Anyone who watches the soap opera “Vale Tudo” has certainly seen Eugênio offering flavored water to the Roitmans’ guests. But did you know that you don’t need a butler to make the real-life version of the drink? The recipe is refreshing, nutritious and easy to make at home.
This mixture of fruits, herbs and spices in the water not only improves the flavor, but can also add small amounts of vitamins and minerals, depending on the ingredients used. Nutritionist and gastronome Fabiana Borrego explains that the main purpose of flavored water is to even replace soft drinks.
“Flavored water is a great alternative to try to attract people who are unable to consume normal water. Adapting the flavor to what the person likes most can help a lot in stimulating people’s appetite. It is an incredible alternative to help people who are stopping consuming soft drinks and drinks rich in added sugars, we can even use sparkling water to bring even greater freshness”, he says.
Flavored water is good, but requires attention
Despite containing fruit, the infusion does not replace the consumption of food, because the amount of nutrients that remains in the water is very small when compared to that of fresh fruit.
“The concentration of nutrients in flavored waters is very small. The compound that is most absorbed is , but as it oxidizes very easily, consumption must be done very quickly. In this case, fruits and other foods that can flavor the water will not enrich this drink with nutrients, their main function is to add flavor”, adds Letícia Lenzi Claudino, nutritionist.
The consumption time of flavored water is another important point. No leaving it in the fridge for days, ideally it should be consumed on the same day the infusion was prepared.
“To make the infusion, we can leave 30 minutes to 1 hour for the flavor of the food to pass into the water, so that it will not become bitter (in the case of citrus fruits) or even oxidize inside the drink. The flavored water can be kept under refrigeration and without solid food for three days, in a closed glass container. With the food in the water, consumption should not exceed the day it was made”, details Borrego.
Fruits that break down quickly, such as bananas or papayas, are not recommended for use in the infusion, as they can leave the water with a “pasty” texture. You should also be careful with excess citrus peels.
“The white part of the peel of oranges and lemons can release a bitter flavor, always use thinner slices of the fruit or zest of the peel. Very potent herbs, such as rosemary or sage, have a very strong flavor. Use them in moderation”, adds Borrego.
How to prepare and ideas for flavored water recipes
The base of flavored water is simple: filtered water or sparkling water, fresh cut and previously washed fruit and aromatic herbs.
Flavored water suggestions:
- 1 liter of water + 4 sprigs of thyme + 4 lemon slices
- 1 liter of water + 4 raspberries + 6 blueberries
- 1 liter of water + 6 thin slices of pear with skin + 6 thin slices of apple with
bark
To prepare, simply add the ingredients to a jug, add water and let it rest in the refrigerator. The ideal is to keep the infusion reserved for about an hour, enough time for the flavor and water-soluble nutrients to diffuse.
