Clementine Mint Water Infusion Recipe

Clementines go straight in the pot. Three minutes boiling. That’s the only way the flavor actually stays.

Why You’ll Love This Refreshing Summer Drinks

Twenty minutes total. Not even that if you move fast. Works for a crowd. Eight people, twelve people — just double it and nobody notices you’re reusing a pitcher. Tastes like summer happened in your mouth. The mint doesn’t overpower. Doesn’t fade either. Looks good. The slices stay orange. The melon stays green. It just sits there looking like you planned this. Cold infused clementine drink that actually tastes like clementines. Not watered down. Not fake.

What You Need for Citrus Party Beverages

Six clementines. Honeydew melon diced. The size matters less than you’d think — rough chunks work fine. Fresh basil. Five or six sprigs. Not dried. Dried is basically paper. Ice cubes. One point two liters. Sounds like a lot. It’s not. Cold water. One point eight liters. Filter it or don’t. Tap works.

That’s everything. The boiling water happens during prep. Nothing else comes from a store with a label.

How to Make Cold Infused Clementine Drink

Wash the clementines first. Under running water. Get the dirt off if there’s dirt.

Place them in a pot. Any pot. Cover with water — just enough to submerge. Get it to a boil.

Let it sit there for three minutes. That’s it. Not five. Three. The water turns orange. That’s the signal it’s working. Then strain it off. The whole thing should take maybe two minutes once it boils.

The clementines go on a plate. Or a cutting board. Let them cool while you dice the melon. Ten minutes, they’re cool enough.

How to Get the Flavor Right

Slice the clementines thin. About one centimeter. Maybe a bit less. The thinner they are, the more they give to the water.

In a big pitcher — a real pitcher, not a measuring cup — put the clementine slices and the melon chunks. Just pile them in there.

Add the ice. All of it. Then the basil. Tear it or don’t. Doesn’t matter. Pour the cold water over everything. Stir once or twice. Don’t bash it around. Just gentle. The fruit holds together better that way.

Serve cold. It stays good for maybe four hours before the mint turns weird. Tastes better in the first hour though.

Summer Citrus Mint Beverage Tips

The boiling step matters. It softens the peel just enough so the flavor comes out. Skip it and you get weak water with orange chunks floating in it. Honeydew works. Can’t really swap it for anything else without changing the whole thing. If you don’t have melon, leave it out. The drink still works. Basil over mint. Basil is subtler. Mint takes over everything and you end up tasting mint-flavored water with fruit pieces. Make it in a pitcher, not a punch bowl. Easier to stir. Easier to refill. Looks less like you’re hosting a thing and more like you just made a smart drink choice.

Clementine Mint Water Infusion Recipe

By Emma Kitchen

Prep:

10 min

Cook:

10 min

Total:

20 min

Servings:

8 servings

Ingredients

• For the infusion
• 6 clementines, thoroughly washed
• 1 honeydew melon, diced
• 1.2 liters of ice cubes
• 5 to 6 sprigs of fresh basil, to taste
• 1.8 liters of cold water

Method

1. For the infusion
2. 1 Place clementines in a pot. Cover with water. Bring to a boil.
3. 2 Let simmer for 3 minutes. Strain the water. Allow clementines to cool.
4. 3 Slice the cooled clementines into thin rounds, about 1 cm thick.
5. For assembly
6. 4 In a pitcher, combine clementine slices and diced melon.
7. 5 Add the ice cubes along with the basil.
8. 6 Pour in the cold water. Stir gently and serve.

Nutritional information

Calories

65

Protein

1g

Carbs

16g

Fat

0g

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mint Infused Water With Clementines and Melon

Can I make this ahead of time? Not really. The basil starts to break down after a couple hours and it gets slimy. The clementine flavor peaks fast — maybe ninety minutes in. Make it right before people show up.

What if I don’t have fresh basil? Don’t use dried. Just don’t. Leave it out instead. The citrus and melon work fine on their own.

How long does this keep? Four hours, maybe five if it’s cold. After that the fruit tastes mushy and the water tastes flat. It’s a same-day drink.

Can I use regular oranges instead of clementines? They’re bigger so the flavor spreads thinner. You’d need more water or less orange. Kind of defeats the point. Clementines have thinner skin anyway — that’s why the boiling works.

Do I have to boil the clementines? Haven’t tried skipping it. Pretty sure it doesn’t work the same way. The peel releases way less flavor if you don’t heat it first.

Is this actually a party drink or more of a regular thing? Both, honestly. Works at a party because it looks fancy and tastes clean. Works on a regular Tuesday because it takes twenty minutes and feels like you’re taking care of yourself.