guests always ask for the “recipe.” It’s perfect for hot days when plain water feels like a chore and make something complicated feels like even more a chore.

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

I don’t like using frozen berries for this because as they thaw they’ll make the water cloudy. But the flavor will still be fine if you want to use them!

This recipe makes 1 pitcher with about 4-5 large glasses. If you’d like to double or triple it, you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 8 cups cold water, (about 2 liters)
• fresh mint leaves, a handful (optional)
• ice cubes
• honey, agave syrup, or sugar-free sweetener, optional: To taste

Step by STep Infused Water

This might seem silly, but the order matters! Blackberries go in first because they’re heavier and will sink anyway. Then your lemon slices on top: they’ll float and look pretty.

Step One: Layer The Ingredients

In a large pitcher, place the blackberries at the bottom. Add the thinly sliced lemon on top. If you’re using mint, add it now for an extra layer of flavor.

Step Two: Muddle Gently

Using a muddler or the back of a spoon, gently press down on the blackberries and lemon slices. You’ll see the water starting to turn a light pink – that’s exactly what you want. If your berries completely fall apart, you went too hard. 

Step Three: Add Ice And Water

Ice first, then water. Why? Because if you put water in first and then dump ice on top, you’ll splash everything out of the pitcher. Ask me how I know this. 

Step Four: Sweeten If Desired

If you prefer a slightly sweeter drink, stir in honey or agave syrup to your taste. I almost never sweeten this because the fruit gives it just enough natural flavor. But if you’re used to sugary drinks, you might want a little sweetness.

Step Five: Chill

Let the pitcher chill in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours. When it’s ready, the water will be a gorgeous light pink, and every sip will have layers of flavor instead of just “water with stuff floating in it.” 

Storage Instructions

Keep this in the fridge and drink it within 24-48 hours. After that, the fruit starts breaking down and it just doesn’t taste as good.

If you’re planning to keep it longer than a day, pull out the lemon slices after the first couple hours. They’ll make the whole thing bitter if you leave them in too long. The berries are fine to stay put.

Questions And Troubleshooting

Printable Recipe