Water - how to liven it up?

[aurelia]

I can not take anything with aspartame in it and ould like any suggestions for lvening up the taste of plain water. I have added sliced lemons and enjoy that. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated as I'm running out of ideas and getting bored of the taste.

[mccfluff]

cordials? most supermarkets do high juice and other types, i like elderflower cordial, lime with fizzy water & asda do a pineapple and lime cordail which is fab.

[teag1rl]

I agree with mcfluff. Elderflower cordial with fizzy water is deeeelish!

[nickmo]

2 oz Root Ginger, Bruised, Peeled and chopped
1 lb Granulated Sugar
� oz Tartaric Acid
Juice of 1 lemon
1 Lemon, Sliced

Put the ginger, sugar, tartaric acid and lemon into a bowl and cover with 1 gallon of boiling water. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Leave for about three or four days, then strain and pour the liquid into sterilised bottles. It will be ready and really delicious to drink after just a few days and can be diluted quite happily with either still or sparkling water.

One recipe and there are quite a few if you do a search for cordial on the web. Elderflower / elderberry is another to try, or anything using soft fruits - b;lackberry, raspberry, loganberry etc. they do need to be made up in advance but will last a long time and will 'cut' water nicely.

To flavour water alone - 2 drops of angostura bitters; or a dash of lime juice and some zest of lime ; add a few drops of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice; also make iced teas from herbs or 'ordinary' tea, etc. Check the various things at the local Chinese supermarket - huge variety - chyranthemum, lemon tea, black tea etc etc.

[samuel23]

I often dilute pure fruit juices 50/50 with sparkling water it's better than fizzy drinks loaded with sugar or additives. Try ocean spray's cranberry and raspberry, or apple juice.

[Cetti]

Ocean Spray drinks are especially good diluted with water. That's how I make sure I get my cranberry every day as it's much too rough on it's own. Blueberry is another juice that goes well diluted.

[naz_nomad]

My favourite's lemon, but I see you already do that ...

my only other suggestion is Irish Whiskey, preferably Jameson .. works for me

make sure the water is thoroughly frozen before adding the whiskey.

[aurelia]

Thnx for all the posts - I forgot about Ocean Spray Cranberry - I actually like it straight but I will try diluting it down as well. I have had a problem with cordials as a lot of the hi-juice ones I looked at had the aspartame sweetner in it which I'm allergic too. I will need to have a bigger hunt for some more without it.

I may be Scottish but I detest whisky - so I don't think I will manage that one. I could not even bear being given a hot toddy when ill.

[Famous5]

If you can get it, try pomegranate molasses, which makes a sweet drink when added to water

[heathfield]

Soda water with ice and a dash of Angostura bitters is nice, and different.